entertainment

January 26, 2026

‘Magical’: how I taught Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor to sing like folk troubadours in The History of Sound

Singer-songwriter Sam Amidon had just three weeks to make the two stars sound like seasoned balladeers. He recalls their charged harmonies in the little shed at the bottom of his garden

‘Magical’: how I taught Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor to sing like folk troubadours in The History of Sound

TL;DR

  • The article's author served as the music adviser and singing coach for the cast of 'The History of Sound,' primarily working with Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor.
  • The author's background in folk music, influenced by their parents and growing up in New England, created a strong connection to the film's musical setting.
  • Actors were coached to sing live on camera, aiming for an authentic and lived-in performance within a short timeframe.
  • The teaching process focused on actors finding their natural voice and connecting it to their emotions, highlighting the voice's unique link to internal feelings.
  • The film features pre-recordings and live performances, with actors deeply engaging with the music, even singing together off-set.
  • The author's father's choral arrangement was used in a scene conducted by Paul Mescal's character.
  • The film aims to inspire exploration of folk music, seen as a poetic record of working people's emotional lives and a preserved connection to past sorrows and longings.

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