‘The White Lotus’ Music Supervisor Gabe Hilfer on Playing in Mike White’s Sandbox and Why They Didn’t Use Any Lisa Songs

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[The White Lotus] is a creation that’s well-known to Mike White,” said Gabe Hilfer, the music supervisor, when discussing their work on the popular HBO series. “It’s essentially his playground where he can express himself freely, and we’re all there to assist him in making it exactly as he envisioned.

As a fan and newcomer to the show during its second season, I shared the role of Music Supervisor, and my primary goal was to immerse viewers in the unique atmosphere of each resort setting depicted throughout the series. For instance, the second season had a strong Italian flair, while the recently concluded third season, which aired its final episode Sunday night, showcased a distinctly Thai vibe. While we always aim for authenticity, I believe it’s equally crucial to understand and resonate with the perspectives of each season’s guests.

When you step into ‘The White Lotus’, you’re fully engrossed, and we wanted the music to be part of that experience too,” Hilfer explained. He admitted that he had only a vague knowledge of Thai music before season three due to previous projects. “I also contacted many people I know who have connections in Thailand, and we ended up finding some fantastic resources in Bangkok, who were incredibly helpful because their primary job is music licensing with Thai artists.

Given the musical focus of the show, showcasing Thai artists and boasting one of the most famous pop stars in the world among its cast, it naturally raises the question: Why wasn’t BLACKPINK’s Lisa’s music incorporated into the series? Hilfer, who has experience with projects involving musicians as actors, expressed that integrating their music might have transgressed a boundary since they wouldn’t be portraying their fictional characters. He suggested it could feel somewhat meta to hear their music while watching them on screen, despite not being portrayed as themselves in the series.

The music supervisor explained that there was a conversation with her record label about incorporating the character Lisa from Blackpink into the show, but since the actress playing Mook has a different role in this production, he felt it might have been too self-referential or overly aware. He also mentioned that because she is such an immense star and Blackpink is a unique phenomenon in its own right, it could have overshadowed the main storyline.

Hilfer also expressed his thoughts on the intense online discussions among fans regarding aspects like the opening title sequence. “The show has gained immense popularity,” he noted, “and as a result, it’s discussed extensively. Popularity brings more viewers and thus, more opinions and critical eyes. If you create something exceptional but it goes unseen by the masses, there aren’t many people to comment on its specific details.

He mentioned, “When I encounter such comments – and I’m not oblivious to online discussions or what people write – I tend to view them as a form of flattery. It suggests that people are highly engaged and have strong affections for the content they previously enjoyed, that they find it challenging to accept change.

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2025-04-07 06:55