Experience a Hauntingly Beautiful Soundtrack Inspired by William S. Burroughs’ Unfinished Novel
Milan Records has released the original score for Queer, the latest film by director Luca Guadagnino, featuring music by two-time Academy Award winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The score reunites the duo with Guadagnino following their GRAMMY-nominated collaboration on Challengers and offers a rich, evocative soundscape that complements the film’s evolving drama. You can listen to the soundtrack here.
Based on the unfinished novel by William S. Burroughs, Queer explores the romance between two American expatriates in Mexico City. Reznor and Ross drew inspiration from Burroughs’ cut-up literary technique, crafting a score built on sampled instrumentation. The result is a recurring sonic palette of ethereal solo piano and woodwinds that crescendos into feverish electronic synths and Motorik-inspired textures.
A key musical theme is the love theme, “Pure Love,” which features dreamlike piano and string arrangements. The composition echoes the tender relationship between the main characters and is revisited throughout the film with tonal and textural variations that mirror the deepening intimacy on screen.
The score culminates with Vaster Than Empires, an original end-credits song featuring lyrics derived from Burroughs’ memoirs and vocals by Brazilian icon Caetano Veloso. The poignant track builds in layers with each verse, offering a resonant conclusion to the film’s narrative and score.
You can listen to Vaster Than Empires here:
Queer is now playing in select theaters through A24, with a nationwide release on December 13. Fans can watch the trailer online and find tickets to the film here.
