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Composing Worlds Seen and Unseen: Nikhil Koparkar on The Wheel of Time and The Hills of Tanchico
Manage episode 514542506 series 3549282
In this episode of The Slow Dive, host Farida Rafique sits down with award-winning composer Nikhil Koparkar to explore the art and evolution of music across mediums. Nikhil, whose song “The Hills of Tanchico” for Amazon’s acclaimed fantasy series The Wheel of Time earned a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media (2026 consideration), shares his journey from global influences to cinematic storytelling.
Together, they dive into the creative process behind his scores for film, television, and gaming, unpacking how technology and AI are reshaping the future of music composition. The conversation touches on the emotional architecture of sound, the importance of collaboration in storytelling, and how music serves as a universal bridge between cultures and emotions.
Nikhil also reflects on his aspirations for future projects, including adapting beloved literary works, and how he continues to evolve as a creator in a rapidly changing artistic landscape.
ABOUT NIKHIL:
Nikhil Koparkar is a composer known for creating compelling scores for Film, Television, and Gaming. In 2025, he composed the original song 'The Hills Of Tanchico', a musical number performed by the lead actors in the hit Amazon fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It is now in consideration for the 2026 GRAMMY® Awards in the "Best Song Written For Visual Media" category.
His work on the psychological horror film Dead Whisper, released theatrically, earning him a nomination for the prestigious SCL Awards in the David Raksin Award for Emerging Talent category.
In 2023, he wrote the official main theme for Riot Games’ League Of Legends - Lunar New Year Campaign, which is featured in all their videos, in-game, as well as the foundation for other composers’ music.
He previously worked as an additional composer alongside Lorne Balfe at 14th Street Music, writing and arranging music on TV shows like Netflix’s Life On Our Planet, Amazon’s The Wheel Of Time, HBO’s His Dark Materials, and the Hulu docu-series, Victoria’s Secret: Angels & Demons.
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