Home / Arts and Entertainment / Stranger Things Theme: Demo to Emmy Winner
Stranger Things Theme: Demo to Emmy Winner
16 Oct
Summary
- A demo track was developed into the iconic Stranger Things theme.
- The band Survive was approached early in the show's development.
- Duo created nearly 14 hours of music for the series.
The acclaimed theme music for Stranger Things originated from a humble beginning: an unfinished demo by the electronic band Survive. The Duffer brothers, impressed by Survive's sound, used their track 'Dirge' in a mock trailer for the series. This led them to contact the band in 2015 about composing for the show.
Band members Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein were brought on board early, even before casting. They provided numerous unreleased tracks, some of which were used to set the show's atmosphere during actor auditions. The directors encouraged the duo to work on the series full-time.
One particular demo, originally titled 'Prophecy' by Michael Stein, was selected for development into the main theme. After extensive revisions based on the Duffers' feedback for a bigger, bolder sound, the track evolved into the recognizable Stranger Things theme. The duo impressively produced almost 14 hours of music for the show.
In 2017, the main title theme earned an Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.' This marked a significant achievement for a piece of music that began as an undeveloped idea, showcasing the power of taking a chance on unfinished creative work.
