The Impossible Tightrope
On paper, a show like Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building" presents a composer with a nightmare. How do you musically support the witty banter of Steve Martin and Martin Short one minute, and the genuine danger of a murder investigation the next? Standard
comedy music would kill the suspense. A classic thriller score would make the jokes fall flat. This is the challenge Emmy-winning composer Siddhartha Khosla solves with breathtaking elegance. Instead of choosing one lane, he creates a third: a unique sonic world where melancholy, quirkiness, and dread all live together. In interviews, Khosla has explained he avoids scoring the comedy directly, knowing that legends like Martin and Short don't need the help. Instead, he focuses on the subtext—the loneliness and the emotional stakes—which gives the series its surprising depth.
A Signature Sound for the Arconia
The main title theme is a perfect microcosm of his approach. It’s an earworm built from contradictions. There’s a classical, chamber music feel from the pizzicato strings and woodwinds, which gives the show a timeless, old New York vibe. But the percussion isn't a traditional drum kit; it’s the sound of Khosla playing on plastic Home Depot buckets. This blend of highbrow and DIY immediately establishes the show’s unique personality. Khosla, a former indie-rock frontman for the band Goldspot, often uses his own voice to hum melodies, a technique he accidentally discovered on his other hit show, "This Is Us". This vocal element adds a human, slightly melancholic layer that feels both intimate and unsettling, like a half-remembered lullaby. The result is a theme that's catchy, a little sad, and deeply mysterious all at once.
Scoring Characters, Not Just Scenes
Khosla's real genius lies in his thematic writing, a skill he honed as a songwriter. He doesn't just score a scene's plot points; he scores the inner lives of the characters. The central theme reflects the core of the show: three lonely souls who find connection through a shared, morbid hobby. This focus on emotion allows the score to function as a form of non-verbal dialogue. While the characters are trading barbs about podcasting woes, the music might be hinting at a deeper sadness or a creeping sense of paranoia. He develops specific motifs for different characters, using a grander orchestral sound for Steve Martin's character, jazzy elements for Martin Short's, and a more modern, atmospheric vibe for Selena Gomez's. This allows the score to telegraph emotional shifts and build suspense without a single character needing to say, "I'm scared."
The Art of the Musical Misdirect
A key part of maintaining suspense in a comedy is keeping the audience slightly off-balance. Khosla is a master of this musical misdirection. He might use a waltz—a traditionally bright and formal dance rhythm—but pair it with a darker, minor-key melody. The combination feels just a little bit wrong, creating an unsettled feeling even in a seemingly lighthearted moment. In an interview, Khosla noted that his goal was to create a sound that felt both "classic but modern." He often uses instruments in unexpected ways, like highlighting the bassoon because it can sound both comedic and mysterious. By constantly playing with these juxtapositions, he ensures the audience can never get too comfortable. The laughter is real, but the danger always feels just around the corner, lurking in a dissonant chord or an unexpected instrumental voice.
