As I’m sure that many readers also are, I’m obsessed with the music behind Prime Video’s new TV show: Off Campus. Of course, as a book girly myself, I was curious to see how such a famous college hockey book series would be adapted into a TV show. To say that I liked it would be an understatement — I loved it. That being said, as much as I enjoy buying merch, reposting edits, and overall making it my entire personality, I was also curious about the music that makes the show so unique. With that being said, I want to share with you all everything I learned from the 1824 Off Campus Soundtrack conference!
Before choosing the official songs that would appear in the show, music supervisor, Amanda Thomas, and music producer, Alana Da Fonseca, made sure to also ask the actors to make their own playlists based on their characters. They explained how selecting the music for certain scenes needed to feel intentional and appropriate for that moment, considering what the actors felt their characters would listen to and offer a new perspective for scenes. Ella Bright, the actress who plays the main character, Hannah Wells, mentioned how listening to music helped her get into character while preparing to shoot a scene. One song she found aligned the most with both her character and her personal music taste, was the song “Vertigo” by Griff, featured in episode four in which Hannah arrives at Garrett’s apartment for their first intimate scene. Another example of this was in episode seven; Bright confessed that she listened to “Call Your Mom” by Noah Kahan when prepping for the scene where Hannah is speaking on the phone with her mom.
The first episode starts off with “Dancing with Myself” by Billy Joel featuring Generation X. Thomas explained how the classic rock was intentional to encapsulate the main characters’ shared love for music. The song is crucial to this scene in particular since it initiates the first meeting between Hannah and potential love interest Garret Graham, played by actor Belmont Camelli. Additionally, in the same episode, Hannah covers the song “The Bitch is Back” by Elton John. This allows her to escape from the anxiety of seeing someone from her past, whilst Garret finds comfort in her performance. Both scenes showcase how, through music, they find peace and relief amidst outside distractions.
Experimenting was another huge aspect that played into what music was picked for the show. Thomas and Da Fonseca explained how the music editors worked tirelessly to find the right fit for scenes. Also, the inclusion of the fictional rock band After Hours, whose lead singer is Justin Kohl, Hannah’s initial love interest, adds another layer to the music of the show. After Hours performed a mix of originals and covers, creating iconic moments like the performances of: “Into You” by Ariana Grande, “U+Ur Hand” by Pink, “Dirty Little Secret” by The All-American Rejects, and most remarkably, “Kiss You” by One Direction. Nonetheless, most of the show’s famous covers were performed by Bright, including: “Make Me Feel” by Janelle Monáe, “Cherry Pie” by Warrant, and “Baby Now That I’ve Found You” by The Foundations. Thomas and Da Fonseca also shared that most of the music team for the show was composed of women, describing how inspiring and communicative the experience was to be a part of.
The mix between oldies, originals, and newer songs for the show created that perfect blend of nostalgia and contemporary. The song featured in the teaser, “Hush Baby, Hurry, Slowly” by Sigrid, introduced the dancey-pop vibe for the first look of the show. Incorporating newer artists like Remi Wolf to perform “Soup” and “Alone in Miami” in the first episode was essential to add relatability to what college students today would enjoy listening to. For other scenes, throwbacks from the early 2010’s like “On the Floor” by JLO actually made me want to get up from my bed and start dancing. (It’s currently still on repeat.) More trendy artists were not forgotten as the show featured some of my personal favorites: Role Model, Audrey Hobert, JENNIE, The Beaches, Aidan Bisset, Royel Otis, Sombr, Asha Banks, and many more.
In conclusion, the attentive and collaborative process of selecting and curating each of the songs was purposeful and intentional. The conference showed me how important music is in the creation of characters, and how essential it is to move the story forward. Similar to how hockey is a big part of Garret’s life, music is what drives Hannah’s character, which plays a fundamental role because it allows her to find her voice. Towards the end, she performs “Girl That I Am” an uplifting and emotional ballad written by third time Grammy award winner Amy Allen. I personally found this scene deeply emotional, as it acknowledges that the things that happen to us don’t define us, but certainly shape the way we move through life.
Since music was Hannah’s outlet for healing throughout her journey, the music in the show can do the same for us. After hours of listening to the show’s soundtrack, I can confidently say that this show will continue to grow to become some people’s favorite, if it isn’t already.