Melodies of Gratitude: Saying goodbye – King Falls AM, Vol. 2 SounDtrack
As many of you know, the curtains have drawn on our beloved King Falls AM show. The sudden farewell left us all heartbroken and honestly thinking “what now?” After some much needed time to reflect, I recently took a metaphorical drive through “America’s Best Small Town in America” and spent sometime with myself and the music. What will always stick with me was the crew who poured their hearts into every episode, and the community that grew around it was nothing short of magical. The end of an era is never easy, but it's in this very goodbye that we find the inspiration for Volume 2.
A Chapter Closed
The original recording session setup for the King Falls AM Theme. March 2015.
Well before King Falls AM came to a close, I knew I wanted to release a Volume 2 soundtrack. Over the course of 100 episodes of anything, you tend to be hyper-aware of your personal growth, and being able to share that journey through the release of a follow-up soundtrack was at the forefront of my mind. At the time, I wanted Volume 2 to seamlessly continue the sonic narrative from Volume 1 while also acknowledging that I've learned and grown a lot personally and musically since its release in 2016. I began work on the album, and sure enough, right on cue, a worldwide pandemic hit. In a swift one-two punch, the devastating news came that the show would not be returning. Like the show, work on the soundtrack halted as we navigated through what all of this meant.
Cameron working out the arrangement for The Fire Within.
The world kept spinning and new endeavors presented themselves. Fast forward to the summer of 2023, after putting the finishing touches on the score for a huge passion project, I found myself nostalgically sifting through all of my King Falls sessions. I had forgotten how much music was actually written and never released. Personally, I tend to be highly critical of any music I'm currently engrossed in, but with a bit of distance, I always discover a greater appreciation when listening back. For me, in part, it's the act of reflecting on your past self and the people you worked with that amplifies the listening experience. Now with a better headspace and a proverbial itch needing to be scratched, I dove back in.
The Emotional Arc
For me, Volume1was all about world building. Trying to establish the tone and aura of King Falls was so important for the characters and their future development. Because of that, I wanted Volume 2 to focus more on the emotional arc leading to episode 100, which still holds a special place in my heart. Even though we didn’t know it would be our final episode, it would end up being a rewarding culmination of musical themes that had built over the course of the previous 99 episodes. I knew that 100 was going to be the biggest episode in terms of emotional scale we had ever attempted so luckily I had been developing certain themes for months to build to a tipping point leading up to the finale.
In the King Falls Chronicles, the origin of Beauregard’s not so humble beginnings are revealed. The theme that accompanies the reveal is called The Curse which thematically mirrors his metaphorical rise and fall that would follow him into immortality.
The Curse
Fast forward to the destruction of the town library, with Emily and company narrowly escaping certain death is a song called The Fire Within which captures the terror and power the void holds with a call and response of timpani and brass.
The Fire Within
The marriage of the two themes is finally emotionally realized in The Opening of the Gate when the gate of Devil’s Doorstep is unleashed by a subjugated Cecil upon King Falls.
A Thank You
King Falls AM Live. June 2019.
To every listener, every fan, and everyone who became a part of the King Falls AM family – this soundtrack is my thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. Thank you for sharing your laughter and tears. Thank you for being the heartbeat of King Falls.
As you press play on the Volume 2 soundtrack, know that it's not just an album; it's a shared moment in time, a musical love letter to a town and its people. Here's to the memories, the stories, and the beautiful symphony that was King Falls.
King Falls AM, Vol. 2 (Original Podcast Soundtrack) will be available everywhere on December 8th, 2023. A special Deluxe Edition of the soundtrack is available now at CameronChambers.com for digital download which features 5 bonus songs including music from The King Falls Chronicles and two never before heard demos from the King Falls AM animated show pitch.