Composer Finneas on Scoring 'Beef': Bees, Sprinklers, and Synth Woes

Finneas, a Grammy-winning artist, detailed his creative process for composing the score for Netflix's "Beef." He aimed to capture the essence of the show's contrasting environments and characters.

For scenes set at the Montecito Country Club, Finneas experimented with unique sounds. He found synthesizers that mimicked "swarms of bees" and incorporated recordings of sprinkler systems from a nearby golf course to create a distinctive rhythmic element.

Finneas also recounted an amusing interaction with actor Oscar Isaac regarding a synthesizer scene. Isaac, playing Josh Martin, wanted to learn the Moog synthesizer for his role. Finneas initially wrote a deliberately rudimentary piece, only for Isaac to master it to a surprising degree.

The composer sought to mirror the show's themes of class and generational divides within the music. He described the score's evolution from tension and anxiety to a "naive form of optimism" for the younger couple, Ashley and Austin, contrasting with Josh's jadedness.

When composing for the Korean-set finale, Finneas focused on capturing the power of Chairwoman Park, describing her associated sound as a "heavy, subby, rhythmic thing" rather than attempting an uninformed take on Korean drama music.

The score featured three notable needle drops from Finneas's sister, Billie Eilish: "Bittersuite," "What Was I Made For," and "Bad Guy." Finneas found humor in seeing "Bad Guy" used in a scene where his character works out to his own music.