Lakeshore Records is set to release The Friend - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally today, April 11, featuring music by award-winning composers Jay Wadley and Trevor Gureckis. The piano-led score accompanied by soaring strings and wind instruments provides a poignant backdrop to the emotionally charged film starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray. The Bleecker Street film directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel is in theaters now.
Based on the bestselling novel, writer and teacher Iris (Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor (Murray) bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo, immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life in this story of healing, love, and friendship.
Wadley notes: "Collaborating with my business partner Trevor Gureckis on the score for The Friend was a truly rewarding experience. Working alongside directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel, who crafted such a poignant narrative, allowed us to create music that deeply resonates with the film's themes of grief and companionship. We're honored that our score has been recognized for its emotional depth and subtlety, contributing to the film's heartfelt storytelling."
Gureckis adds: "The score reflects the multifaceted nature of New York City. Our compositions range from understated jazz passages to more contemplative, atmospheric arrangements that accompany Apollo's introduction—the Great Dane whose presence becomes a central visual force in the film.
For Apollo's musical identity, I incorporated the collar of my late dog as a percussive element, adding textural depth and personal significance. The compositional process presented an intriguing challenge: creating a musical narrative that could authentically connect an animal's story with the complex dimensions of human trauma."