Varèse Sarabande Records will release Bates Motel – Original Television Series Soundtrack digitally and on CD August 25, 2014. The soundtrack features the original score composed by Chris P. Bacon (Source Code, Smash). Bates Motel will premeire its third season in 2015.
"In my early conversations with the show's producers about the score's direction, they made it clear that we are not trying to re-create or pay homage to the original Psycho, which was good news because that's one of the most iconic and recognizable scores of all time and my attempts to emulate would most likely come across as a cheap imitation," explained Bacon. "Bates Motel is not so much a horror show as a psychological drama with real elements of emotion, tension, humor, as well as some horrific events. The tightrope has been trying to play the real emotion between Norma and Norman while maintaining just enough discomfort to underplay the dysfunctional elements of their relationship."
Chris P. Bacon burst onto the film-scoring scene with his full throttled score for Duncan Jones's hit thriller Source Code. Bacon grew up in Utah, learning playing piano and saxophone before studying music composition in college. He moved to L.A. to attend USC's film scoring program, which resulted in his apprenticeship with James Newton Howard.
"There are several musical themes that weave their way throughout the series," said Bacon. "Most prominent are probably the quasi-love theme between Norman and Norma, and a more mysterious theme that we first hear in connection with the house which evolved into the overall theme of the show and its psychology. In addition are thematic accompaniments for many of Norman's relationships, which include his brother Dylan, friend-zone girlfriend Emma, object-of-desire Bradley, and forbidden fruit Miss Watson."