Severance's Eerie Soundscape: Composer Reveals Secrets of the Hit Show's Score

Severance's Sound: Composer Theodore Shapiro on Creating the Show's Distinctive Score The Apple TV+ series Severance captivated audiences with its unique premise and compelling characters. But the show's atmospheric and emotionally resonant score played a significant role in its success. In a recent interview at the Deadline Sound And Screen Television event, composer Theodore Shapiro revealed the creative process behind his work on Severance. Shapiro discussed his approach to creating distinct musical soundscapes for the "innies" and "outies," the two separate realities central to the show's plot. He described how he collaborated with director Ben Stiller, sharing, "I sent Ben a bunch of ideas, and then I visited him on set as he prepared to shoot season one." The composer also revealed how the main title theme stemmed from a simple set of four chords, explaining, "And that was what came out, was the four chords that start the main title, and everything kind of rolled from there." The video of this interview includes a live performance of Shapiro's score, further showcasing its power and emotional depth. Shapiro's insights into his creative process and the challenges of composing for such a unique show offer a fascinating look behind the scenes of a critically acclaimed television series.