June 21, 2022
Composer Russ Davies’ music for Terry Pratchet Discworld-inspired TV series THE WATCH released
Silva Screen has this month digitally released THE WATCH, composer Russ Davies’s soundtrack for AMC/BBC America’s TV adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s beloved Discworld book series. The eight-part series is inspired by characters created by Terry Pratchett, rather than being a straight book adaptation. Underlined by Cyberpunk visuals, Season One takes place “somewhere in a distant secondhand dimension” and follows the misfits of The City Watch, a police organization in a city ruled by crime guilds. The guilds are regulated, the assassins are allowed to kill a certain number of citizens a year (and must leave receipts on the bodies), while people can schedule muggings or other thief-related activity as those guilds also fill their quotas.
The first episode of what could be described as a fantasy police dramedy was shown on 31st December 2020 and the series ran until mid-February 2021 (in the USA the series is streaming on AMC+). Created by Simon Allen (CHOOSE OR DIE, DAS BOOT, THE MUSKETEERS), the series features Richard Dormer, Lara Rossi, and Adam Hugill. The character of Death is portrayed by Wendel Pearce.
THE WATCH soundtrack is penned by British composer and producer Russ Davies. Davies brings together a diverse range of influences and genres to create unique modern compositions. Prior to starting writing for film and TV in 2019, Russ has released over 15 artist albums under various aliases including Abakus, Cinnamon Chasers, and Aiiso. Russ’s work as a film composer began with the short film CONTROLLER, directed by Saman Kesh, which featured a hybrid electronic-orchestral score. His next project was BBC1 series THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, directed by Craig Viveiros and aired in 2019. Davies describes his music for THE WATCH as a “fantasy themed score, with an energetic fusion of orchestral layers, analog synthesizers and electric guitar, aiming to be as leftfield, unconventional and as colorful as the show is itself.” Davies’s song writing skills are spotlighted in “Zero,” a song written for the climax of THE WATCH’s Episode Four; “Zero” is performed by Inge Beckmann who also appears in the episode as a Torch Singer in The Mended Drum.
In case you missed it, watch the trailer for THE WATCH Season 1:
