The White Lotus Composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer on Haunting Theme 'Renaissance' | The Breakdown

The White Lotus doesn't work without the eerie mystery that rests under the surface of every encounter between characters on the popular HBO series. And in order for an audience to completely lean into the suspense, they have to be fully grounded in it. That's where composer Cristobal Tapai de Veer comes in. In the latest episode of The Breakdown, the creator of that haunting The White Lotus theme song, “Renaissance," talks to Rolling Stone about stirring up emotions through music and why imperfections can actually make his compositions even better.
"I heard lots of people saying that they felt anxious about the show, about the music -tense and whatnot," Tapia de Veer explains. "But they still like it and they can stop listening to it." Earlier this year, the composer tested the limits of just how much of an ear-worm "Renaissance" could be when he teamed up with Tiësto for the first-ever official remix of the theme song. Seeing the way people latched onto the song, despite him having rushed to complete it in the midst of multiple other projects, revived Tapia de Veer's love for it.
"The thing is that I did that really fast, and I couldn't send it to Mike, because I was tripping when I did it. But afterwards, I started thinking about the sounds, about the production and this and that, and I started criticizing. I thought, 'Okay, this is not very good. I need to change this. It sounds too clean,'" he recalls. When he finally worked up the courage to just hand it over, the creators thought it was perfect. "I was really surprised. And then, you know, I somehow started appreciating this theme again."
He adds: "I realized when this came out and it became such a big thing - Tiësto doing a remix, it's all over the place - I realized that when you do something really fast, and you're feeling right, you have this gut feeling. But this a very short moment and then afterwards, you start criticizing. If you take the time to perfect it, then it's like you start strangling the tune, somehow, and you start losing elements."
Get the full story at: www.rollingstone.com/

[@ifeelsane]

This man is unique, I love his Utopia soundtrack so much and this White Lotus openings are just absolutely amazing

[@samaymehta]

He looks exactly like I thought he would look like

[@vikazhvachkaa]

soooooo true ))

[@ceciliaSF-TX]

The music was a huge part of this show. In the first season, it was such a joy to keep getting such great sounds/music. In the second season, it wasn’t as present, or upfront, but it was there. Beautiful. Just beautiful.

[@HooliganMomma]

Cristobal Tapia is the future orchestration and composition of Soundtracks! This music for White Lotus honestly was heart stopping and creepy af and is EVERY THING! He's Brilliant!! Thank you to Rolling Stone for this interview..Thank you to Cristobal for being progressive and moving us forward with your music!!! xo

[@tire_iron488]

utopia ost is equally very good

[@fatimacunha5130]

PARABÉNS! A SUA MÚSICA (E EU SÓ CONHEÇO A DE THE WHITE LOTUS) É G E N I A L ! Um abraço desta sua (nova) admiradora portuguesa.🦋🐞🦋🐞🦋🐞🦋

[@maria0259]

I'm so in love with everything Cristobal Tapia de Veer has composed. What a wonderful video and I hope to see/hear more from him!

[@jumpsneak]

This is so good advice, so nice deep thought. Thank you producers for not cutting the interview to a shorter video just because people have a smaller attention span nowadays. This is really good knowledge

[@neafiction]

I watched this interview having no clue about him...What a humble and sweet guy... then i heard the song and gosh! So addictive!!! Now, i am trapped with every single version of it.... insane!

[@telmomirandacomposer]

TBH, His score for Smile is some of the best modern horror score aesthetics I 've heard lately...just super crisp, jarring and dynamic.

[@marinagarza1803]

love how the music plays such an important roll for this show. All of the natural sounds that are woven into the scenes are amazing. I love how each season has a different flavor and compliments the region/location of the show.

[@walep5586]

Thank you for posting the complete interview, so we, who love the arts, music, but are not musicians ourselves, can get a tiny glimpse of what is involved in the creative process. Fascinating!

[@carolinacavalcanti2865]

such talent. very nice interview, its always refreshing to watch people talk about their craft so passionately.

[@walep5586]

Felicitaciones querido Cristóbal, magnífico tu arte, honesto, impregnado de las vibras de esta época, conectado con la naturaleza y la jungla humana! Y tú, muy real, humilde incluso, en el modo en que muestras tu arte y tus conocimientos. Tu casa, ese espacio, se parece al del sur de Chile. Si no has estado aún, date una vuelta por los fiordos del sur, para que converses con los alerces de 4 mil años. Un abrazo desde Chile!

[@GUYdream-ts9nr]

I've been waiting for this interview since season 2 started , would love to see more of behind the making of season 2 theme song masterpiece

[@LachupacabraRO]

Sound is so good, i find myself listening Cristobal's music quite often, for me is like a spiritual music. Powerfull, deep and so interesting to listen.

[@jillkltr]

Genius! All hail the creatives - without them, our world would be boring.

[@007kapz]

Can't wait to see what he does in S3. Its set in Asia.

[@oyasumidoge]

I thought it was impossible to top the first season opening creds but they managed to do it! And majestically so.

[@eclipse.4602]

A real genius imo... Man I recognized his signature from Utopia as soon as I heard the intro, it just stroke me haha. Your sounds are so unique. So lovely to have a glimpse of your workflow. Keep up the good work Mr.

[@someoneontheweb4303]

I always loved his sound. It's so unique and cool!

[@vladlajoie4030]

Je suis totalement fan de la BO de White Lotus. Elle me transporte à chaque nouvelle écoute. J’irai écouter les autres compositions. Un très grand merci !!! 😘

[@AAlk91]

That a theme song that you will never forget 😍

[@bustatron]

Damned if I can figure out why, cause I'm not an emotional person at all, but the season 2 white lotus theme brings tears to my eyes every time.

[@ceroscentauri7045]

I’ve loved his compositions since discovering him via Utopia (original British version). Capable of creating deeply unnerving, sometimes anxiety inducing, energetic, and even downright beautifully unique pieces.

[@SoundsofFutureSiam]

You sir, are true legend. Big love from Siam.

[@cawsomeaolin]

this guy is a huge inspiration

[@12black31]

After hearing his composition on the " Humans" soundtrack he became my favorite composer

[@sun.sneezer]

genio.. bravo Cristo :)

[@UncleFishbits]

He should be recording in Hawaii's aluminum Kaiser geodesic dome LOL What a throwback to library music and 60s and 70s Lounge OST Jazz film score fans! PLEASE TOUR DUDE.

[@calcacciatore9336]

GENIUS

[@marbike21]

Questo signore e' un genio !

[@brca1853]

Very unique piece

[@DeSanKwuh]

Creative genius

[@jumpsneak]

Thanks for your insight into the different Person thing, I understand what you mean and maybe it will help me to avoid the time finding it out myself

[@spoombung]

Ever since Utopia my favourite TV and film composer

[@jLeeSym]

so glad he isn't shy

[@PHPLITHIUM]

i love you christobal tapia.

[@Arif3394]

Nice

[@GliGlock]

Best❤❤❤

[@BeliefHolePodcast]

I watched Smile last night. Without the soundtrack it would still be good but Cristobal took it to the next level and beyond. The textures are so disturbing. Unlike anything I've ever heard before. I'm wondering how much he creeped himself out working on it in the woods watching the disturbing imagery.

[@carl2072]

I saw Smile at the cinema, soundtrack was the best thing about the film. By a mile.

[@Anjdmk]

he looks like the theme song of the white lotus.

[@SebastianBode]

"I was tripping when I did it"

[@heatherrogers9522]

❤

[@vikazhvachkaa]

love him absolutely ✨ genius white lotus without his sounds is a crap ) i watched all the series he composed because of him, so talented and mysterous guy started from "Detective agency" to "utopia" (my favourite series because of his sounds in a biggest way)

[@chimenea214]

Ceasheiii!!🇨🇱

[@user-lc1jn9tw3n]

🇨🇱

[@chicofoxo]

Biomimicry strikes again.

[@Everything-ness]

Maybe the future of orchestration and composition but he'll never be Oliver Anthony... It's actually kind of mind-blowing to know that someone who just came out a few weeks ago is already more popular than your whole magazine

[@pred7949]

bro are you on the spectrum or what going on with this toddlers tantrum of yours? Are you 5?

[@Tubeheadzz59]

Rolling Stone SUCKS in general

[@pred7949]

just like your mother

[@saraeastman40]

Maybe now he can buy a mirror. Yikes

[@oyasumidoge]

huh? he is super charismatic.

[@carlosgrell2062]

Wow you look so cool with this comment. No one cares about Cristobal's appearance, although he looks like a normal guy who just has a specific age and also style and clothing personal preferences. The dude is a genius and your comment appears to come from a talentless kid who just chooses to depreciate everyone.

[@cheechchong5324]

Hey what's up with the 250 best guitar players of all time list? Doesn't seem like you have very knowledgeable people working there.