Danny Elfman: Drama & Dark Delights

Danny Elfman: Drama & Dark Delights

From Score: The Podcast by Epicleff

March 10, 2026 · 1h 23m · Season 7 · Episode 1

About this episode

Danny Elfman discusses his innovative music career and personal experiences in a detailed interview.

Composer-rockstar Danny Elfman invites SCORE into his state-of-the-art studio to discuss a lifetime of continuous innovation, from collecting macabre curiosities for his own inspiration to embarking on new musical pursuits with A$AP Rocky (even performing for the first time on SNL). Why Danny searches for the extremes to express human emotion in music, how a Coachella experiment launched a new phase performing next to bands like Tool and Limp Bizkit, and what’s the story behind getting all of those tattoos? Plus, finding the voice for Sam Raimi’s acclaimed new film Send Help, the anxious percussions of Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, and the sweeping romance of Luc Besson’s Dracula — all at the same time.Also, the harrowing moment with Oingo Boingo in concert that led to him ripping off his shirt in live shows to jam with fellow musicians, and the supernatural energies he taps into when he enters peak creativity. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader in Los Angeles. Production coordination by Kyle Bales and Bryan Williams. Special thanks to Sydney Worden and Melisa McGregor.

People in this episode

Hosts: Kenny Holmes, Matt Schrader

Guest: Danny Elfman

Topics covered

  • music composition
  • innovation in music
  • live performance
  • film scoring
  • personal stories
  • collaborations

Keywords

  • Danny Elfman
  • music innovation
  • film composer
  • live performance
  • Oingo Boingo
  • A$AP Rocky
  • Coachella
  • tattoos
  • emotional expression

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oingo Boingo, A$AP Rocky, Tool, Limp Bizkit

Books & works: Send Help, Dead Man’s Wire, Dracula

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