How Blues Music Inspired Ludwig Göransson and Ryan Coogler on SINNERS
04/22/25 • 40 min
1 Listener
SINNERS is only in theaters April 18 and we made a special two-part miniseries about the making of the film! Composer and executive producer Ludwig Göransson spoke with director, writer, and producer Ryan Coogler at his studio to talk about how the Delta blues and their family history inspired the film’s story and sound. They also break down the song “I Lied To You,” written by Ludwig and Raphael Saadiq, and performed by Miles Caton as Sammie in the film. Stay until the end for a special musical demonstration by Ludwig himself.
SINNERS marks Ludwig’s fifth feature collaboration with Ryan Coogler, following BLACK PANTHER, CREED, and FRUITVALE STATION. A globally recognized composer and producer, Ludwig has earned multiple awards, including two Academy Awards for BLACK PANTHER and OPPENHEIMER. His film and TV credits include VENOM, THE MANDALORIAN, and TURNING RED. As a record producer and songwriter, he has collaborated with artists like Chance the Rapper, Adele, HAIM, and Childish Gambino. He is also a co-founder of Proximity Media.
SINNERS is produced by Proximity Media and Warner Brothers.
To hear the songs that inspired the SINNERS score and soundtrack, including artists discussed in this episode, listen here.
Listen to the first episode of this special SINNERS series with Ryan Coogler and cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw here.
Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.
(02:19) Get Reel
(07:44) Blues Music
(22:22) Writing & Composing “I Lied To You”
(32:17) The Hero Guitar
(35:42) Prox Recs
CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.
Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.
Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.
CREDITS:
In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media
Director: Paola Mardo
Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo
Film Score, Theme Song, and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson
Video Producer: Bianca Catbagan
Director of Photography: Andrea Walter
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Video Editors: Bianca Catbagan and Andrea Walter
Audio Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan
Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana
Sound Recordist: Marcelo de Oliveira
Gaffer: Chris Boulos
Key Grip: Kevin “Chui” Chiu
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Faith Wang
SINNERS is only in theaters April 18 and we made a special two-part miniseries about the making of the film! Composer and executive producer Ludwig Göransson spoke with director, writer, and producer Ryan Coogler at his studio to talk about how the Delta blues and their family history inspired the film’s story and sound. They also break down the song “I Lied To You,” written by Ludwig and Raphael Saadiq, and performed by Miles Caton as Sammie in the film. Stay until the end for a special musical demonstration by Ludwig himself.
SINNERS marks Ludwig’s fifth feature collaboration with Ryan Coogler, following BLACK PANTHER, CREED, and FRUITVALE STATION. A globally recognized composer and producer, Ludwig has earned multiple awards, including two Academy Awards for BLACK PANTHER and OPPENHEIMER. His film and TV credits include VENOM, THE MANDALORIAN, and TURNING RED. As a record producer and songwriter, he has collaborated with artists like Chance the Rapper, Adele, HAIM, and Childish Gambino. He is also a co-founder of Proximity Media.
SINNERS is produced by Proximity Media and Warner Brothers.
To hear the songs that inspired the SINNERS score and soundtrack, including artists discussed in this episode, listen here.
Listen to the first episode of this special SINNERS series with Ryan Coogler and cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw here.
Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.
(02:19) Get Reel
(07:44) Blues Music
(22:22) Writing & Composing “I Lied To You”
(32:17) The Hero Guitar
(35:42) Prox Recs
CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.
Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.
Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.
CREDITS:
In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media
Director: Paola Mardo
Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo
Film Score, Theme Song, and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson
Video Producer: Bianca Catbagan
Director of Photography: Andrea Walter
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Video Editors: Bianca Catbagan and Andrea Walter
Audio Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan
Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana
Sound Recordist: Marcelo de Oliveira
Gaffer: Chris Boulos
Key Grip: Kevin “Chui” Chiu
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Faith Wang
Previous Episode
Making IMAX History on SINNERS with Autumn Durald Arkapaw and Ryan Coogler
SINNERS is only in theaters April 18 and we made a special two-part miniseries about the making of the film! Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw sat down with director, writer, and producer Ryan Coogler at IMAX headquarters to discuss their collaboration as director and DP, how they called Christopher Nolan and Hoyte van Hoytema for advice, and how they brought this movie to life on the biggest screen possible.
With SINNERS, Autumn made history as the first woman to shoot a theatrical feature film in 65mm and IMAX. She is a visionary cinematographer known for her work on THE LAST SHOWGIRL, PALO ALTO, and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. She was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the first season of Marvel’s television series LOKI. She has also shot music videos for artists like Janelle Monáe and Solange Knowles, as well as Rihanna for the Oscar-nominated song "Lift Me Up" from the WAKANDA FOREVER soundtrack.
This episode is presented by IMAX.
SINNERS is produced by Proximity Media and Warner Brothers.
Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.
(2:34) Get Reel
(12:57) Advice for filming in IMAX
(17:07) Testing IMAX shots in Palmdale
(24:22) Scene breakdown: Opening scene
(31:16) Scene breakdown: Farmhouse scene
(44:27) Prox Recs
CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.
Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.
Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.
CREDITS:
In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media
Director: Paola Mardo
Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo
Film Score, Theme Song, and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana
Audio Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Sound Recordist: Marcelo de Oliveira
Video Producer: Bianca Catbagan
Director of Photography: Andrea Walter
Video Editors: Bianca Catbagan and Andrea Walter
Gaffer: Chris Boulos
Key Grip: Kevin “Chui” Chiu
Production Intern: Faith Wang
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