Film scores are wonderful things. If you’re a fan of listening to scores as works on their own (as many film fans are known to do), divorced of the imagery, the music is still able to evoke emotion and excitement. And in the case of composer Ben Lovett’s score for “The Wind,” the music alone is enough to scare the crap out of you, without the need to see director Emma Tammi’s newest film.
READ MORE: ‘The Wind’ Trailer: TIFF Horror Standout From Filmmaker Emma Tammi Hits Theaters In April
In honor of “The Wind” hitting theaters this weekend, and the release of Lovett’s score courtesy of Lakeshore Records, we are thrilled to have an exclusive track for our readers. “Demons of the Prairie” isn’t the type of song that is going to leave you with a sense of calm and joy. Nope. The song is tense, exciting, and most definitely terrifying.
For those that aren’t familiar with “The Wind,” Tammi’s directorial debut is a period supernatural thriller set in the 19th-century American frontier. The film follows a woman, who begins to go a bit mad as she is convinced there is more than meets the eye with the new married couple that moves to the region.
And to bring the horror film’s music to life, the score features a pair of unique orchestral instruments seldom employed in film music: the bass flute, and the Nyckelharpa — a 16 string keyed violin that originated in the 15th century. For “Demons on the Prairie,” Lovett told us exactly what went into the creation of the song.
“It was the night before the final day of mixing for the film and we didn’t have anything for the end credits,” says Lovett. “Instead of going to bed I stayed up all night and created ‘Demons of the Prairie’ fueled by that rare type of manic energy only available to you at the 11th hour when you’re in the throes of a bleary-eyed, sleepless sprint to the finish line.”
He continued, “The track is made entirely from elements that exist in the body of the score, but the idea for this specific arrangement was to express the moments you don’t get to see in the film. It’s what happens after the camera cuts. When the demons win.”
“The Wind” arrives in select theaters and VOD on April 5. You can pre-order the soundtrack, which also arrives digitally on Friday.
Track List
01. The Wind
02. Demons of the Prairie
03. Blood on the Table
04. New Neighbors
05. Bearer of Unhallowed Ground
06. We Shall Be Monsters
07. Spreading the Word of God
08. Diary
09. Prince of Pestilence
10. Faith
11. Bringer of Jealous Thoughts
12. Something Is Out There
13. Keeper of Graves
14. Across the Prairie
15. Damner of Souls
16. There Is Nothing
17. This Land