The Music
The original score for I Am Gen Z was composed and recorded by Kim Halliday. The brief was to follow the dystopian arc of the film with a series of interludes that become more chaotic as the film progresses. Given that Kim’s music has been described as “comforting and disturbing in equal measure”, it was a match made in heaven.
A further challenge arose during editing, in lockdown: the music in the social media posts featured in the film proved difficult to license, so Kim replaced those tracks with new music. Alongside Kim’s original compositions, the film features a range of music from young, up-and-coming artists.
On the soundtrack
As part of the Raindance Film Festival, we ran a special music event in London the evening before the film’s UK premiere, showcasing some of the artists on the soundtrack.
Lottie, a twenty-one-year-old singer-songwriter from Devon, has established an impressive online presence from the four corners of her student bedroom in Leeds. Her viewers often compare her lyric-focused ballads to the likes of Ed Sheeran, and her voice to Lily Allen’s.
Lottie has three pieces in the film, including her song “Count”, which has 1.4 million views on TikTok.
MIRI is an artist, musician, songwriter and community activist. Recognised for her distinctive soulful vocal tone and classic British songwriting, her brand of soulful pop has been heard on various BBC radio shows, along with countless independent and community stations.
MIRI’s song “Somebody Save Me” underscores a strand in the film about Gen Z’s response to mental health issues, marked by a rise in anxiety, depression and self-harm fuelled by social media.
Through songwriting, Sherika vows to encourage the conversations that make us vulnerable. From charming one-liners to heartfelt confessions, she uncovers our complex journeys through a celebration of acceptance, and continuously warms the hearts of her listeners.
I Am Gen Z includes three of Sherika’s songs: “Sending Kisses”, “Please Don’t Hate” and “Give Me A Job”.
Hector Boogieman and Bendy Wendy are Try Me, a Bristol-based duo who, in their own words, are ‘on a mission to make people boogie and forget their woes’.
Their songs “All Nighty” and “Good Time Goggles” are featured in I Am Gen Z, bringing some of their infectious and flamboyant disco punk to the film.