Original soundtrack
| Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Soundtrack album by various artists | |
| Released | April 18, 2025 |
| Recorded | 2024–2025 |
| Studio |
|
| Genre | |
| Length | 72:10 |
| Label | Sony Masterworks |
| Producer | Ludwig Göransson |
| Singles from Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
| |
Background
Coogler's regular collaborator Ludwig Göransson worked on the soundtrack of Sinners. [1] Göransson developed the soundscape from his experience with American blues music, having grown up with his father who was a blues aficionado and listening to blues musicians' as well as filming their concerts. [1] He was also obsessed with Metallica during his early stages, that developed his musical interest and a passion for guitar. When he read the script, he was impressed on Coogler's integration of music into the narrative which "felt organic and unforced" and was evident that "they were all interconnected with great intentionality". [2]
For Sinners, Coogler and Göransson worked together on developing the music, with the former having played the guitar during the scriptwriting sessions while also being trained by Göransson on mastering the instruments. [1] They felt challenged in making the music authentic to the movie's 1930's setting, with Göransson saying "What did it really sound like back then? How do we make the audience today feel like they’re hearing something fresh, yet true to the time?" [2] The major problem being there are no great recordings of the 1930s and film footages were lost. The remains of the music from that period, were distorted in pitch, as well as hissing and scratching all over the records. [2] However, as those recordings were captured live on stage, "it was this energy and atmosphere of live musical performances that we wanted to capture in the juke joint setting." [2]
During the pre-production, Coogler sent Göransson several recordings from the 1930s and early 1940s, particularly the works of Robert Johnson and Tommy Johnson; much of the music had been integrated into the script, and consisted of music from various genres—blues, Irish folk, gospel, jazz and soul music—all of them were performed onscreen. [2]
Production
Coogler and Göransson insisted on Ludwig's wife Serena Göransson producing the songs. As Serena was skeptical that they would be able to record them in studio and be able to visit New Orleans during weekends, they instead rented a house there and stayed for three months, writing the music. Serena Göransson, a classically-trained violinist, said that the southern Black music had to be handled with care and expert consultation, adding "I feel like a steward with this project [...] especially with the music. I just feel that it has a life of its own and the right artists are coming in to collaborate with us at the right time." [1]
The couple worked with Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, a blues producer who owns Royal Studios, visiting the B.B. King Museum and local juke joints in Clarksdale and Indianola with him for inspiration. They recorded the songs at Royal Studios for five days with Mitchell and musicians including Alvin Youngblood Hart and Cedric Burnside. [2] Mitchell also worked with other blues musicians including Brittany Howard (the lead singer and guitarist of Alabama Shakes), Raphael Saadiq, Bobby Rush and Buddy Guy (who also starred in the film). [2] [3]
They rented a studio converted from a church in New Orleans and worked with the supporting cast Jack O'Connell, Lola Kirke, Peter Dreimanis and Jayme Lawson, rehearsing their songs multiple times. Much of the film was recorded live on set, with the cast members performing alongside other blues musicians. [1] Hailee Steinfeld wrote and recorded the original song "Dangerous" for this film. [4]
Release
Unlike most of Warner Bros. films, whose music being released through their in-house label WaterTower Music or record labels owned by Warner Music Group, the soundtrack and score to Sinners (produced and distributed by Warner Bros.) were released through Sony Music labels. [5] The soundtrack was released through Sony Masterworks on April 18, 2025, the same day as the film, [6] featuring 22 tracks performed by an array of blues musicians, alongside the cast members. [7] [8] The eponymous song, performed by Rod Wave, preceded as the single two weeks prior. [5] [9]
Reception
Brandon Zachary of Screen Rant wrote "Sinners boasts a very impressive soundtrack that matches the critical heights of the Ryan Coogler vampire film." [7] Kambole Campbell of Little White Lies described it as a "typically inventive soundtrack from Ludwig Göransson". [10] David Ehrlich of IndieWire wrote "This isn’t the first time that a Ludwig Göransson score has been inextricable from the texture of a Ryan Coogler movie, but “Sinners” opens with someone talking about a kind of music “so pure it can pierce the veil between life and death, past and future” (a heavy gauntlet to drop at your composer’s feet!), and then proceeds to show us exactly what that sounds like. Twangy bass lines thick enough to saw down a redwood tree are shredded with shivers of electric guitar to create a blues sound that cuts a hole straight through the decades." [11]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "This Little Light of Mine" | Miles Caton, DC6 Singers Collective and Pleasant Valley Youth Choir of New Orleans | 2:25 |
| 2. | "Flames of Fortune" | Ludwig Göransson and Don Toliver | 3:51 |
| 3. | "Wang Dang Doodle" | Cedric Burnside, Sharde Thomas-Mallory and Tierinii Jackson | 2:24 |
| 4. | "Travelin'" | Miles Caton | 1:34 |
| 5. | "Juke" | Bobby Rush and Miles Caton | 1:11 |
| 6. | "Séance" | James Blake and Ludwig Göransson | 4:08 |
| 7. | "Dangerous" | Hailee Steinfeld | 3:33 |
| 8. | "I Lied to You" | Miles Caton | 5:14 |
| 9. | "Pick Poor Robin Clean" | Jack O'Connell, Lola Kirke and Peter Dreimanis | 1:45 |
| 10. | "Can't Win for Losin'" | Cedric Burnside and Tierinii Jackson | 2:16 |
| 11. | "Old Corn Liquor" | Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson | 3:37 |
| 12. | "Will Ye Go, Lassie Go?" | Lola Kirke, Peter Dreimanis, Brian Dunphy, Darren Holden and Jack O'Connell | 4:19 |
| 13. | "Pale, Pale Moon" | Jayme Lawson | 4:45 |
| 14. | "Rocky Road to Dublin" | Jack O'Connell, Brian Dunphy and Darren Holden | 3:38 |
| 15. | "In Moonlight" | Jerry Cantrell and Ludwig Göransson | 4:21 |
| 16. | "Travelin'" | Buddy Guy | 1:09 |
| 17. | "Last Time (I Seen the Sun)" | Alice Smith and Miles Caton | 3:17 |
| 18. | "Sinners" | Rod Wave | 3:08 |
| 19. | "Troubled Waters / Homesick" | OG DAYV and Uncle James | 4:05 |
| 20. | "Pale, Pale Moon" | Brittany Howard | 5:01 |
| 21. | "I Lied to You" (Radio Edit) | Miles Caton | 2:54 |
| 22. | "Pick Poor Robin Clean" | Geeshie Wiley | 3:12 |
| Total length: | 72:10 | ||
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) [12] | 16 |
| UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC) [13] | 9 |
| UK Compilation Albums (OCC) [14] | 13 |
| US Billboard 200 [15] | 133 |
