Tom Foster

Case Study: “My Octopus Teacher”

For the additional music in My Octopus Teacher, I crafted a hybrid score for to reflect the protagonist’s emotional journey. I layered a soft pad underneath live-recorded elements (such as a coffee machine), gradually introducing rhythmic elements as the narrative tension builds.

Still from My Octopus Teacher
Academy-Award Winning Netflix Original My Octopus Teacher.
Audio Reel Excerpt (Thousands of Threads)

Instrumentation Notes

  • Foundation: Synth layers using Roland Juno DS 88, Shakuhachi, and live TRS cable experimentation
  • Textural: Various sea shells and oceanic matter, sampled in Cubase
  • Highlight: Main synthetic element is the sound of a coffee machine in my childhood home