290: How to Compose an Iconic Podcast Theme (Serial)

Quick Summary - Show Notes

Nick Thorburn (the musician behind The Unicorns and Islands) talks with host Shana about creating one of the most recognizable pieces of podcast music ever: the theme song for Serial. The whole thing happened almost by accident. A friend made a connection, and Nick treated it like any other freelance gig. He listened to the pilot episode, got inspired by the dark, true-crime vibe, and cranked out a library of music in one weekend. He had zero clue the show would blow up the way it did.

Nick describes his creative approach as being a "live wire": letting his unconscious mind take over and pull from whatever influences are floating around. For Serial, that meant channelling the eerie, atmospheric feel of Twin Peaks. He sent over a bunch of options, the producers picked what worked, and that was it. No revisions.

The business lesson here is simple but important: don't treat music like an afterthought. Nick says podcasters constantly undervalue sound design and music, but it's one of the most powerful tools for setting tone and building an audience. After Serial took off, Nick gained the confidence and reputation to work with bigger clients like the BBC. His advice? Invest in your audio identity from day one.

About Our Guest:

Nick Thorburn is a writer, filmmaker, musician and artist. He recently went through the TIFF director’s lab for a forthcoming feature film entitled Underground Woman. He wrote and directed That Dog, a short film starring Michael Cera and Andrea Riseborough that screened at TIFF, Tribeca and BFI. He has served as composer on multiple projects, including Ingrid Goes West,

Sundowners, Peacock's Office spin-off the Paper, as well as podcasts like Serial and Bad Faith. In 2018, he published a graphic novel with Fantagraphics entitled Penguins. As a musician, his bands The Unicorns and Islands have released countless records and toured the world, playing esteemed festivals like Coachella, Primavera and Route du Rock.