British composer Daniel Blumberg has claimed his first Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 97th Annual Academy Awards for his work on "The Brutalist." The 34-year-old musician's win marks a remarkable achievement for only his second feature film score.
The haunting soundtrack, which blends piano and saxophone jazz with jarring brass and percussion elements, accompanies the story of László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor who immigrates to America. The film, starring Adrien Brody in an Oscar-winning performance as Tóth, received ten nominations in total.
During his acceptance speech, Blumberg expressed gratitude to director Brady Corbet, whom he called his "artistic soulmate." He also acknowledged the "radical, uncompromising" musicians who collaborated with him on the score.
This Oscar victory follows Blumberg's recent BAFTA win for the same work. His previous scoring effort for "The World to Come" earned him an Ivor Novello award, establishing his credentials in film composition.
Before his emergence as a film composer, Blumberg made his mark in the music industry as a founding member of Cajun Dance Party and later as part of the indie rock band Yuck. He has since focused on experimental music at London's Cafe Oto, while also pursuing work as a visual artist.
"The Brutalist" is dedicated to the memory of Scott Walker, who previously scored director Corbet's films. The movie was co-written by Mona Fastvold and Corbet.
In the competitive Oscar category, Blumberg's score triumphed over works from "Conclave," "Emilia Pérez," "Wicked," and "The Wild Robot."