Picture this: I’m sitting down with Leo and Zach, the musical masterminds behind the score for Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and I’m buzzing with excitement. As the biggest self-proclaimed Spider-Man fan on 4GQTV, I couldn’t wait to dive into how they crafted the soundscape for our favorite web-slinger. What I got was a wild ride through anime vibes, lo-fi beats, and a dash of villainous flair that’ll make you want to hit play on the full interview over on Spotify.
I kicked things off by asking what inspired them when they landed the gig. Leo didn’t hesitate: their approach is all about pushing boundaries. “We go as hard as we can in a direction and see how much we can get away with,” he said, hinting at the bold choices that make their work unforgettable. For Spider-Man, the animation sparked two big ideas. First, anime—think high-energy rock, pop, and orchestral blends that scream youthful MCU spirit. Second, New York City itself, with its lo-fi hip-hop pulse and jazzy roots, perfectly capturing Peter Parker’s teenage world. Wrestling those into one cohesive score? That’s the magic they spent the season perfecting.
Curious about the iconic opening, I was surprised when Zach dropped a bombshell: “We did everything but the theme song.” That’s right—the catchy opener is by Math Club and others, but Leo and Zach handled all the underscore and end credits, weaving their sonic web through every episode. And when it comes to villains like Doc Ock or Vulture, they had a blast. Zach lit up talking about giving Doc Ock a quirky string quartet vibe and Vulture a heavy metal edge—each baddie gets a musical personality that’s as fun to hear as it is to watch.
As a synthwave fan, I had to know if that ‘80s nostalgia seeped in. Zach, a former synth artist, grinned. “It’s always in the back of our heads,” he admitted. While they didn’t go full Cobra Kai with it, that cinematic nostalgia vibe still sneaks into the mix—especially in Peter’s everyday moments, like chatting with Lani in the school hallway, which they both adore scoring more than any action scene.
So, how do they hint at a villain’s turn? Leo explained it’s a delicate dance—sometimes foreshadowing, sometimes keeping it a surprise, all guided by the script. And no, they didn’t dig into old Marvel cartoons for inspiration—they wanted this to be their Spider-Man, fresh and original.
By the time we wrapped up (with a quick pineapple-on-pizza debate—Leo’s a firm yes, Zach’s a chill maybe), I was hooked. Their passion for blending wild influences into Peter Parker’s world is infectious. Want the full scoop, from Russian techno Unicorns to their favorite slice-of-life beats? Swing over to Spotify and listen to our chat—it’s a score worth hearing in full.
