Danny Elfman Dishes on His ‘Raw’ New Album and Returning to ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’

Composer, singer, former Oingo Boingo frontman, and the voice of Jack Skellington himself Danny Elfman says he had a flush of ideas and songs during 2020 that led to his new musical endeavor. Elfman explained, “I had no choice. It was an explosion I couldn’t control.”
“Extra” Senior Music Correspondent Adam Weissler caught up with Danny via Zoom to talk about the new music and much more. Watch!

[@gideon3401]

Dude's almost 70, but has the spirit and energy of a 20 year old.

[@aidanjanemcintosh6919]

he doesn't have much heart and soul, so they don't get old that much.

[@jaymikevillanueva1212]

I'm glad Danny Elfman still makes kickass music. I just listened to his new 'Big Mess' album and I was floored with the sounds and textures of each song. I ended up buying that album. He really did good.

[@morgancox8411]

Don't be scared Danny, the album is brilliant and I'm typing this not even halfway thru listening. You are back my friend, and it's as if you never left.

[@PaleCanid]

I've been an Oingo Boingo fan for decades and in love with Danny's scores and instrumental work as well. This album is what I've waited for all this time and I'm not disappointed in the least. It's truly a masterpiece and I'm so grateful for it. Thank you Danny for this album ❤

[@robasiansensation3118]

Mr Elfman. We get you. We are so appreciating your vulnerability. You are like an old friend who I haven't seen for a few decades, and you came home again- only older, wiser and real. stay awhile. Good to see the real you.

[@JP_IN_TX]

Danny Elfman, never doubt yourself. This is an amazing piece of art that transcends on a kaleidoscope of joy, fantasy, and pain. Loved it and thank you for the uplifting album.

[@sweetpjess]

It is so awesome to see Danny get this creative spark back and have watched it unfold over social media the last year. Just hearing his enthusiasm talking about this new record is so refreshing and exciting! Also, with as passionate and intense as he can come across he also seems so incredibly humble. How rad we get to partake of his creative brain.

[@crystlerosales9654]

Now we just need to do a tour!

[@Jushwa]

The work Danny did with Rodriguez and Debney on Spy Kids really resonated with me as a kid. I absolutely adored that movie, it is a dear part of my childhood and the soundtrack was a huge part of it. I still get goosebumps to this day. First movie sound track I ever purchased. I cannot thank you enough Danny for your work. The level of elation your work invoked in me as a kid is indescribable. Soundtrack was in my head every day on the playground for what felt like at least a year. Spy Kids was an absolute standout and felt like a movie made by kids for kids. After learning about the production of these films now that I’m older my appreciation has only grown. Again, thank you.

[@meowsaidthecat5338]

I discovered Oingo Boingo about 20 years ago and I've been a fan since. :) I listen to it regularly.

[@lightbluepika2175]

i really hope danny elfman continues making more things that reflect himself. like, i know that movie scores of course reflect his talent and abilities, but i mean his way of thinking and stuff. like this album, even in his own words, reflected himself a lot. and i love that, because he is an incredibly talented person and i love hearing about himself directly from his mouth. i really hope he continues making music on his own, or that he even makes a book or something like that. it'd be sick as hell :)

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

I’d love for him to do a new musical like Nightmare or Corpse Bride where he writes all the songs, lyrics included, and even sings a part or two. He let out a lot of his own words back when he wrote songs for his band Oingo Boingo. “Insanity” from the band’s later years was some of his most brilliant lyrics ever, and scarily applicable today. Actually a lot of his Boingo songs predicted what is happening today.

[@camilelcoyne]

When I listened to True a few minutes ago, it felt like I was listening to "The self revealing itself to itself," without interference or the compulsion to make anything "better" or perfect, without that need to curate. I'm glad Danny has hit a point in his career when being that raw and that open to the beauty of being perfectly imperfect is not only a possibility, but something he can embrace and enjoy. I know our whole household (3 generations-worth of folks with musical tastes all over the map) is enjoying tf out of it!

[@shannonnonameinilovecats0]

My first concert was Oingo Boingo in 90' I was born in 79' and my parents raised me listening to Boingo.So they took me in the fall of my 6th grade year since it was (still is!) my favorite band. The experience of the concert is one of my favorite memories from my childhood... Danny Elfman is a true musical genius 💕🎶

[@kieferclarkf1674]

He's 68 here and really doesn't seem older than a 40 year old.

