Beat The Drum (2003)
The chances are you’ll have never heard of this film. I didn’t either until I started delving deep into the fantastic catalogue of Ramin Djawadi scores. However, his earliest film score perfectly captures his immense ability to create atmospheric, evocative tones that transports the listener into the heart of the moment. There are themes here that feel like precursors to Game of Thrones and Westworld.
Djawadi’s music for Beat The Drum is simple and beautiful, capturing the essence of Africa, where the young lead treks in search of a cure for an illness inflicting his village with his dead father’s tribal drum for company. There is an innate sadness to this music, but Djawadi never makes it feel depressing, the use of African choral themes and flutes making this soundtrack a joy to listen to.
Best Track: ‘Brand New Day’, a beautiful, emotion piece that transports the listener into the heart of Africa…