The Starling Girl (soundtrack)

Music from the Starling Girl
Film score by Ben Schneider
Released	June 21, 2023
Recorded	2023
Genre	Film score
Length	31:58
Label	Republic
Producer	Ben Schneider
Singles from Music from the Starling Girl
"Ace Up My Sleeve" Released: May 19, 2023

Music from the Starling Girl is the film score soundtrack to the 2023 film The Starling Girl written and directed by Laurel Parmet in her feature directorial debut, ^{[1] [2]} stars Eliza Scanlen, Lewis Pullman, Jimmi Simpson, Wrenn Schmidt, and Austin Abrams. The score is written, composed and produced by Ben Schneider of the indie folk band Lord Huron while the band was credited for the soundtrack. The album was preceded by the first single "Ace Up My Sleeve" which released on May 19, 2023, and the 14-track album was released on June 21, 2023, under the Republic Records label.

Background

The film score is composed by Ben Schneider of the indie folk band Lord Huron in his feature film debut. ^[3] He was approached through the connections of producer Kevin Rowe. After meeting director Laurel Parmet before the pandemic, he was intrigued by the film's coming-of-age narrative set against a conservative Christian backdrop and was excited that the film's music would play an integral role in the storyline, making the project particularly appealing. Throughout the creative process, Schneider enjoyed a collaborative relationship with Parmet approaching her input while also exercising creative freedom and tried to align the musical contributions matching with Parmet's vision leading to a back-and-forth exchange of ideas and sounds.^{[ citation needed ]}

After reading the script, he composed few cues that complemented the tone and emotional depth. In his maiden film scoring experience, Schneider attributed the difficulties of interpreting the creative intentions of another person, but Parmet's freedom facilitated a productive collaboration. He wanted to express the narrative in an unexplicit manner, to garner musical authenticity, he sought out to emulate country rock sounds from the 1990s, which he did using analog equipment and live recordings, which in turn allowed him to inhabit the father's character. While watching the finished film, he complimented the nuanced portrayal of relationships, particularly on how the protagonist's perceptions shift throughout the story in a more subtle manner. This subtlety being further inhibited in the screenplay adding more depth to the filmmaking process. ^[4]

Release

On May 19, 2023, the band Lord Huron shared the song "Ace Up My Sleeve" as a digital single through music platforms. ^{[5] [6] [7]} The soundtrack was released on June 21, coinciding with World Music Day and published through Republic Records. ^{[8] [9]}

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Stained Glass"	1:19
2.	"Warm Night"	1:43
3.	"Deadbeats Jam Tape Winter '94"	2:49
4.	"Tunnel of Trees"	1:17
5.	"Jem's Theme"	4:00
6.	"Fill Me to the Brim"	1:36
7.	"Deadbeats Jam Tape Winter '95"	2:43
8.	"Evening Ride"	1:20
9.	"Summer Air"	1:38
10.	"Hands to Sky"	2:45
11.	"Mysteries"	2:35
12.	"Overflowing"	1:47
13.	"Jem's Theme" (Reprise)	2:36
14.	"Ace Up My Sleeve"	3:50
Total length:		31:58

Reception

Jourdain Searles of The Hollywood Reporter described the score "lovely", ^[10] while Peter Debruge of Variety and Natalia Winkelman of The New York Times considered it to be "tender" and "poignant". ^{[11] [12]}

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	June 21, 2023	Digital download streaming	Republic Records	[13]
	January 12, 2024	LP		[14]

References

1. Horton, Adrian (2023-01-21). "The Starling Girl review – Eliza Scanlen shines in transgressive coming of age drama". The Guardian . Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
2. Baughan, Nikki (2023-01-21). "'The Starling Girl': Sundance Review". Screendaily . Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
3. "How Lord Huron Went From Nature Walks To Ruling Rock". Genius . 2025-07-17. Archived from the original on 2025-07-18. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
4. Pinheiro, Antonio (2023-05-18). "Exclusive: Lord Huron's Ben Schneider talks Debut Score for 'The Starling Girl'". The Knockturnal. Archived from the original on 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
5. Brodsky, Rachel (2023-05-19). "Lord Huron Share New Song "Ace Up My Sleeve": Listen". Stereogum . Archived from the original on 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
6. Daly, Rhian (2023-05-19). "Lord Huron Channels Classic Country On Breezy 'Ace Up My Sleeve'". uDiscover Music . Archived from the original on 2023-12-10. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
7. "LORD HURON RELEASES "ACE UP MY SLEEVE" FEATURED IN FILM THE STARLING GIRL" (Press release). Universal Music Canada. 2023-05-19. Archived from the original on 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
8. Peacock, Tim (2023-06-21). "Lord Huron Release 'Music For The Starling Girl' Original Soundtrack Album". uDiscover Music . Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
9. "'The Starling Girl' Soundtrack Album Released". Film Music Reporter. 2023-06-26. Archived from the original on 2025-04-19. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
10. Searles, Jourdain (2023-01-25). "'The Starling Girl' Review: Eliza Scanlen in a Smart Study of a Teenager Torn Between Religion and Desire". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
11. Debruge, Peter (2023-05-12). "'The Starling Girl' Review: A Small-Town Teen Questions Her Faith in Nonjudgmental Indie Drama". Variety . Archived from the original on 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
12. Winkelman, Natalia (2023-05-11). "'The Starling Girl' Review: As the Spirit Moves (Published 2023)". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 2024-11-23. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
13. "Music for the Starling Girl (Score & Music from the Original Motion Picture)". Apple Music . 2023-06-21. Archived from the original on 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
14. "Music for The Starling Girl (Score & Music from the Original Motion Pi". Republic Records Official Store . Archived from the original on 2025-08-10. Retrieved 2025-09-11.