RE-RELEASE - Siddhartha Khosla and Us | Composer
That Was Us
Deep Dive
Why is Siddhartha Khosla's score considered crucial to the emotional impact of "This Is Us"?
Khosla's score acts as an emotional amplifier, enhancing pre-existing emotions within the scenes and creating a sense of safety and validation for viewers as they experience the show's ups and downs.
How did Siddhartha Khosla's relationship with Dan Fogelman begin, and how did it lead to his involvement in "This Is Us"?
Khosla and Fogelman were college roommates and bonded, despite diverse interests. Fogelman recognized Khosla's musical talent early on. Years later, after Khosla's band's record flopped, Fogelman offered him the opportunity to compose for his show "The Neighbors." Despite initial hesitation and inexperience, Khosla took the job, which eventually led to his involvement in "This Is Us."
How did Khosla approach composing for "The Neighbors," his first scoring job?
Driven by fear and insecurity, Khosla wrote long, experimental orchestral pieces without referencing specific scenes. He then sent these to Fogelman and director Chris Koch for feedback and integration with existing themes.
What was Khosla's initial approach to composing for "This Is Us," and how did it evolve?
Khosla initially composed a six-minute piece for the pilot without looking at the picture, drawing inspiration from the script's emotional core. This piece, although intended as a dramatic theme, was used in a comedic sequence, setting the tone for the show's unique approach to scoring the subtext of scenes rather than the surface emotions.
How did Khosla's Indian heritage influence the score of "This Is Us"?
While initially hesitant to incorporate Indian influences, a pivotal scene in season one, episode 13 (Jack's funeral) led Khosla to integrate Indian musical elements, particularly drones and rhythmic patterns inspired by tablas, creating a unique and emotionally resonant sound that became a defining characteristic of the show's score.
How did the "This Is Us" main theme evolve from a joke to a significant element of the show?
Khosla jokingly created the simple melody on a $50 antique Silver Tone guitar while on vacation. He sent the recording to Fogelman, who encouraged him to develop it. It became the end credits theme, then organically wove its way into various key scenes throughout the series, ultimately transforming into a full song performed by Rebecca in the final season.
How did Siddhartha Khosla and Taylor Goldsmith's collaboration begin, and what songs did they write for "This Is Us"?
Their collaboration began after a chance encounter at a season one party where Goldsmith offered to collaborate. They co-wrote three songs: "Invisible Ink," "Memorized" (performed by Blake Stadnik as Jack Damon), and "The Forever Now" (performed by Mandy Moore as Rebecca).
What is the story behind the song "Evergreen Cassette," and how did it end up on "This Is Us"?
The song, from Khosla's concept album *Aerogram*, is about cassette tapes his mother sent him while he lived in India as a child. It was included in season one, episode 12, playing over Super 8 footage of Rebecca and the kids, resonating with the episode's theme of motherhood and family connection.
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