Music of The O.C.: Interview With Music Supervisor Alexandra Patsavas
The hit show's music guru chats about Husker Du, Seth Cohen and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Since the series debut, three critically-acclaimedO.C. Mixes have been compiled, with a fourth due in stores April 5th. No show on television has been on more of a roll lately, andThe O.C. has set a new standard for seamless musical integration and relevance. Who's the tastemaker behind all of the great tunes on the show? Music Supervisor Alexandra Patsavas.
We got an opportunity to chat with her last Friday about the music that shaped her experience, and how she applies that to the hit show, and if she has a little Green Jelly in her collection. Read on!
IGN: I want to talk about your musical background and what music you like… and how much that figures into what you pick for the show. So, I'm going to ask you a bunch of musical history questions about yourself…
Alexandra Patsavas: Like a quiz?
IGN:. No, not like a quiz.
AP: Like what kind of music I've been listening to?
IGN: Yeah, what kind of music shaped your experience.
AP: Excellent. I don't want a quiz. It's Friday.
IGN: So, let's start back in high school. What were your favorite bands back then?
AP: I was in high school in the 80's, so I loved… I'm a Chicagoan… so I loved a lot of, I guess, the alternate music of the time. You know, I'm part of that first MTV generation. I love theBreakfast Club soundtrack. I loved Squeeze and Ministry and, you know, those sorts of bands. Nina Hagen.
And then, as I got to college, I loved Husker Du and Son Volt and Neil Young, and so many of those sort of bands.
IGN: How would you rate yourself in terms of how much music you consumed at that time?
AP: I was crazy for music as a high school kid and a college kid.
IGN: How many concerts do you think you went to in that time?
AP: I think less in high school. I grew up in the suburbs and it was a bit more difficult to get to shows, but I remember going to see The Police and The English Beat at Soldier Field and I remember seeing Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and remember definitely seeing shows in the 80's.
But when I got to college—I went to the University of Illinois—I was involved in my concert board, and eventually, I was a promoter. So I brought shows to Urbana, so in my last two years, I probably went to a show every night.
IGN: What show really stands out, one that you set up?
AP: Well there was a show that I—I worked on the concert board, I didn't actually set up—we did U2, in the 80's and I'll always remember that. And, some shows I brought to campus were Jane's Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins and Camper Van Beethoven. All of them definitely stand out.
IGN: "Take the Skinheads Bowling."
AP: Exactly. Exactly. We were in the middle of the country. What did we know about California bands?
IGN: Well, I'm originally from Wisconsin and I went to school at Madison, so I'm right there with you.
AP: Right. So, you know Jane's Addiction was like… I felt like the aliens had landed, and I loved it.
IGN: Who do you actually identify most with on the show?
AP: Seth.
IGN: Me too.
AP: Yeah, Seth.
IGN: Do you keep him in mind when you're picking music, because it seems a lot of the music on the show is the soundtrack of his life.
AP: Yeah, I think that Josh, our tech producer/ creator always intended that music be a character on the show and so much of the music is selected for Marissa and Seth and Summer, and also just to enhance whatever emotional need a scene might have. But, you know, we definitely keep the characters in mind and I think that his interest in pop culture lends itself to a lot of indie music that we use.
IGN: In terms of that, what's your favorite song that you've ever picked for the show?
AP: That's such a hard question. In a way, my three favorite songs are the covers that we created for the show. We did two last year:Maybe I'm Amazed, which Jem covered, andIf You Leave, that Nada Surf covered, and then also, this year, we had Matt Pond PA cover "Champagne Supernova."
IGN: Yeah, Ijust reviewed the album and that was one of my favorite tracks.
AP: Cool. Thank you. Josh scripted that really early, the song, and we went to Oasis to get permission to cover it and then had been really loving Matt's new release, and were really excited to collaborate with him and have him do the cover for the show. Those are always especially fun.
IGN: It was the second Oasis cover you guys have had on the show.
AP: That's true. Although theRyan Adams, you know, was prerecorded, and on his album already. But that's absolutely true. I guess some other favorites [are] The Faint'sDesperate Guys was a pretty short use, but I love that song.
IGN: Would you recommend that album? I haven't gotten it yet.
AP: Yes. I would absolutely recommend their album.
IGN: In addition toThe O.C., what show do you think has the best music on television?
AP: I think thatThe Sopranos uses music incredibly well. Very differently than us, but always very smartly-sourced. It's about fitting the show. Music should support the show. It's seamless. I also think thatSix Feet Under uses music well. What music do you like best on shows?
IGN: I likeThe O.C., honestly, and that's no B.S. I'm a big fan of it.
AP: Well, I totally appreciate that. That's really cool.
IGN: I was doing allThe O.C. soundtracks, and I was getting kind of spoiled. Anyway, I'm wondering, what's the CD or record you're most embarrassed to love?
AP: Wow, I'm not really embarrassed to love anything, I have to tell you. As a music supervisor, you learn to embrace the best of every genre, and I really have to say there's nothing that I'm embarrassed of.
IGN: There's not that Green Jelly CD in your collection where you're like "Boy, I really likeThree Little Pigs.
AP: Yeah, but I'm not embarrassed. (Laughs) I'm really not embarrassed. I mean, I'm embarrassed about other things in my life, but music, I fully embrace. You know, the underbelly of music.
IGN: So, before we go, in the spirit ofHigh Fidelity, I want your top five songs of all time…
AP: Alright, let's see here:
1) Elvis Costello: Beyond Belief
2) David Bowie:Suffragette City
3)Glenn Campbell:Witchita Lineman
4) Dusty Springfield:Son of a Preacher Man
5) The Shins:So Says I
Anything by Neil Young, actually, would be my number six. Everything by Neil Young is my favorite.