The Blank Chat Podcast

Conversations at the centre of composer culture

EPISODE 07

Dan Deacon on his Score for HBO’s TASK

Right after the conclusion of TASK, one of the best shows of the year and the second chapter in the Brad Ingelsby "Delco" expanded universe (we hope), Charles Steinberg spoke with composer Dan Deacon, whose phenomenal score lifted the show to unexpected heights. Please note, there are some SPOILERS…

EPISODE 06

Theodore Shapiro on Unlocking the Music for Severance

Over his thirty years of scoring for film and television, Theodore Shapiro has been one of the most consistently reliable composers in delivering emotional and tonal evenness and depth to his various projects. Yet his recognition and appreciation of his talent have never been greater, thanks to his Emmy-winning score for the hit show Severance. Executive Producer and Director Ben Stiller is right in saying Shapiro’s music defines the world of Severance, guiding its audience through the existential mystery of identity, love, and loss, pushing us to re-examine what we believe about all of these themes. Shapiro talks to Charles Steinberg about how he landed on and gave life to one of the more identifiable TV series scores in recent times.

Cornel Wilczek is Adding Tonality to the Voice of Horror

EPISODE 05

Cornel Wilczek is Adding Tonality to the Voice of Horror

Just in time for Halloween, we’re diving into horror scores with rising genre composer Cornel Wilczek. From Talk to Me to Bring Her Back and most recently Together, his work brings three distinct and fresh takes to the tradition. In our conversation, Wilczek reflects on why horror films are saving cinema, how he defines his own line of extremity, and even shares a great story about Keiji Haino. Cornel also shared with us some pictures of inside his studio, click here to view.

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EPISODE 04

Trygge Toven on Redefining Music Supervision

In this episode, music supervisor Trygge Toven joins the conversation to explore the art and impact of soundtrack curation in film and television.

The discussion opens with a nostalgic look at how soundtrack compilations in the '80s and '90s introduced listeners to new artists, creating a collective narrative through music discovery.

Toven shares insights into the unique challenges and creative opportunities of pairing songs with on-screen moments, particularly the use of irony, such as earnest ballads set against dramatic or violent scenes in shows like Fallout.

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