Kamasi Washington’s score for Becoming, director Nadia Hallgren and Higher Ground Productions’ documentary profiling First Lady Michelle Obama, is out today physically via Young Turks Recordings—get it on standard black vinyl, limited edition gold vinyl and CD here.
In addition, the composition is nominated for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards. Listen to the score, which was also nominated for a 2021 Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score).
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The score features new original music from Washington—whom Hallgren asked to join the project very early in its development—composed for the film as well as selections from his catalog. Watch a trailer for the film, available now on Netflix, above.
Becoming is an intimate look into the life of former First Lady Michelle Obama during a moment of profound change, not only for her personally but for the country she and her husband served over eight impactful years in the White House. The film offers a rare and up-close look at her life, taking viewers behind the scenes as she embarks on a 34-city tour that highlights the power of community to bridge our divides and the spirit of connection that comes when we openly and honestly share our stories.
Kamasi Washington is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer born and raised in Los Angeles. His three bodies of work to date—The Epic; Harmony of Difference, an EP originally commissioned for the 2017 Whitney Biennial; and Heaven and Earth, are among the most acclaimed of the past decade. As Told To G/D Thyself, his short film companion to Heaven and Earth, debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival to widespread acclaim. This year Washington released his first concert film, Kamasi Washington Live at The Apollo Theater in partnership with Amazon Music, performed the Becoming score at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s ongoing SOUND/STAGE series of concert films, and performed Harmony of Difference in full for the first time ever as part of the 2020 Adult Swim Festival. Washington has toured the world over, and collaborated and shared stages with Kendrick Lamar, Florence + the Machine, Herbie Hancock and many more.
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