#5190, A Conversation with Adam Wiltzie
Some friendships grow deeper in music, as was the case for New York-born and Brussels-based composer Adam Wiltzie and the late Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson. Their paths crossed at a Stars of the Lid concert in Prague decades ago, where Wiltzie was on stage and Jóhannsson was in the audience. They grabbed a couple of drinks after meeting at the merch table and the rest was history. Jóhannsson brought Wiltzie on to contribute additional music while composing the score for the Oscar-nominated film, The Theory of Everything. During that time, they created many pieces together that didn’t end up in the final cut, which Jóhannsson was oddly excited about. “We’re going to do something with this together,” he said at the time, but the files ended up sitting in a folder for many years, as both composers moved on to other projects.
After Jóhannsson’s untimely passing, there was an effort to organize and properly document his archives, during which some tape loop recordings of his and Wiltzie’s shared musical memories resurfaced. With Jóhannsson’s family’s blessing, Wiltzie revisited those recordings to make the collaborative album he now calls Friendship Survival Guide.
On this episode of New Sounds, Wiltzie walks us through the album, as we listen to some pieces from their collaborations, as well as their works with other musicians. - Sırma Munyar
Program #5190, A Conversation with Adam Wiltzie (First aired 10/01/26)
ARTIST: Jóhann Jóhannsson
WORK: Cambridge, 1963 [0:50]
RECORDING: The Theory Of Everything (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
SOURCE: Back Lot Music / Universal
INFO: Available on digital platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube.
ARTIST: Stars of the Lid
WORK: Madison [1:15]
RECORDING: Music for Nitrous Oxide
SOURCE: Sedimental Records
INFO: https://starsofthelid.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-nitrous-oxide-30-year-anniversary-remastered-2
ARTIST: Adam Wiltzie, Jóhann Jóhannsson
WORK: September Nineteen Sixty Nine [2:45]
RECORDING: Friendship Survival Guide
SOURCE: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
INFO: https://adamwiltzie.bandcamp.com/album/friendship-survival-guide
ARTIST: Adam Wiltzie, Jóhann Jóhannsson
WORK: Dazed and Reflective Glory: Pt.1 [2:17]
RECORDING: Friendship Survival Guide
SOURCE: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
INFO: https://adamwiltzie.bandcamp.com/album/friendship-survival-guide
ARTIST: Adam Wiltzie, Jóhann Jóhannsson
WORK: Dazed and Reflective Glory: Pt.2 [5:32]
RECORDING: Friendship Survival Guide
SOURCE: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
INFO: https://adamwiltzie.bandcamp.com/album/friendship-survival-guide
ARTIST: Adam Wiltzie, Jóhann Jóhannsson
WORK: Exceptional Proportions [3:56]
RECORDING: Friendship Survival Guide
SOURCE: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
INFO: https://adamwiltzie.bandcamp.com/album/friendship-survival-guide
ARTIST: Adam Wiltzie, Jóhann Jóhannsson
WORK: In Ever Decreasing Circles [3:23]
RECORDING: Friendship Survival Guide
SOURCE: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
INFO: https://adamwiltzie.bandcamp.com/album/friendship-survival-guide
ARTIST: Stars of the Lid
WORK: Madison [0:48]
RECORDING: Music for Nitrous Oxide
SOURCE: Sedimental Records
INFO: https://starsofthelid.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-nitrous-oxide-30-year-anniversary-remastered-2
ARTIST: A Winged Victory for the Sullen
WORK: We Played Some Open Chords And Rejoiced, For The Earth Had Circled The Sun Yet Another Year [6:17]
RECORDING: A Winged Victory for the Sullen
SOURCE: Bright Notion Music Ltd / Decca Music Group Ltd & Wise Music Group
INFO: https://awvfts.bandcamp.com/album/a-winged-victory-for-the-sullen
ARTIST: Johann Johannsson
WORK: Part 5/ the Sun's Gone Dim and the Sky's Turned Black [6:35]
RECORDING: IBM 1401 A User's Manual
SOURCE: 4AD
INFO: https://johannjohannsson.bandcamp.com/album/ibm-1401-a-users-manual
