The Yellowstone Official Podcast: "Music and Authenticity with Ryan Bingham (Walker) and Andrea von Forster"

Introduction

In this episode of The Yellowstone Official Podcast, co-hosts Jefferson White ("Jimmy") and Jen Landon ("Teeter") delve into the intricate relationship between music and authenticity within the Yellowstone universe. They are joined by Ryan Bingham, celebrated country musician and actor known for his role as Walker, and Andrea von Forster, the show's dedicated music supervisor. Released on December 30, 2021, this episode offers listeners a deep dive into how music shapes the narrative and emotional landscape of the series.

Denim Richards on Life Before Yellowstone

Denim Richards, an integral part of the Yellowstone ensemble, shares his journey before joining the show. Raised in West Texas, Denim was immersed in rodeo culture from a young age, influenced by his uncle, a professional bull rider. He transitioned from rodeo to music, performing in honky-tonks and roadside venues. Denim recounts:

"I got into rodeo at a really young age. My uncle was a professional bull rider, and I got into roping and riding steers when I was like 10 or 11 years old and did that up into kind of my early 20s and got into playing guitar and playing in honky tonks and, you know, on the backs of pickup trucks in the parking lots at the rodeos."
[02:08]

Denim highlights the pivotal moment when his passion for music outweighed the physically demanding life of rodeo:

"I always had to have some sort of day job during the week to kind of make ends meet, too. And that usually consisted of some type of hard labor, you know, so it didn't take me too long to figure out that the, you know, that guitar felt a lot better in my hands than the shovel did, as I kind of said before."
[04:16]

Integrating Music and Rodeo into Yellowstone

The discussion transitions to how Denim's background enriches his portrayal of a cowboy in Yellowstone. Denim expresses his gratitude for the role:

"It's really been, you know, a dream job. You know, it's like. People ask me all the time what it's like to work on the show. It's like, man, it's incredible. I get to go play cowboy in the mountains and, you know, in Montana."
[04:40]

Denim emphasizes the seamless blend of his rodeo experience with his acting, lending authenticity to scenes involving animals and ranch life. He imparts valuable wisdom to his co-stars:

"Slow is smooth and smooth is fast."
[06:39]

This mantra helps actors navigate intense scenes with horses and bulls, fostering a calm and confident presence on screen.

The Role of the Music Supervisor: Andrea von Forster

Andrea von Forster joins the conversation to shed light on her pivotal role as the music supervisor for Yellowstone. She outlines her journey and responsibilities:

"Music supervision is sort of a weird, ever changing and ever evolving job because depending on the project, it can be entirely different."
[24:40]

Andrea details her background in film production and music business, eventually establishing her own company, Firestarter Music. Her role encompasses curating, clearing, and integrating music that aligns with the show's thematic essence.

Collaborating with Taylor Sheridan on the Musical Landscape

Andrea discusses her collaborative dynamic with Taylor Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone:

"I don't know that we ever actually had a proper conversation about it. I think that we both immediately sort of had the same taste."
[27:35]

Together, they cultivated a distinctive musical palette that mirrors the show's rugged and introspective atmosphere. Andrea elaborates on the selective use of music genres:

"We tend not to use sort of deep south country because it's a little more Name Checky and more sort of party. And we don't want to name a bunch of cities that we're not in when where we are sort of exists in a bubble."
[27:19]

This careful curation ensures that the music enhances the storytelling without overshadowing the narrative.

Authenticity in Music and Its Impact on the Show

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the authenticity that Red Dirt country music brings to Yellowstone. Andrea explains:

"The music is very insular. And I feel like music from other places tends to be a little more, you know, external, whereas it's more internal for what we use in the show."
[29:52]

This authenticity resonates with the characters' lived experiences, creating a cohesive and immersive world. Andrea highlights how music from artists with genuine ties to rodeo and ranch life elevates the show's emotional depth:

"We do look for people that have backgrounds in rodeo roping, raining, barrel racing... they really are living the life that they're singing about."
[29:11]

Impact of Music on Character Development and Storytelling

The integration of music is not merely atmospheric but deeply intertwined with character arcs and plot development. Andrea shares anecdotes of how specific songs influence scenes and character emotions:

"We have a lot of reflective songs. There's a lot of sort of redemption or regret, things like that. You know, we're not typically love songs."
[27:19]

She underscores the strategic placement of music to underscore pivotal moments, enhancing the storytelling without distracting from it.

Conclusion

The episode culminates with expressions of gratitude towards the listeners and acknowledgment of the collaborative efforts that make Yellowstone's musical landscape so impactful. Jefferson White signs off by emphasizing the community's role in the podcast's success:

"We wouldn't get to do this without you. The Yellowstone family, you guys are the reason that we're here, and I truly, truly can't thank you enough."
[46:47]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ryan Bingham:
  "I feel incredibly fortunate, incredibly blessed today to have Ryan Bingham in the studio..."
  [01:02]

• Denim Richards:
  "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast."
  [06:39]

• Andrea von Forster:
  "Music supervision is sort of a weird, ever changing and ever evolving job..."
  [24:40]

• Andrea von Forster:
  "The music is very insular. And I feel like music from other places tends to be a little more, you know, external..."
  [29:52]

Key Takeaways

• Integration of Music and Authenticity: The synergy between authentic Red Dirt country music and the show's rugged themes enriches the narrative, providing emotional depth and enhancing character development.

• Collaborative Efforts: The seamless collaboration between the cast, crew, and music supervisor Andrea von Forster ensures that music is an intrinsic part of the storytelling process.

• Personal Experiences: Cast members like Denim Richards bring their real-life rodeo and musical experiences to their roles, adding layers of authenticity to the portrayal of ranch life.

This episode offers a comprehensive exploration of how music supervision and authentic experiences intertwine to create the compelling world of Yellowstone. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, the insights shared by Ryan Bingham and Andrea von Forster provide a deeper appreciation for the show's artistic and emotional craftsmanship.