BTS of #RWRBMovie: the score by Drum & Lace
Below are summarised points of what Sofia Hultquist (Drum & Lace) mentioned about Red, White & Royal Blue on this podcast.
She was brought on for the film in December 2022 as a replacement. By then, there already was an assembly cut of the movie (the 3 hour one)
It was challenging because people already loved the characters and because Alex and Henry come from very strong backgrounds.
Alex and Henry have their own individual themes that work together as their theme together. For example, this can be heard in the track "We Won." Their themes were written to be played by two people at the piano at the same time, representing them separately and coming together.
Henry's themes incorporate a few different kinds of pianos, inspired by the fact that Henry plays the piano
Alex's instrument is the guitar, paying homage to his heritage and because it was a more contemporary sound
The score had to be classically inclined enough to feel like a big romantic score, but also contemporary enough to stand up to all the amazing songs used in the movie
For 'First Kiss,' it was important for the music to come in really quietly so you just hear piano notes. It had to be delicate so it didn't come in too strong
'In Good Hands' was the music that went through the most revisions, probably the scene that went through the most revisions as well (the making love scene). It was very important to Matthew to portray that in a way that was authentic and not sensationalist and the music had to be the same. Every time the cut changed, the music had to change. There was around 7 versions of the music. They opted not really for piano and there's a harp at one point which Matthew suggested using because "it's in-between a piano and a guitar where it's a plucked instrument but still considered like a keys"
Matthew had a lot of ideas and is really musically attuned (but kept acting like he wasn't)
There was about 3-4 versions for the other tracks
"Museum" is her favourite track and the one she and Matthew both decided was the one to push in Spotify
She sees the love and number of plays on Spotify
+ confirmed the back of the vinyl is the Union Jack
