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Thom Yorke Says the Blade Runner Soundtrack Inspired His Suspiria Score

BERKELEY, CA - APRIL 18: Thom Yorke of Radiohead performs in support of the band's "A Moon Shaped Pool" release at The Greek Theatre on April 18, 2017 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Last month, it was announced that Thom Yorke would be soundtracking a very auspicious remake: a star-studded, English-language version of Suspiria, originally a Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento in 1977. In teasers for an upcoming BBC Radio 6 interview, Yorke discussed writing the score, calling it “absolutely terrifying.” He said the new Suspiria would be a “very different film” from the original, but clarified that, in keeping with the music from the 1977 movie, we shouldn’t be expecting Jonny-Greenwood-esque string arrangements from Yorke. “It’s hard because I’m way out of my comfort zone, and I can’t read music so it’s not like I’m writing for orchestra,” he explained. “I’m building it all myself.”

He was clear about one of the places he’s found inspiration in terms of electronic soundtracks: the electronic music soundtrack. “In fact, I watched Blade Runner twice at the weekend,” he laughed. “‘Oh, that sound, I could do something like that, that’s quite easy,’” he jokes. “‘I’ll rip that bit off there and that bit there and I’ll be fine’…no, not really.'” He went on to explain more about how Vangelis’ legendary score gave him hope in his own abilities:

Vangelis, it’s his hands that made that, which encouraged me, because I think that was the thing I was finding most daunting. Normally, for a horror movie, it involves orchestras and these specific things. But Luca [Guadagnino], the director, and Walter [Fasano], the editor, are very much, like, find your own path with it. They’re giving me as much freedom as they can…I just have to find a way into it. At the same time, I’m so far out of my comfort zone I don’t know what’s going on.

In two other preview spots, Yorke talked about the first song he ever remembers hearing and loving, and it’s a good one: Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime.” When reminiscing on the OK Computer era (the 20th anniversary deluxe reissue of the album is out June 23), Yorke talked about nearly walking off-stage during the 1997 Glastonbury festival.

Listen to the clips below, or tune in on Sunday morning at 8AM EST to hear the full interview.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05599tb/player

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0559bjp/player

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05599t0/player