In advance of the March 16 release of both the Greg Berlanti-directed film Love, Simon and its original motion picture score, Vehlinggo is giving you the opportunity to hear one of the excellent synth score cues from composer Rob Simonsen.
Readers will recall that Simonsen, one of the best major motion picture composers working right now, is a Vehlinggo favorite who in 2016 was the subject of a lengthy interview.
Today’s track, “Change is Exhausting,” shows how easily Simonsen can compose in both the electronic and acoustic realms. It starts out with guitars, orchestration, beautiful synth atmospherics, and an upbeat, pulsating backbeat, all of which give way to a lush world of synth pads and arps and a tight drum machine that in turn reveal a surprise. Change might be exhausting, but the dreamy composition makes the pill easier to take.
We shouldn’t be surprised that Simonsen can easily pull this off, though. On films such as Foxcatcher, The Age of Adaline, Burnt, Girl Most Likely, Nerve, and Viral, Simonsen has long shown that he can easily handle both orchestral and synthesizer-driven film scores. (His score work with Mychael Danna on Life of Pi and (500) Days of Summer also shows his deft touch.)
Overall, on Love, Simon — a story about a gay teen who hasn’t come out to his parents and who has fallen in love with an anonymous classmate online — Simonsen uses his skills in both electronic and acoustic instrumentation to craft an engaging score. It’s a rewarding experience that surely helps propel the touching story of finding oneself as a teen through courage and love.
The score will be available via Lakeshore Records on Friday, March 16.
More About Love, Simon
Everyone deserves a great love story, but for 17-year old Simon Spier it’s a little more complicated: he hasn’t yet told his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying, and life-altering.
The 20th Century Fox film is directed by Greg Berlanti (Riverdale, The Flash, Supergirl), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel. It stars Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel, and Jennifer Garner, and releases on Friday, March 16.
Did You Know This About Rob Simonsen?
Simonsen is also the co-founder of the inimitable collective The Echo Society, which provides composers an opportunity to experiment and create live performances around Los Angeles. The roster also includes, or has included, Joseph Trapanese (a collaborator with the likes of White Sea, M83, and Daft Punk), Eskmo, and many other contributors and performers like Mica Levi, Ryat, Amon Tobin, and Drum & Lace.
