Making soundtracks with bite

Twilight music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas proves she knows score

Only the most try-hard of Twihards remember the exact rules of vampire baseball. But you might recall hearing the song Supermassive Black Hole by Muse as the Cullen family stepped up to the plate in the first instalment of the Twilight Saga movies. But then, maybe that's not your favourite Twilight musical moment. Maybe you're more into swooning along to Iron & Wine's Flightless Bird as Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) slow-dance at their school prom (Twilight). Or gasping over Bella's near-death visions of Edward as Grizzly Bear's Slow Life burbles up from the watery depths (New Moon). Whatever your favourite Twilight track is, though, Alexandra Patsavas had a part in it.

Patsavas, who has curated soundtracks for The O.C., Gossip Girl, Mad Men and Grey's Anatomy, has served as music supervisor on all three Twilight movies - and she'll be the "music lady" on the two remaining Breaking Dawn flicks, as well, she says. It's a job that requires her to select and supervise all music that appears on the movies' soundtracks, collections that have defined a moody, Pitchfork-approved ambience for the popular romance series - and have sold as crazy as, well, anything Twilight-related. (Two of three soundtracks - Twilight and New Moon - debuted at No. 1 on the American album chart.)

The Twilight Saga Soundtracks Volume 1, a collection of music videos and never-before-seen live performances of songs included on the three Twilight Saga soundtracks, is now in stores, as is the Twilight Saga: Eclipse DVD. And while the DVD release gives Twilight completists a reason to update their holiday lists, it also gave Postmedia News the opportunity to speak with the series' music supervisor. Here, Patsavas talks about what it takes to make a Twilight soundtrack, and more.

Could you tell me how you go about putting together music for a Twilight soundtrack? When does work begin?

The work begins once the supervisor is hired and the script is distributed. We (the director, the producers and later, the artists) spend a lot of time during production while the movie's being shot, just starting to talk about music, about tone and feel, but the real work begins after the movie is shot, so we can start to pair music with footage.

Is it a different process working on a Twilight movie than any other project you've done?

It's been an incredible process. Of course, there've been three Twilight movies that have been released and a great deal of interest from some pretty particular artists, and that's been really a wonderful experience. And also we've had many bands come into the cutting room and really work with the director to create music for these movies. Beck came in the cutting room and Lykke Li and Grizzly Bear, Mute Math - so we've had quite a few bands tailoring music for the movies. Hayley Williams, as well, from Paramore.

How unusual is that?

You know, I think it is pretty unusual, unless it's a movie about musicians or bands, in which case, it's a whole different animal. It's pretty unusual to have so many bands creating signature pieces for a project.

Why has that been such a priority for these movies?

I think more than anything, (Twilight Saga author) Stephenie Meyer has always referenced music and included playlists, and music is a big part of Twilight. And the producers and directors wanted to feature it.

What do you keep in mind when selecting songs for the movies, apart from what Meyer has written in the books? What are the things you're thinking of?

I think that music really resonates with fans when it enhances the emotions in the scene and the acting, so I think, more than anything, we're trying to make the score and the songs seamless - to make sure all the songs feel like Twilight songs, and tell a story to the audience. ... I think, definitely, we're always thinking about Bella and Edward and Jacob and just about the atmosphere of Twilight itself. There are characters and then there is the character of Twilight. ... I think the music has to evoke, you know, it's got an indie feel, it has a smart lyric, it has a memorable hook. Of course, over the three movies, we have sourced many different kinds of scenes - love scenes and love-lost scenes, and fight scenes, but I think there's a certain through-line.

The indie feel you mention: definitely, the last three soundtracks have really embraced indie acts. Why has that been the sound of Twilight?

Well, certainly Stephenie Meyer loves indie music, and it does seem to fit the material. It's what the directors love. ... We've had a couple of unsigned bands on the soundtracks, as well the greatest artists of our time right now. ... We've had the great, good fortune of having a lot of submissions, of having a lot of interest from the music community. And these are the songs and the feel that fit the best.

Does it ever surprise you who wants to get on a Twilight soundtrack?

Not any more. (Laughs.) We always intended to use music really respectfully and made sure that the music is always highlighted.

Is it true that Peter Murphy from Bauhaus tracked you down at the South by Southwest festival (in Austin, Texas) to talk about Twilight before he landed a cameo role in Eclipse?

He did! Oh, we had a little chat. He was definitely interested in the movies, and we have two more to go, so who knows.

So at that point when he approached you, it wasn't a surprise that he would come up to you and talk Twilight?

Aw, I can't tell you the love that I have for Peter Murphy and his solo work and his work with incredibly seminal bands. That's a thrill. It's always a thrill. When it's not a thrill, I need to quit. So many of my favourite bands have contributed, and that's a thrill.

Music Videos and Performances From The Twilight Saga Soundtracks: Volume 1 is now in stores, on DVD and Blu-ray. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is now in stores on DVD and Blu-ray.

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Carrie