‘I know some people don’t like it’: Meet the Australian composer behind the new White Lotus theme song

In a plot twist so inconceivable not even Mike White could’ve predicted it, it turns out that the musician responsible for The White Lotus’ controversial new theme song is a kindergarten teacher from Brisbane. Confused? A little. Curious? Absolutely.

Born in Bangkok, Peranya Visitchantaragoon is a Thai classical musician, instrumentalist, composer, and music educator.

Brisbane-based composer Peranya Visitchantaragoon with a Saw Duang in Brisbane on Friday.Credit: Dan Peled

Having established herself as one of Thailand’s most sought-after Saw Duang (a two-stringed instrument used in traditional Thai music, similar to a violin) players, Visitchantaragoon moved to Australia in 2018 on a work-and-holiday visa, balancing her music with a career in early childhood education.

But it wasn’t until last September that her big break arrived in the form of an Instagram direct message from Canadian composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, the man behind The White Lotus’ infectious theme music.

“Cristobal found videos of me playing the Thai violin on YouTube, and he liked it, so he sent me a message on Instagram saying he was impressed by my skill and would I be interested in helping out with his project,” says Visitchantaragoon.

The pair traded notes on what was required, Cristobal explaining that the latest season was set in Thailand, centred on exploring spirituality and that Visitchantaragoon’s style of play was ideally suited to his vision for the show’s soundtrack.

“We figured out the pitch, he gave me some homework and then booked a studio in Brisbane for me to record,” she says.

An intensive recording week followed, with Cristobal zooming into sessions remotely from Canada while Visitchantaragoon recorded live in the studio. According to Visitchantaragoon, Cristobal encouraged improvisation and collaboration and welcomed her feedback on how the theme music sounded.

“He called me the best Saw Duang player he’d ever seen, so that was very special,” she says. “You can hear me playing throughout the opening credits, but I also recorded seven other songs for the show’s soundtrack.”

Despite submitting her contributions six months ago, Visitchantaragoon didn’t hear the final version of her handiwork until she watched the first episode last month, at which point fan responses to the song began to surface online.

“Some people love it, and some don’t like it; I understand that,” she says. “But I thought it sounded good, very much in the show’s mood.”

Few shows generate buzz like The White Lotus, and with each new season comes a wave of discourse as fans dissect everything from casting decisions to the choice of location.

Peranya Visitchantaragoon and fellow producer Jordan Bain recorded the film scores in the studio, collaborating online with The White Lotus’s composer, Cristobal Tapia de Veer (pictured on the laptop.)

However, the third time around, audience response has been hung up on the show’s shift in theme music. Season one gave us tribal drums and the iconic warbling vocals, and season two upped the ante, introducing an operatic bird song and a euphoric beat drop. This season represents a marked departure from what has come before.

In addition to Visitchantaragoon’s violin, there is an accordion, percussion and a low humming vocal, resulting in a moodier score that has polarised audiences.

Responding to criticism of the change, season three star Patrick Schwarzenegger told Radio Times: “I loved so much in the previous seasons, how upbeat it was, and it was so iconic, and yet Cristobal wanted to push the envelope and make it different this time ... It’s daunting and darker and deeper.”

“I love the soundtrack, and I love the opening sequence,” added Schwarzenegger, before admitting that “it’s a lot different than what fans are probably used to from the iconic songs from the first two seasons”.

While fans remain divided on the soundtrack to season three, Visitchantaragoon’s appreciation extends well beyond her contribution.

“I feel very happy and proud because Thailand has such a rich cultural heritage, and if The White Lotus inspires people to explore Thai music, art and traditions, I think that’s amazing,” she says. “It’s wonderful to see Thai culture gaining more recognition worldwide, plus all my friends are very impressed.”

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