Labrinth's Euphoria Score is Unmatched

I have a weird and almost unhealthy relationship to the show Euphoria. The HBO Original follows the life of Rue, an angsty teenager with a drug addiction. When season one came out in 2019, I hadn’t heard much about it until I downloaded HBO Max to watch some other show. The second I started it I was hooked. Now that season 2 is out, I am fully addicted and watch each episode as it’s released every Sunday night.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized what it was about this show that I am so infatuated with. I mean, it’s about high schoolers - I am 25 years old. I rewatched season 1 and, in 2019, I didn’t realize that the soundtrack is what makes the show for me. Zendaya is amazing, and I love Hunter Shafer as Jules obviously. But, the way they juxtaposed the soundtrack with the cinematography is what truly makes this one of the best produced shows I’ve seen.

I was one class away from a film minor in college, so I have a soft spot for movies and tv shows. Now that I understand more of what goes into filming a show, I have been in awe at the production of Euphoria. I recently listened to the entire Euphoria soundtrack, and I had no idea that the entire first season was scored by Labrinth. I had only known him from features: he is in Noah Cyrus’s track "Make Me (Cry)" and a personal favorite, "Fragile" with Kygo. But, this entire soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece.

I just love how focused this show is on its music. From an HBO interview with writer/producer Sam Levinson, he envisioned a score with “Danny Elfman meets Yeezus meets gospel.” Labrinth understood the assignment! He shared the vision of dark and sad with a tinge of hopefulness and underlying happiness. Lab said that unlike most composers, he doesn’t have one style. One song might be more hip-hop and the next more classical. He said “Euphoria told me what to do.” Different characters would inspire a certain sound for him.

My favorite song from the show, "When I R.I.P.", is showcased in episode one. When Rue comes back from rehab and instantly relapses, this song completely encapsulates the euphoric state that Rue is always experiencing. That, along with the flashing lights and slow movement of the camera, the lyrics tell the story that the audience is able to feel. “Feel the morning on my face / Ain’t a pill that I didn’t take” in Labrinth’s slow, emotional voice is more than a score for the show. He adds a layer of feeling that the audience is able to sympathize or even empathize with the characters and what they’re dealing with. Even a viewer that’s never done a drug in their life might feel as though they are experiencing the same thing as Rue.

The show has an identifying track that has become almost universal - especially on TikTok. "All For Us" is a track that Zendaya is featured in with Labrinth. Recently, you’ll see many people making funny or serious videos with this song as the background. This is the song from the last episode of season 1, when it’s clear that Rue is going to relapse again. It’s so emotional and the vocals are angelic, almost like Rue is longing for that out-of-body experience that Jules provided her with.

I also love the shorter tracks that are specific to each character. The one that sticks out in particular is "Nate Growing Up." This song, with the vocals and the piano/violin makes the scenes feel intense and too serious. Without the title of the song, I knew right away this song usually plays when Nate is up to no good. Any doubt the viewer might’ve had, the music confirms all suspicions.

The score of a show isn’t something that is consciously identified. When you watch a movie or a show, you’re focused on the content and the dialogue. However, the music is subconsciously moving you in a certain direction every time it’s playing. If Euphoria had upbeat pop music, the show would be completely different. But, Labrinth’s sound portrays the perfect emotion for these troubled teens and what they’re going through as high schoolers. I also think that the soundtrack is what makes this show so emotional. Some of his songs, like Forever, literally sound like he’s crying. It’s impossible to watch a scene with that song and not feel some kind of sadness.

Film would be nothing without music!!!