Soul Boy Soundtrack Xaver Von Treyer

In 2009 the internationally acclaimed german director Tom Tykwer (Perfume, Run Lola Run, The International) supervised a film project in Kenya’s largest township Kibera together with his wife Marie Steinmann. They put together a team of international film experts that each mentored one film student and helped them put together the movie Soul Boy. A story about a boy that has to go on a journey to rescue his father’s soul from a mysterious voodoo-like being. For the soundtrack Tykwer asked his long time collaborator Xaver von Treyer to provide the score. They have known each other since Run Lola Run as Xaver acted as mix engineer on some of the music from the original soundtrack. They produced music together for the Krzysztof Kiezlowski written HEAVEN and scored together a documentary about human relationships produced by Tom. The result of Xaver’s score is a percussive journey reminiscent of minimal music from the 60’s paired with african vibes but completely void of ‘world music’ cliches. It’s closer to Krautrock and Steve Reich than to the commonly shallow perception of indigenous music by first world movie directors and composers. Full of odd sounding kalimbas and plucky guitars, backed by heavy orchestral drumming and floaty e-bows. Two additional tracks are provided by Berlin electronic weirdos Gebrüber Teichmann in collaboration with kenyan rappers and unofficial african queen Princess Jully and her Jolly Boys Band. The movie has won several prices in the international festival circuit, most notably the Rotterdam Film Festival viewers choice award. It’s opening in german cinemas Dec 2nd and is distributed by X-Verlein. ...equally notable, Xaver von Treyer’s excellent percussive score integrates what sounds like traditional African instrumentation.” Variety (Hollywood’s leading movie biz magazine)