[@pussycatjackson]

Absolutely thrilled that Danny Elfman is making music (albums) once more. This album is an absolute gem. I love every song!

[@nathanisaksson]

What a killer interview. I want to be best friends with Danny Elfman.

[@mcdussy]

This album is extraordinary and a solidly fresh reminder as to why Danny Elfman is simply brilliant! "Big Mess" is fucking amazing in every way!

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

Sometime around January of 2020, I started to have a 'full recovery' after partial amnesia from a TBI while living in Kazakhstan 3 years prior. (Which I grant sounds fictional, but it's weirdly consistent with the rest of my life.) But I'd been 'recording myself' through my amnesia sometimes, because I was 'missing' hours of my time some days. And it turned out I was playing the piano and writing for hours--and recording it--but then not remembering i'd done it later. So I 'discovered' the recordings in 2020 and started writing music, and it turned out I'd been writing music during these 'absence' periods. Something about so many people being indoors during covid--SO MANY artists releasing new material openly, trying new things--it kinda made it feel less 'awkward' to be putting stuff on youtube. I was a working musician (organist for religious services) at 12 yrs old (daughter of a mormon bishop) :O But I didn't remember I'd even played the piano for about a year after losing my memory. I was keeping the recordings to myself, but the covid 'isolationism' (and other artists becoming so much more 'publicly engaging') made it feel 'easier' to just share it... and I found out I had hella pent-up rage after apparently being a devout mormon for 30 years before a head injury set me right :) So I've been surprised by the venom too. "Raw" is a great word. Sorry i rambled--apparently my linear thinking still hasn't completely recovered :) but i just wanted to say how 'relatable' Danny's reported experience of 2020 feels. I think he's expressing the 'lived experience'/reality of a lot of us--with that wonderfully whimsical dark rage we've all come to know and love. :) thanks if you read to the end of this--you're a trooper.

[@aleks4663]

❤️❤️I hope your going better now. Very brave of you

[@nuke97]

Great interview. Fully captured where he's at. Hope he keeps going on this route. He seems so liberated. Really great to see.

[@daisybluegroff]

This human is pure genius. What a gift to us all.

[@Continuum1]

Love the album! When I first heard of your new album was when I stumbled upon the single Happy and Sorry and was very impressed with the production value and musicality brought out by each track and hearing something creative and new!

[@keelanmorningstar7800]

I listened to Happy yesterday and I was absolutely mind blown. I love orchestra and I like the rock, metal type of stuff sometimes. But Chamber Punk… that shit hits different. That combination works so beautifully. And I love the name for it! Now I know how to describe the music I like.

[@debrabellingham5201]

I am just now getting around to hearing Danny Elfman's new music from "Big Mess". Gotta say, this is some of the best music that he has put out in a very long time. I cannot believe that he is almost 70! Way to go Danny, so glad to have you and your gift back out there for us to enjoy.

[@crystlerosales9654]

Concerts hopefully will do them again just make sure you come to Utah!

[@dustincooper9311]

I love all of the new stuff. Thank you Danny!

[@stuartsmith6910]

I love this album. Great work. Danny Elfman is a musical genius. been a fan of his for decades

[@metrognome2225]

I was recommended Danny Elfman on Spotify, which is way different than anything I listen to, and I can’t believe how bright, smart, and top of the line professional he is. Very interesting seeing this interview.

[@lousytshirt]

He had me at Chamber Punk! A beautiful combination of such strong and nuanced sounds. I am in love with this album and Danny's motivation behind it. Brilliant!

[@TheGodseye76]

This album is incredible

[@jadencleveland2735]

The album is fantastic Danny! Keep up the good work! 🥰

[@JayOhEff]

I dont believe this man is 68, no way, nope

[@mysteriousmarissa]

Danny Elfman! The Masterclass...!!! :)))

[@Leo-gu5ml]

Bring back Boingo!!

[@Kk-fc5jw]

This makes me so happy!.... I'm happy!! Happy!.... 🎃🎻

[@TheGreatConstantini]

The album is a masterpiece.

[@MadiDominique]

I loved his new album❤️

[@scotteverett7834]

Not an oingo boingo fan at all, love the film score stuff. This album is bloody brilliant. A nasty version of his score stuff to my ears. Absolutely wonderful, hope he keeps this (and the film stuff) up 👍🏻

[@nuke97]

I can't comprehend how you are put off by Oingo Boingo but you enjoy his latest solo album.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

I need deadlines too. That’s the only reason I’m going to college - so somebody else can force me to read math books because it’s very hard to force myself.

