David Lynch's Hidden Talent: The Surprising Music Career of the Genius Filmmaker

Berfin Ceren Meray
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David Lynch, the mastermind behind mind-bending films, was a true artist in every sense. While most of us know him for his iconic, surreal movies, his creative genius extends far beyond the screen. From painting and writing to furniture design, Lynch was a multi-talented visionary. But did you know about his thriving music career? Uncover the lesser-known musical side of Lynch, from his early cinematic compositions to his two solo albums and collaborations that will surprise you. Let’s dive into the unexpected musical legacy of this legendary artist!

Here we present the charismatic David Lynch, the name behind iconic works like Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, and Lost Highway!

Born in 1946, American director David Lynch has left a deep mark on the history of cinema with his films. While these films, crafted with his artistic intelligence, are not for everyone, they have garnered a huge fanbase.

However, in this article, we won't focus on Lynch's cinematic career, but rather his other artistic talent: his music.

Fasten your seatbelts!

Of course, David Lynch is not the only director in Hollywood who is also a musician.

Other filmmakers who compose the music for their own films include John Carpenter, Gore Verbinski, Rob Zombie, and Emir Kusturica, to name just a few.

The famous director first collaborated with Alan Splet on the soundtrack and sound design for his debut film Eraserhead.

With his versatile artistic genius, Lynch created remarkable works that continue to amaze.

Later, Lynch worked with composer Angelo Badalamenti, who would become a frequent collaborator in the years to come, especially on the music for one of his most famous films, Mulholland Drive.

Badalamenti, who had also worked on the music for Lynch's previous films, is largely responsible for the music-sound relationship we associate with Lynch today.

In 2001, Lynch worked with sound engineer John Neff on an album, which he described as industrial blues.

This album, titled BlueBOB, saw Lynch as a co-writer and co-composer, with Neff also providing back vocals on some of the tracks.

In 2006, we heard Lynch’s voice on the soundtrack album for Inland Empire.

Not only did he contribute as a writer and composer, but he also performed the song Ghost of Love.

The following year, Lynch released an album titled Polish Night Music, featuring four songs composed with renowned composer Marek Zebrowski.

The album was highly praised and, despite being initially limited in release, was reissued in deluxe versions in 2015 in both Europe and America.

That same year, Lynch collaborated with Dean Hurley on a nearly one-hour-long soundtrack album for his exhibition at the Fondation Cartier.

The exhibition, which featured Lynch's drawings, paintings, and photographs, was displayed at one of Paris’s famous museums, the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain. The majestic musical journey Lynch and Hurley created accompanied the exhibition, and the soundtrack was later released as an album.

In 2011, the brilliant director caught international attention as a musician with his debut solo album.

Crazy Clown Timewas filled with avant-garde songs that gave the sensation that a door to a David Lynch film could open at any moment. As a debut, it was a tremendous success and left Lynch's fans overjoyed.

The opening track of the album, Pinky's Dream, featured the vocals of Karen O, known from the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Her voice fit so perfectly with the beauty of the song that we can't imagine anyone else in her place!

Karen O wasn't the only collaborator on the album.

One of the best tracks, Noah's Ark, also has a version remixed by Moby. Other important musicians such as Trentemøller, Sasha, and Skream also remixed other songs on the album.

Finally, in 2013, David Lynch released The Big Dream, an album that truly blew our minds.

Since The Big Dream, Lynch hasn't released another solo album. However, in 2018, he and his old friend Angelo Badalamenti released a remarkable album titled Thought Gang.