Tommy Simpson shares original film score

Los Angeles-based musician, producer and composer Tommy Simpson has earned a reputation as a groundbreaking artist over the years. Under his more experimental alias Macro/micro, he’s been known to craft immersive soundscapes that transport listeners deep into their inner selves. With a foundation in classical training from learning various instruments at the age of five and by the time he reached thirteen, he was already writing and recording his own music, starting a musical journey of inquisitive sonic exploration.

Tommy’s style blends IDM, experimental electronic elements, intricate beats and ambient textures, guiding listeners through dark and often brooding soundscapes that ultimately lead to moments of spiritual clarity. As Macro/micro, Tommy has released multiple albums and EPs, but his influence extends far beyond his own releases. He’s also produced scores for film, television, theatre and even art installations, demonstrating his versatility and creative range while his work as an audio engineer with sonic pioneers like Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross has only further shaped his unique perspective on sound and music production.

Now, stepping out from behind the Macro/micro moniker, Tommy Simpson presents his latest project under his own name; the expanded edition of the original score for Kung Fu Games, a new film that blends the high-octane action of the Kung Fu genre with the tension-filled thrills of psychological horrors like SAW and Cube. Directed by Ryan Jaeger and released through Paramount Pictures, Kung Fu Games hit theatres in August before being made available for digital streaming. The film’s claustrophobic setting and intense fight scenes serve as the perfect canvas for Tommy’s exquisite sound design and musical creativity.

The soundtrack for Kung Fu Games is built on the themes of existential dread and adrenaline-fuelled action that define the film. Tommy’s score balances high-energy electronic music with atmospheric and ominous tones, reflecting the emotional turmoil and fight-or-flight instincts of the characters. In particular, his use of synth-heavy soundscapes and distorted rhythms creates an almost visceral sense of tension, pulling the audience deeper into the film’s dark, enclosed world.

The twenty seven-track expanded edition starts off with the dark and moody textures of “A Very Rude Awakening,” where the rising sweep of deep tones crafts an atmospheric scene before the strike of a sonic stab brings things into sharp focus. Touches of eastern musical aesthetics echo through pieces like “What Where Why How Who” before “Fight 1 – Bamboo Forest” brings in the first dose of thumping rhythms and charging electronic energy as jarring synth elements and punching beats collide to form the backing to high-octane on-screen moments.

With his downtempo electronic stylings filtering through on tracks like “Void 2 – The Yawning Abyss” and his experimental ambient sound tinging pieces like “Void 4 – Night” and “The Control Room,” the soundtrack flows through an array of stark moods and energies. With “…Shaw Brothers!” a bold moment of classic cinematic ideas are met with cacophonous orchestral instrumental and grand timpani style percussion to deliver a memorable departure from the electronic vibes of the score.

The expanded edition of the score also features two bonus tracks, most notably the final piece titled “Psychopath” which is credited to the artist’s Macro/micro moniker. Presenting a mash up of the movie’s motif’s, rattling percussive shots, gritty synth swells and airy string leads come together to produce a gripping track that works exceptionally well as a standalone piece as well as an incredible homage to the various components that make up the full soundtrack, resulting in a driving and utterly engrossing finale to an astonishing new work of music for the moving image by Tommy Simpson.

Listen to Kung Fu Games (Original Score from the Motion Picture – Expanded Edition) below