Today marks the release of “The Last Kingdom: Destiny Is All” an album inspired by the popular Netflix series, The Last Kingdom. This project features the collaborative efforts of Emmy-winning Scottish composer John Lunn (Downton Abbey, The White Queen), Faroese singer-songwriter and Icelandic Music Prize-winner Eivør, and composer Danny Saul (The Last Kingdom, NBC’s Law and Order: Organized Crime, Shetland, Jamestown). The album’s unique sound is a testament to the creative synergy of these talented artists, who have managed to craft a powerful listening experience that transcends the show’s narrative and makes a striking impact on its own.
This album comprises the previously launched track “The Last Kingdom: The Beloveds” and a remarkable rendition of the enthralling title sequence from the full-length movie, “Seven Kings Must Die,” titled “The Last Kingdom – Slight Return.” Fans eager to own a physical copy of the album can look forward to its in-store release on May 19th, with pre-orders available now.
Eivør, who has also released a stunning live performance of “The Last Kingdom: Main Theme” at Hammersmith Apollo in London which you can check out here by the way, shares her thoughts on the project:
“This album has changed my approach to my music, and reconnected me with certain parts of myself that I may have left behind at some point. I hope that the album helps The Last Kingdom come even more alive in the minds of people who love the series, but I also would love for them to form their own interpretations of the songs. I hope that in its own way, it can become part of the soundtrack to their lives.”
The launch of the album comes after the debut of the full-length movie “Seven Kings Must Die” on Netflix, which serves as a sequel to the series’ concluding season. The Last Kingdom has become a sensation worldwide, accumulating an impressive 10.4 billion streams and ranking among the Top 20 most widely streamed series. The show’s music has also garnered over 22 million global streams so far.
Eivør, Lunn, and Saul have utilized the musical motifs of The Last Kingdom’s soundtrack, progressing from Season 4, Season 5, and the movie, to produce entirely new compositions that highlight the show’s grandiose scenes and poignant storylines. With 11 tracks, the album emanates with intense emotional depth that surpasses the show’s limitations, and immerses the audience in the themes of fate, romance, grief, power struggles, and conflict, through a fresh perspective.
Danny Saul speaks to the challenges and rewards of creating the album:
“When dealing with such epic themes—destiny, love, loss, war, politics, and, of course, the formation of England—the music has to reflect and amplify the scale of emotions which the themes conjure. I think it’s safe to say John and I are total nerds when it comes to synthesis and analog music equipment, which has really informed the otherworldly aspect of The Last Kingdom score, where sounds, sources, and instrumentation can seem to have their identities obscured. We use a lot of synthesis techniques in order to achieve this, but it’s when these sound worlds are combined with Eivør’s incredible and wide-ranging vocalizations that we find the raw emotion that grounds the music in the human experience.”
John Lunn reflects on the trio’s collaborative process:
“The three of us took the material we’d made for the show and turned those pieces into proper songs, and ended up with something that goes beyond a typical soundtrack album. On the show there’s a lot of epic battles and other moments you’d normally associate with orchestral music, but I wanted to do something new and different and focus on electronic instruments. As I was beginning work on the series, I saw a video of Eivør and her extraordinary throat singing, and she completely captured the energy that The Last Kingdom required. The Last Kingdom score IS Eivør; without Eivør there would be no unique score.”
“The Last Kingdom: Destiny Is All” showcases the captivating synergy and innovative ingenuity of Lunn, Saul, and Eivør, who have employed their exceptional musical skills and limitless creativity to produce an enchanting and evocative soundtrack. Regardless of whether you are a loyal fan or a newcomer to the series, this pioneering musical journey is guaranteed to captivate and enrapture you.
