The soundtrack to Billie Piper’s new film ‘Rare Beasts’ is composed by long-time writing partners Johnny Lloyd and Nathan Coen and will be released by Xtra Mile Recordings on 21 May 2021. Pre order it here on digital and vinyl. Listen and watch the video to its first single ‘Without You in My Life’.
‘Rare Beasts’ is written and directed by and stars Billie Piper. The original soundtrack (OST) features 12 brand new compositions exclusive to ‘Rare Beasts’. The score also includes Johnny’s single ‘Next Episode Starts In 15 Seconds’ - the title track to his debut solo album, also out on Xtra Mile - which was written around the time of filming and features prominently at the climax of the film.
Speaking about the ‘Rare Beasts’ OST, Johnny says:
“‘Rare Beasts’ we started about three years ago now. Billie sent us the script and we came up with several different concepts at first. It was very much driven by romance and there’s a splash of French Riviera in there. I wanted it to be diverse. It’s a very unusual record as a whole. As a collection of songs, I definitely think it's the best thing that me and Nathan have done.”
Writing the music in direct response to the film edits as they saw them, the ‘Rare Beasts’ OST infuses grandiose baroque-pop arrangements with grittier contemporary sounds to provide an eclectic palette of sounds Johnny praises as “bonkers”. The cinematic works of Harry Nilsson (whose work featured prominently in ‘Midnight Cowboy’) and the oeuvre of celebrated film composer John Brion (‘Punch Drunk Love’, ‘Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind’) are also cited as key reference points.
The ‘Rare Beasts’ soundtrack is the latest in a long line of of collaborations for Johnny and Nathan. Alongside production for Johnny’s solo studio output (‘Next Episode Starts in 15 Seconds’, ‘Cheap Medication’), Nathan has partnered with Johnny in contributed music for numerous productions including ‘Frank of Ireland’, ‘Sex Education’, ‘Legacy of Lies’, ‘After Life’, and the recent hit Sky Atlantic show starring Billie Piper, ‘I Hate Suzie’.
The film, ‘Rare Beasts’, is a romantic drama that tells the story of Mandy (Billie Piper), a career-driven single mother who finds herself in a crisis until she falls in love with the charming, but traditional, Pete (Leo Bill). Receiving its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the highly anticipated motion picture has a supporting cast including David Thewlis and Lily James.
The ‘Rare Beasts’ motion picture will receive its official release on Friday, 21 May 2021, screening in a limited number of cinemas. Watch the trailer below.