Feature: Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson scores COBRA KAI for YouTube Red Series

A favorite movie released in 1984, The Karate Kid was a huge hit spawning subsequent sequels and a remake in 2010. YouTube Red is joining other streaming services with original programming and continues the story of The Karate Kid in 2018 with Cobra Kai.

Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their roles from the films. Zabka's character Johnny Lawrence reopens Cobra Kai karate dojo rekindling his old rivalry with Macchio's Daniel LaRusso.

Bill Conti (Rocky) composed the timeless 1984 musical score for The Karate Kid followed by the success of the release of the soundtrack. The composers for Cobra Kai, Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson, utilized a 70-piece orchestra as well as choruses of electric guitars and retro-synthesizers, combining the motifs of the original score with a contemporary sound.

"Zach [Robinson] and I are huge fans of the original trilogy, and we had to figure out a way to execute this and what as fans would we want to hear musically," Birenberg explained. They began the process with a deep dive breakdown of the elements that make the Conti scores regarding the movie's palette. Conti used an orchestra and influences of Japanese music and so did the current composers. The decade of the 1980s color the film, and Birenberg and Robinson wanted that genre to be reflected but also incorporate the 2010s.

"There are also new characters and new stories developed for this show as well so we needed to connect the music to the original pieces but also develop new sonic sound gauge for the different plots happening," Robinson said.

Birenberg added "There are many story arcs in the series that are similar to the stories from the original trilogy. We wanted to find a way to score the current storylines in a way that would fit the timeline starting with the original movies moving forward to today."

Music communicates three narratives from the series. Rock instrumentations including heavy guitars and drums convey Johnny, the protagonist of the series. While Johnny might view himself as a badass, his score also conveys that his frustration that his life has not turned out as he imagined. Themes created for Daniel express what inspired and shaped his present. In essence, these two characters live in the past while navigating their future.

The duo composed a blend of hard rock and heavy hitting modern electro with traditional Asian melodies while paying tribute to the original legendary score.

Birenberg grew up playing the saxophone and clarinet as well as singing in the choir and performing in musical theater. He studied composition at New York University and the University of Southern California before becoming a composer, producer, and collaborator.

Robinson, originally from Southern California, played guitar in many bands including The Roxy Theatre and Whiskey A Go Go. He also studied composition at Northwestern University before returning to Los Angeles to pursue his musical career.

Cobra Kai can be viewed on YouTube Red. To watch and listen to the Cobra Kai soundtrack, click here.

To post a comment, you must register and login.