In January 2024, it was announced that Ramin Djawadi was hired to compose music for the series.[1] When the showrunner and executive producer Jonathan Nolan was looking for a composer, he chose Djawadi as they share a working relationship, having worked on Person of Interest (2011–2016) and Westworld (2016–2022).[2] Djawadi, Nolan, Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner brainstormed on developing a sonic landscape that would pay homage to Inon Zur's series of compositions for the video game, and also wanted to produce a more serious tone unlike the humor present in the series which went out of their way as "the writing and acting were so great that the comedy really played on its own and didn’t need any support musically".[3] Despite the post-apocalyptic setting, the visual treatment and the sonic landscape, which consisted of diegetic music, were from the 1950s, hence the score had to match the series' tone.[4]
The second objective is to develop the themes for the three main characters: The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), Lucy (Ella Purnell) and Maximus (Aaron Moten). The Ghoul's Western gunslinger vibe had let Djawadi to look on Ennio Morricone's themes for inspiration; however, he wanted to provide a "deconstructed, detuned, rusty soundscape".[3] Lucy's theme provided a different musical style which had a clean, orchestral approach, though it merged with the Ghoul's themes as her journey became darker. For Maximus, who was the member of the Brotherhood of Steel, Djawadi adopted a "mechanical, heroic, militaristic approach" which resulted in the use of percussions and French horns. As the show progresses, Djawadi's score becomes more intricate which blends different themes and styles.[3]
The Brotherhood of Steel theme had to be filled with tension as their environment was an uneasy one. To create that, Djawadi produced a percussive rattle through synthesizers. He provided vocals for Maximus' theme that almost felt like a religious feel, but Djawadi did not want it to sound like a traditional church choir, hence, he decided to use the vocals and then pinch them down to provide a darker feel. The use of French horn was to reflect the heroic side of the members, and he further added bass and harmonies in the cue.[4]
The score featured more ambient and non-orchestral moments, where he would either used solo instruments or synthesizers or percussion instruments. He used minimal orchestra in the score, but as all the plots and characters come together, the score provides an orchestral feel.[5]
Release
The Fallout soundtrack featuring 21 cues from Djawadi's score was released through Amazon Content Services on April 8, 2024, two days prior to the show's release.[6] Amazon and Mondo announced the vinyl records of the score; released in a double-LP album of "Opaque Canary Yellow" and "Opaque Sky Blue" variants and packaged in a color sleeve featuring the teaser posters of Lucy and the Ghoul.[7][8] The pre-orders for the vinyl edition was issued on May 1, 2024, and it is scheduled for release in August 2024.[8]
Critical reception
Mimi Anthikkad Chibber of The Hindu summarized that "Ramin Djawadi does a great job with the score".[9] Therese Lacson of Collider called it as "a stunning score by legendary composer Ramin Djawadi".[10] Nicholas Quah of Vulture wrote "Ramin Djawadi’s score, which carries hints of [Trent] Reznor and [Atticus] Ross, drones with excellence."[11] Alex Maidy of JoBlo.com wrote "the score from Ramin Djawadi, which, like the games, combines Western and epic music."[12] Niv M. Sultan of Slant Magazine called it as an "ominous score".[13]
Track listing
Fallout (Original Amazon Series Soundtrack) track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Brotherhood of Steel" (full version)
6:27
2.
"The Ghoul"
5:41
3.
"Ice Cream and Apple Pie"
3:10
4.
"Vault 33"
4:54
5.
"Artifact"
3:22
6.
"Shady Sands"
3:27
7.
"Feo Fuerte y Formal"
2:05
8.
"Rebuild Together"
0:35
9.
"Surface Dweller Tradition"
4:43
10.
"Golden Rule"
2:22
11.
"Are You Compromised?"
3:14
12.
"I Hate It Up Here"
1:50
13.
"Bringing Order to the Wasteland"
3:16
14.
"Management"
1:55
15.
"Vault-Tec"
3:08
16.
"Think About the Future"
3:21
17.
"All the Answers"
8:26
18.
"Run for the Hills"
2:40
19.
"War Never Changes"
2:25
20.
"Do the Right Thing"
2:22
21.
"T-60"
3:22
Total length:
72:45
Chart performance
Chart performance for Fallout (Original Amazon Series Soundtrack)
^Sgammato, Greg (June 14, 2024). "Fallout with Ramin Djawadi". The Society of Composers and Lyricists. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
.png)
