The soundtrack of The Traitors plays a deliberate role in shaping audience perception throughout the program, using music as both emphasis and misdirection to heighten the viewing experience.
Composer Sam Watts, known for work on Planet Earth and The Sarah Jane Adventures, created the show’s opening theme and much of its incidental score. Upon learning that Claudia Winkleman would host, Watts adopted an approach balancing darkness with drama and humor. He drew inspiration from Bernard Hoffer’s Thundercats theme, aiming to craft something memorable and hummable that would establish the show’s identity. The title sequence features a full orchestra layered with electronic elements to create a heightened, hyperreal atmosphere. Watts designed approximately 20 additional pieces that appear across international versions of the program.
Producer Sarah Fay expanded on Watts’ vision by incorporating techniques from film trailer composition, including the “Braam”—a punctuation mark technique popularized in Christopher Nolan’s Inception. The production team commissioned additional music from film trailer specialists, including Hans Zimmer’s company Bleeding Fingers, to amplify the cinematic drama. The soundtrack aims to make each episode feel like an edge-of-seat thriller comparable to shows like Succession and the film Knives Out.
The show also features atmospheric cover versions of popular songs, including reinterpretations of Britney Spears’ Toxic and Tears For Fears’ Mad World created by German production duo 2wei. Originally conceived independently, these covers were discovered by the creators only after the show aired. Founded in 2016 by Simon Heeger and Christian Vorländer, 2wei developed their signature style through work on advertisements and film trailers, blending epic drums with orchestral elements. Their music has appeared in films including Wonder Woman and video games such as League of Legends.
Fans have embraced the soundtrack extensively, with hundreds of Spotify playlists dedicated to the show’s music, ranging from murder mystery party compilations to more relaxed listening collections. The composers acknowledge the intentional playfulness embedded in their work, with Watts noting that the music’s slightly exaggerated tone helps balance the darker plot elements of murder and betrayal with a sense of fun rather than pure menace.
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