Description
In an enduring creative partnership with acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson that spans over two decades, Jonny Greenwood has once again demonstrated his profound musical genius in the soundtrack for ‘One Battle After Another’. Masterfully oscillating between gravity and exhilaration, Greenwood creates aural brilliance using an inventive mingling of instruments. The inhabitants of this breathtaking sound world are haunting piano melodies, fervent bursts of unconventional jazz, and the proud roar of flamenco guitar, with each track embodying a character in this rhythmic tale of old rivalries rekindled.
Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, born on 5 November 1972, has distinguished himself not just as the lead guitarist and keyboardist of the globally acclaimed rock band, Radiohead, but also a skilled composer of numerous film scores that have earned him the status of one of the greatest guitarists by various esteemed publications, including Rolling Stone. Through his relentless exploration of electronic techniques such as programming, sampling and looping, Greenwood, a proficient user of the ondes Martenot, an early electronic instrument, regularly challenges conventional musical boundaries.
Beyond his notable contributions to Radiohead, Greenwood released his first solo work in 2003, lending his melodic genius to the film ‘Bodysong’. His efforts were rewarded with an Academy Award nomination in 2018 for his other collaboration with Anderson, ‘Phantom Thread’, which he followed up with another nomination for his score for ‘The Power of the Dog’ (2021), directed by Jane Campion. Such works saw him working with various musicians, including Israeli artists Shye Ben Tzur and Dudu Tassa. In 2021, he also introduced a new musical project, the Smile, with Thom Yorke and drummer Tom Skinner.
Greenwood’s unique personal history and expansive influence on modern music cannot be underscored. Growing up in Oxford, he was exposed to a variety of music, from Mozart’s horn concertos to Simon & Garfunkel songs. His passion for music was further fueled by his older siblings, who introduced him to rock bands such as the Beat and New Order. This solid base was further developed when he attended Abingdon School, where he formed Radiohead along with his brother, Colin. From serving as the band’s bassist and lead guitarist to delving into harmonisation, Greenwood has been instrumental in the band’s success, contributing monumentally to the sale of over 30 million albums and the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
The 2025 release ‘One Battle After Another’ showcases Greenwood’s mastery not just as a composer, but also as an arranger. Tracks like ‘Avanti Q’ and ‘Trust Device’ reveal his dexterity with complex structures, striking a balance between discordant harmony and frenetic rhythm. Greenwood’s signature touch of intertwining electronic techniques with conventional instruments provides a fresh perspective on the narrative of the film, further proving why his name has become synonymous with ingenious scoring in the film industry.
When it comes to the terrain of impactful scores and innovative sounds, Jonny Greenwood stands unrivaled. His constant pursuit of distinctively unconventional and sonically rich music has indelibly changed the landscape of modern music. His influence reaches far beyond his contributions to Radiohead‘s success, evident in his collaborations with notable filmmakers and artists such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Shye Ben Tzur, and Dudu Tassa. There is no question that Greenwood’s legacy, much like his mesmerizing soundtrack for ‘One Battle After Another’, will reverberate through the halls of musical history for decades to come.
