Composer Dave Porter brings his orchestral, rhythmically intricate, and emotionally resonant sound to Vince Gilligan‘s mysterious new series on Apple TV+. Porter, Gilligan’s longtime collaborator, crafted a score that mirrors the moral ambiguity, psychological tension, and humanity at the heart of the story. With a career spanning landmark television, feature films, and innovative orchestral projects, he continues to redefine the possibilities of scoring for the screen.
The score for Pluribus (which premiered on November 7) emphasizes the stakes and shifting dynamics of the shows characters. The score blends orchestral textures with a small-scale choir to highlight the series’ unpredictable narrative.
Porter’s work is incredibly essential to the nuance of Gilligan‘s narratives – we probably wouldn’t fear an unassuming high school chemistry teacher, or have sympathy for a cunning and manipulative strip mall lawyer without these accomplished musical compositions. But this new project allows Porter to try his hand at something entirely different, and that is also in-line with the other shows on Apple TV+ that lean into complex and layered sci-fi.
Pluribus is a mystery, and we love the way Rhea Seehorn puts it: this is lean forward television, not lean back television. The intrigue and enigma is made all the more confusing and enticing with what Porter brings to the table.
In our hour-long discussion, we cover a number of topics ranging from Dave’s early days playing piano, dabbling with synthesizers, and the care with which he works to select/arrange the perfect symphonic concoction to put us on the edge of your seat. Herein, he credits the streaming platform for giving Gilligan and company two things that past projects don’t often afford: time and trust. But this time around, that helps the series soar.
Enjoy our chat with this marvelous music man on the newest episode of The GoSeeTalk Podcast Experience!
In a world overtaken by a mysterious wave of forced happiness, Carol Sturka, the only person immune, must uncover what’s really going on – and save humanity from its own bliss.
