Back Lot Music will release the original motion-picture soundtrack to Universal Pictures' First Man day and date with the film's theatrical release on October 12. The soundtrack will feature new music from two-time Academy Award winner Justin Hurwitz, as well as a recording of Leon Bridges performing "Whitey on the Moon," in character as Gil Scott Heron. As of today, fans who pre-order the soundtrack will get the tracks "Quarantine" and "The Landing" immediately.
On the heels of their six-time Academy Award-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for First Man, the riveting story behind the first manned mission to the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the decade leading to the historic Apollo 11 flight. A visceral and intimate account told from Armstrong's perspective, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the film explores the triumphs and the cost—on Armstrong, his family, his colleagues and the nation itself—of one of the most dangerous missions in history.
For First Man, Chazelle reteams with familiar faces from his La La Land creative crew. In addition to Hurwitz, they include Oscar-winning director of photography Linus Sandgren, costume designer Mary Zophres, and Academy Award-winning editor Tom Cross. Chazelle collaborates for the first time with lauded production designer Nathan Crowley, in addition to Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert.
The film's harmonious score features orchestra mixed with vintage electronics, including the Theremin. Regarding that choice of instrumentation, Hurwitz said: "As soon as I found the main theme at the piano, Damien suggested using a Theremin to express that melody throughout the movie. I got one and started learning to play it, and loved how emotional and expressive the instrument could be. With its wailing quality, we were able to capture the type of cosmic pain that suited Neil's story."