Daniel Lopatin talks 'Uncut Gems' score in new making-of documentary (watch)

Uncut Gems, the latest feature-length panic attack from the Safdie Brothers, is one of 2019’s best (and stressful) films, featuring one of Adam Sandler‘s best-ever performances as a New York City jeweler and compulsive gambler who may be in over his head. (It also features great turns from NBA vet Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, and The Weeknd.) Like all the Safdie Brothers films (Good Time, Heaven Knows What), Uncut Gems starts at 11 and never lets up, and will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. It might not be for everyone, but Uncut Gems is an unforgettable cinematic experience, and is in theaters now.

Helping set the mood, and occasionally calm things down just a hair, is the score by Oneohtrix Point Never’s Daniel Lopatin, who also worked on the Safdie’s 2017 film Good Time. Drawing heavily on prog and new age for it, Daniel worked closely with Moog, who built a number of synth patches specifically for sounds he was envisioning. Moog Music has just released a 20-minute documentary about the making of the score featuring Lopatin and Josh Safdie where they discuss synths, scoring to picture, ’70s prog, and “finding the cosmic in the ordinary.” You can watch that, and listen to the score, below.