Film and Television
Sonya Belousova has composed and produced some of the most commercially successful television soundtracks in recent years, including One Piece and The Witcher , both of which are global hits on Netflix. [32] [33] She worked alongside her scoring partner, Giona Ostinelli, to create the music for these franchises, with their soundtracks amassing millions of streams and receiving widespread acclaim.
Belousova is known for her collaborations with other artists, such as Norwegian art-pop singer Aurora on My Sails Are Set, a single Belousova composed and produced for her One Piece soundtrack. She also collaborated with acoustic guitar virtuoso Marcin and rap artist Flawless Real Talk on the same soundtrack. [34]
The One Piece soundtrack, featuring over 110 musicians, was praised for its rich stylistic variety, imaginative instrumentation, and complex musical world-building. Each character in One Piece has a unique musical theme with tailored instrumentation. [3] Belousova described the score as "incredibly diverse, spanning a wide array of styles and genres from songs to virtuosic flamenco guitar, hip-hop to big band jazz funk fusion, folk to circus, rap to big epic swashbuckling orchestra." She emphasized that this musical and stylistic diversity was the main priority when approaching music world-building for One Piece. Luffy’s theme, which she described as the "main theme of our show," is a reversed version of Gold Roger’s theme and is led by a hurdy-gurdy. Zoro’s three-sword fighting style is portrayed using bansuri, frame drum, and duduk for his Wado Ichimonji sword, while Nami’s theme features a flute. Usopp's theme is performed by an ukulele, reflecting his ongoing quest for self-confidence, and Sanji’s suave flair is captured by a big band jazz-funk fusion ensemble.
Belousova also created distinct themes for the villains. Buggy’s theme exudes a circus vibe, while Mihawk’s mastery is conveyed through flamenco guitar performed by Marcin. [35]
The soundtrack was recorded across various locations, involving artists from different cultural backgrounds, which contributed to the global flavor of the music and reflected the show's international appeal. [35] The soundtrack was nominated for the International Film Music Critics Association Awards for Best Original Score for Television. [36]
Belousova gained widespread recognition for her work on The Witcher soundtrack. She also wrote and produced its hit single, Toss A Coin To Your Witcher. The song became a viral sensation immediately after its release. It has also been heavily used in the marketing of the series ever since. On Spotify and other streaming platforms, the song quickly gained millions of streams. Its commercial success cemented it as one of the standout tracks from the series, appealing to both fans of the show and general audiences alike. Toss A Coin reached #1 on both Billboard’s Digital Rock Songs Sales [4] and iTunes’ Top Soundtrack Songs, [5] while also breaking into The Billboard 200. [6] The song also reached the top ten in every major territory worldwide, reflecting its international success. CNN described it as “the new year’s earworm,” adding: “Just try and not get Toss a Coin to Your Witcher stuck in your head. The tune from the Netflix series The Witcher has gone viral.” [37]
The song's impact extended far beyond streaming platforms. It became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring viral memes, countless TikTok videos, and YouTube covers and remixes, with notable orchestras and musicians creating covers of the song. Its wide appeal led to Toss A Coin being adapted into different musical genres and languages, with metal, folk, and orchestral renditions performed globally. [38]
Toss A Coin To Your Witcher was performed live at various events. Notably, Belousova headlined the Krakow Film Music Festival performing her own arrangement of the song featuring a 70-piece orchestra and 30-piece choir, [39] which she later released under Sony Music as part of The Witcher Suite.
Additionally, the soundtrack album, which features Toss A Coin To Your Witcher , broke into several Billboard charts, including Billboard Top Current Albums, [13] Billboard Top Album Sales, [14] and Billboard Top Soundtrack Albums, [15] and amassed over half a billion streams to date.
The creative process behind the song was a collaboration between Belousova and her scoring partner, Giona Ostinelli. Belousova has said that the song was crafted to have a "medieval, yet modern sound" that could resonate with a wide audience. Ostinelli added that they wanted to capture the essence of the bard character, Jaskier, through the music while creating something timeless and catchy. [40]
The song also became a significant part of The Witcher 's marketing and promotional campaigns. The Witcher soundtrack, including Toss A Coin To Your Witcher, was nominated for several Hollywood Music In Media Awards. [41]
In 2020, Tesla, Inc. added Belousova’s Toss A Coin To Your Witcher to its software, making it possible to replace the vehicle’s horn with Belousova’s chorus. [42]
In 2024, it was announced that Belousova will compose and produce the soundtrack for the upcoming Red Sonja reboot (based on the Marvel character under the same name). [43]
Belousova’s work also includes composing the soundtracks for NBC drama The Thing About Pam starring Renée Zellweger, Matthew Weiner’s The Romanoffs, featuring a star-studded cast Isabelle Huppert, Amanda Peet, Aaron Eckhart, Diane Lane, Blumhouse’s Sacred Lies , starring Juliette Lewis, Paramount Network’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Mist , among others.
Ballet
In 2013, Sonya Belousova was commissioned by Festival Ballet Providence to compose music for the new ballet Orchis, in collaboration with choreographer Viktor Plotnikov. Plotnikov, referring to his collaboration with Belousova, remarked, “I listen to the music, what it tells me…and I have the piece.” [23]
Orchis premiered on March 8, 2013, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium alongside Igor Stravinsky's Agon. [45] Described as "a big hit" [46] and "stunning collaboration," [47] Orchis returned to the stage the following season as a part of the Boundless Plotnkov program. [48] "Audiences were blown away by the eccentric, wide range of Sonya Belousova's original score, striking a rich parallel to Viktor Plotnikov’s unique choreography". [49] In recognition of her achievements "throughout the international music world," Belousova received an honorary citation from the Mayor of Providence. [50]
In 2014, Belousova was commissioned for another ballet, Surrogate, which premiered in November as part of the Up Close On Hope series. [51] "Accompanied by Sonya Belousova’s techno sounding original score, this thought-provoking piece questions whether we have all become 'surrogates,' unable to think and act for ourselves. Wearing tutus, three female dancers are accompanied by their male partners who move them about by grabbing hold of their ponytails." [52]
In 2016, Belousova composed the score for The House of Bernarda Alba , an adaptation of Federico García Lorca's play. [53] "There is very little that is pretty about this piece, but it is thoroughly compelling. The movements are large, but awkward, and the daughters almost resemble marionettes manipulated by their controlling matriarch. Despite this, there is nothing that feels cartoonish, thanks in large part to the fantastic original score by Sonya Belousova. The visuals, dance and music all come together to create something that will linger in the viewer's mind for a long time." – Broadway World . [54]
