Director
Ryan Coogler
, composer/producer
Ludwig Göransson
, and executive music producer
Serena Göransson
seemingly spared no expense in the making of the soundtrack for
Sinners
, the 2025 musical horror film starring the likes of
Michael B. Jordan
,
Miles Caton
, and
Hailee Steinfeld
. As the film is set in the 1930s Mississippi Delta, its music draws most heavily from blues and gospel, and also incorporates traditional Irish folk and old-time music while bringing it all to the present with elements of modern hip-hop, R&B, and pop. The most powerful fusion occurs in "I Lied to You," a showcase for
Caton
's deep baritone that demonstrates the evolution of Black music -- the blues, rock & roll, electro, G-funk, and more -- and drives one of the film's most riveting sequences. Some highlights are pure evocations of the period:
Rhiannon Giddens
and
Justin Robinson
perform an instrumental version of "Old Corn Liquor," a song the duo used to perform as members of
Carolina Chocolate Drops
. Throwbacks such as that one fall into place with contemporary numbers like the liberation-themed title song, co-written and sung with pain and resilience by Floridian
Rod Wave
. The soundtrack's assembly of cross-generational talent is astounding. Numerous blues guitarists -- a gathering of legendary and emergent talent including
Buddy Guy
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Eric Gales
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
-- mix it up with the likes of R&B paragon
Raphael Saadiq
Alabama Shakes
frontwoman
Brittany Howard
, and British singer/songwriter
James Blake
.
Alice in Chains
'
Jerry Cantrell
Metallica
's
Lars Ulrich
are among the ancillary musicians.
, along with
Guy
, play the same resonator guitar that
's character plays in the film. ~ Andy Kellman