SIREN Recordings Releases Soundtrack to WONDERKID
WONDERKID follows the inner struggle of a gay footballer. The film is part of a larger campaign supported by the Telegraph Media Group, looking to raise awareness about a lack of openly gay male professional footballers within the game.
SIREN produced the musical score collaborating with Brain Rays (aka Benjamin Hudson). Brain Rays’ sparse but intricate electronic score melds together 2-step/Techno rhythms with dreamy ambient tones and haunting vocals. The processed vocal recordings resist identification and reflect the conflict and turmoil at the heart of the film, while heavy kick drums, prepared piano recordings and double bass clunks provide the rhythmical backdrop.
The music highlights WONDERKID’s inner turmoil and frustration, as the football world he loves prevents him from being the man he is.
Theme I is an ambient-leaning, electronic piece that highlights WONDERKID’s isolation and detachment through simple repeated motifs. Brain Rays used old vocal recordings, which he pitched and stretched to give the tracks a troubled, emotive feel.
Theme II has more drive and pace working with the change in tone for the second half of the film. The percussion is, for the most-part, built out of sounds Brain Rays created by hitting a double bass and pitching the sounds as well as some prepared piano (placing cutlery on the strings).
Awakening continues the themes established in the score. It still has ambient-leanings and feels reflective but is much more positive with a gentle pulse propelling us forward. The insular uncertain tones of 'Theme I’ are replaced with open, warmer synths.
The soundtrack themes are accompanied by a remix from ‘shadowy' Bizarre Rituals affiliate Slhhmyr (pronounced Sluh-meer) who creates a haunting Trap remix of Theme II. The track drifts between sharp beats and ambient pads creating what sounds like a lush but disorientating dream-sequence.
