Q

How Alex Somers provided a soundtrack for a silent Dawson City

Sigur Ros collaborator Alex Somers talks about constructing a soundtrack for Bill Morrison's documentary, Dawson City: Frozen Time.
Composer Alex Somers attends a photocall for 'Dawson City: Frozen Time' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 5, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Getty Images)

Bill Morrison is the director of Dawson City: Frozen Time, a documentary that tells the story of an incredible silent film find in Dawson City, Yukon. Morrison's film in many ways embodies the spirit of that time — there's no narration or barely any talking at all — so music is key to the film.

Morrison wanted his soundtrack to be epic, Northern and ethereal and to achieve that, he turned to Sigur Ros collaborator and producer Alex Somers. Somers recently spoke to q about the music he made for Morrison's documentary and capturing the sound of decaying film. 

— Produced by Ben Edwards.