A feeling of ecstasy': how Anne Hathaway and FKA twigs created the thunderous Mother Mary soundtrack

"David Lowery spent a lot of time studying the last 25 years in music while writing the fictional pop star Mother Mary for his new film. He listened to Taylor Swift, Lorde, and FKA twigs, who appears on screen as a medium named Imogene. As the film's haunted love story emerged, his listening habits shifted from pop music to artists like James Blake and Aldous Harding, which helped him channel the film's emotional essence."

"The film is split into two contrasting modes: Hathaway and Coel enact a two-woman play in designer Sam's atelier, where a broken Mary begs her former friend for a dress for a proper pop rebirth. The other part features Mary in god-like pop diva mode, showcasing her cult-like, multi-generational fan base. Hathaway needed to unlock the broken, desperate humanity of Mother Mary, initially unaware of the songs' sound."

"While the film itself is already divisive in early reviews, the music and performance footage has been acclaimed. Antonoff and Charli xcx wrote the majority of the soundtrack, with the exception of 'My Mouth Is Lonely for You,' which adds an erotic layer to the film's emotional landscape."

David Lowery studied 25 years of music while creating the character Mother Mary for his film. He shifted from pop music to artists like James Blake and Aldous Harding to capture the film's emotional essence. The narrative contrasts a two-woman play in a designer's atelier with Mary’s commanding pop diva performances. Anne Hathaway, portraying Mother Mary, focused on unlocking the character's humanity, initially unaware of the soundtrack's sound. The film has received mixed reviews, but the music and performances have been praised.

Read at www.theguardian.com