Lorne Balfe has composed music for fighter jets, superspies (including Tom Cruise), and even Marvel superheroes, but entering the realm of Doctor Who presented a unique challenge. In The War Between the Land and the Sea, the renowned composer introduces a darker, more emotionally resonant soundtrack to the Whoniverse, demonstrating that even a 63-year-old sci-fi legacy can still be innovative.
The War Between the Land and the Sea features Russell Tovey as Barclay and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, alongside the return of Jemma Redgrave from the main Doctor Who series. This darker BBC drama depicts UNIT’s efforts to avert a global conflict triggered by the return of the Sea Devils, also known as ‘Homo Aqua.’
In an exclusive interview with Clash, Balfe discussed how this new Whoniverse spin-off has been one of his most thrilling challenges to date, sharing insights about the show's music, his long-standing admiration for Doctor Who, and his collaboration with Alison Goldfrapp on a David Bowie cover featured in the finale of The War Between.
Balfe reflects on the beginning of his journey into the Whoniverse, stating, “It was Russell [T Davies] who contacted me after I composed for a BBC show called Sherwood. The music for that was quite different from what Russell typically does; it was subtle and restrained, which intrigued him for this project.”
He continued, “Every few years, during discussions about a Doctor Who project, I hope for that phone call. Doctor Who is one of the three major British franchises, alongside Bond and Wallace and Gromit.”
“Doctor Who has always been a part of my life; I grew up with it. So when Russell mentioned this project, I immediately agreed. I was already familiar with the Bad Wolf team due to my work on His Dark Materials.”
Despite being a spin-off, The War Between remains deeply connected to the Doctor Who universe, a significant part of British culture and iconography. One might assume that working within the Whoniverse would be a daunting task, especially considering its large and passionate fanbase, but Balfe disagrees.
"I've learned not to view these projects as intimidating,” Balfe explained. “Similar to Mission: Impossible, you set aside those pressures and focus on being a fan yourself. You're part of the audience, so the key is to create something you would want to see.”
“You need to emotionally connect with the characters. You're diving into a universe that isn't necessarily realistic, but the characters' emotions are very genuine. It’s essential to overlook the franchise's grandeur and focus on its emotional journey; otherwise, fear can prevent you from creating.”
Tonally, The War Between diverges significantly from the main Doctor Who series, functioning more as a somber adult drama than a family-friendly sci-fi show. Balfe describes the creative process for composing music in such an established universe with a differing tone as challenging.
“There was an initial thought to incorporate musical nods to Doctor Who, but we ultimately decided against that. It stands on its own; you don’t need prior knowledge of Doctor Who to enjoy it. Ironically, my work on The Sea Devils remake, which features the same villains, allowed me to address that itch for fan service and connect with the franchise's history.”
“I believe the Land and Sea stands alone. Although there are connecting characters, musically, it can begin fresh,” he added.
Balfe created a new score for the remastered 1972 Doctor Who episode, The Sea Devils, which focuses on the titular villains featured in The War Between. This special version coincided with the launch of the new spin-off, allowing Balfe to put his stamp on the score while remaining true to its original sound.
Regarding The Sea Devils, he commented, “The editing was altered, affecting some of the music that could be used. I had seen the original long ago, and Malcolm Clarke composed the initial score.”
“The plan was to weave musical themes from Land and Sea, like Barclay's Theme, into The Sea Devils. I aimed for a style reminiscent of the Radiophonic Workshop's avant-garde electronic sound.”
“My goal was to maintain Malcolm Clarke's foundational themes while enabling viewers to enjoy The Sea Devils first, then see Land and Sea and recognize those original themes. That was the idea behind weaving the music together thematically.”
In the finale of The War Between the Land and the Sea, Balfe collaborated with Alison Goldfrapp, who has strayed from her typical style to create a new cover of David Bowie’s Heroes.
On the collaboration, Goldfrapp shared with Clash, “Working with Lorne on ‘Heroes’ was deeply inspiring. His musical vision brought a cinematic depth to the song, and the collaboration infused the track with new emotional layers. Together, we created a version of ‘Heroes’ that aligns with the drama and spirit of The War Between while honoring the original.”
Balfe explained his choice of
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Lorne Balfe has composed music for fighter jets and superspies (both featuring Tom Cruise), as well as Marvel superheroes, but now he is venturing into the realm of Doctor Who.