It wasn’t too long ago we were discussing Tom Holkenborg’s (aka Junkie XL) score for the Peter Jackson produced “Mortal Engines” and only a couple months later the Dutch composer is back again with his work on the James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez film “Alita: Battle Angel.” There’s no question Holkenborg is high in demand for his efficiency and distinct sound, but perhaps the former DJ’s biggest attribute is his ability to maintain a high level of quality while jumping from project to project and this couldn’t be any truer with ‘Alita’ in what is one of the composer’s best scores to date.
In Holkenborg’s latest work, the composer mostly ditches his driving and percussive elements for which he is known and instead implements a more intimate, sweeping and soulful touch that breathes life into the character of Alita and the world around her. But don’t worry, if you’re a fan of Tom’s driving sound, the track “Motorball” should give you your fill. It’s some of the most nuanced work we’ve heard from Holkenborg thus far truly enhancing the world of Iron City, yet taking us inside the mind of Alita to feel how she feels in some of the more tender moments. As the composer himself put it, “It’s so simple when you see a futuristic movie to go all out on instruments and sound design, but if you take that overboard, you might lose the soul of the film.”
READ MORE: ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ Is A Noble, Jaw-Dropping Spectacle [Review]
Holkenborg recently published a video in which he discusses his work on Alita and gives us an understanding of his approach to scoring the manga adaptation, what emotions he wanted to convey and much more. If you are a film score junkie (sorry) and a fan of Holkenborg’s past work, this is sure to be a nice look into the process of a composer.
“Alita: Battle Angel” is directed by Robert Rodriguez, produced by James Cameron and is now in theaters. Be sure to check out “The Music of Alita: Battle Angel” (and our past interview with Tom) below.