[@rockhaze]

Danny was almost growing into old age, then he must have had some re-awakening, now he's back to his Oingo Boingo ways it seems. New tats too.

[@CarSVernon]

I was hoping he would wake up one day and remember he was a rock star. It was especially during the sloggy period of tim burton stating to put out shittier and shittier movies that he kept having to score. I think it came to a boiling point during that awkward composer round table that was around 2015 where everyone else looked like they were thriving but he looked super depressed.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

@@CarSVernon Tim was pressured to make sequels that he didn’t want to make, I think that’s why his work suffered. As for Danny he frankly looked kind of gross in his 50s, like he wasn’t in the best of health, was older and more crumpled looking. I think quitting sugar in his 60s really turned his health around.

[@fugithegreat]

I was listening to this album and my first thought was that it was brilliant, but the second thought was a bit of worry because Danny seemed so angry and raw.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

I think we know what he was angry about now... I thought “Sorry” seemed a little too personal to be just venting about Trump and the state of the country and so on...

[@damaniqphillip2756]

Awesome

[@brandonwooster7663]

I just wished he was still ok with oingo boingo

[@Zettoman]

he didn't have the tattoo in his masterclass, which is pretty recent.

[@randipage4586]

! Best

[@joannasforehead9715]

#chamberpunk

[@curtisljordanjr7273]

I got almost all of the song's that he played in the movies, mib TRILOGY'S, Edward scissorhands, spiderman, Mars attack, dick Tracy, & I think that's about it, ohh no wait BEETLEJUICE

[@rossturcotte419]

🍊 bub got roided-out carrot top-style during quarantine

[@GamingGamer1000]

He’s got the money to keep his health in check, no reason not to at 68!

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

@@GamingGamer1000 I just hope he has the sense to wait for the Novavax vaccine to come out before he gets vaccinated. Those mRNA vaccines that Trump pushed to the front of the line through Operation Warp Speed are murder.

[@jaouadlatmer7110]

لا تقدر علا ما صنع لك الله لأننا نتمشى في.مشيؤت.والله وليس في مشيؤتي جيشك من مخورات

[@barman4273]

Bro what's going on

[@jaouadlatmer7110]

هل أمريكا دفعت لي شيؤن يا صهيني انتا وملك المغرب

[@jaouadlatmer7110]

يا صهيوني اصحا انا اعرف هطلير أصول يهودي

[@ericanderer9199]

Not oingo boingo to me. Track- Sorry. Mentions worshipping Ra over God. No horns. No cleverness.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

I took it as rejecting the Black Sun god Saturn. I mean in the video he rails against a black oil deity.

[@ELEcomments]

Yeah I like his music but this one just didn't feel right. However, I hope he continues making albums now and they improve and he'll go back to his roots that's what I hope

[@xiaoxia5]

he's not trying to do OB though. this new material is a completely new direction. i know some OB fans might not take to the new material well, but it is what it is. i still like hearing Danny give interviews though.

[@CrimCrim]

Danny has said multiple times that he doesn’t want to do Boingo stuff anymore, so no point in getting mad over him not doing something he doesn’t want to do

[@keepnitredneck5578]

Who the fuck is Danny Elfman

[@philipdecker3151]

His voice is old/shot and the lyrics are awful. Way too late in his life and career to do this. He really should have collaborated with someone to write lyrics and sing. I’m feeling pretty sure that old man Daniel got this out of his system and he’ll stay clear of putting out more weak material.

[@NigDub]

What the hell are you on about his vocals are perfectly in tune and in complex signatures

[@royjohnson4042]

@@NigDub Agreed, this is sure genius. Yes, his voice is rougher than when he was younger, but he's doing things he's never tried before. I keep wanting to share with my friend, who's also 68. But, I know that when he finds out that they're the same age that he won't be kind to himself. To even compare yourself to genius is making yourself a punching bag.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

And these are some of his best lyrics ever.

[@GamingGamer1000]

Hating to hate

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

@Trevor Phillips Taylor Swift actually writes pretty good lyrics now that she left her old record deal and isn’t writing for a commercial audience anymore. But I think she’s too grown up for me now.