FX’s The Shards is one of the most anticipated dramas of the summer, adapting Bret Easton Ellis’s bestselling 2023 novel of the same name under executive producer Ryan Murphy. Set in 1981 Los Angeles, the series follows a fictionalized teenage version of Ellis (played by Igby Rigney) at the elite Buckley prep school, where the arrival of mysterious new student Robert Mallory (Homer Gere) coincides with a string of murders tied to a serial killer known as The Trawler. The ensemble also includes Kaia Gerber, Wes Bentley, Evan Rachel Wood, Jordan Roth, Graham Campbell, and Hayes Warner. The series premieres August 5, 2026 on FX and Hulu in the United States, with an international rollout on Disney+.
Beyond its starry cast and pedigree, The Shards has already generated buzz for its music. Two composers are handling the instrumental score, while a trio of pop artists are contributing original songs written specifically for the show’s 1980s-soaked atmosphere. Here’s everything that’s been officially confirmed about the soundtrack — and what’s still pending ahead of the premiere.
The Shards Soundtrack Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | The Shards |
| Based on | The Shards (2023 novel) by Bret Easton Ellis |
| Creators | Ryan Murphy, Bret Easton Ellis |
| Director | Max Winkler |
| Network / Platform | FX, Hulu (U.S.); Disney+ (international) |
| Studio | 20th Television, Ryan Murphy Television, Color Force, Sodium Fox Productions |
| Premiere Date | August 5, 2026 (U.S.); August 6, 2026 (U.K., Disney+) |
| Score Composers | Morgan Kibby, David Klotz |
| Original Songs By | Troye Sivan, Leland, Hayes Warner |
| Episodes (Season 1) | 10 |
| Soundtrack Album Label | Not yet announced |
| Total Tracks / Runtime | Pending official release |
The Shards Soundtrack Overview
The music for The Shards is being built in two distinct layers. The instrumental score comes from composers Morgan Kibby and David Klotz, who are scoring the series together. Meanwhile, original songs — separate from the score — are being contributed by pop artist Troye Sivan, his longtime songwriting collaborator Leland, and series star Hayes Warner, who plays Debbie Shaffer. These songs were written specifically to reflect the show’s early-1980s Los Angeles setting, with the stated goal of amplifying the “suspense, seduction and obsession” running through the story.
As of this writing, no soundtrack album, label, or release date for a commercial score or song release has been announced. This is expected, since the series has not yet premiered — the score and original songs typically surface for review or digital release only after episodes air. This article will be updated once tracklists, needle drops, and album details are confirmed.
Who Composed The Shards Soundtrack?
Morgan Kibby (Score Composer)
Morgan Kibby, also known by her recording moniker White Sea, is an American composer, singer, and producer based in Los Angeles. She first gained wide recognition as a member of the French electronic group M83 between 2008 and 2015, co-writing on albums including Saturdays = Youth and the platinum-certified Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. Following her time with M83, Kibby transitioned into film and television scoring, earning her first credit on Eva Husson’s Bang Gang in 2016, for which she won Best Original Score at the Les Arcs European Film Festival. Her scoring resume since then includes Grand Army, Wilderness, The Power, Grotesquerie, Mothering Sunday, Queens, and Finding Emily. Alongside her scoring work, Kibby has written and produced for artists including Panic! At the Disco, Harry Styles, and Lady Gaga.
David Klotz (Score Composer)
David Klotz is an American composer and music editor born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Emerson College. He is widely known in the industry for his Primetime Emmy Award–winning music editorial work on Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, and American Horror Story — earning eight Emmys across those series. As a composer, Klotz’s credits include Netflix’s The Prom (co-composed with Matthew Sklar), American Sports Story, and All’s Fair. He also performs and records with the synth-based band DREAM SYSTEM 8.
Original Song Contributors
Separate from the score, Troye Sivan and his frequent collaborator Leland are writing original songs for the series, marking their latest partnership following hits like “Rush,” “One of Your Girls,” and “Talk Talk.” Hayes Warner, who plays Debbie Shaffer, is also contributing original music of her own — Warner is a New York-based pop-punk singer-songwriter signed to Glassnote Records, previously named one of People magazine’s Emerging Artists to Watch for singles including “Predator” and “Breadcrumbs.”
The Shards Official Tracklist
Status: Pending. No official soundtrack album or song tracklist has been released or announced for The Shards as of this writing. Because the series has not yet premiered, neither the score nor the original songs from Sivan, Leland, or Warner have been made available for tracklisting or duration verification. This section will be updated with full, verified track details — durations, ordering, and any release once confirmed by the label or composers.
Score Highlights
Status: Pending, with limited confirmed context. No individual score cues or track titles have been released yet. Based on public statements from the involved artists, the original songs are intended to underscore the show’s “suspense, seduction and obsession,” inspired directly by its 1980s Los Angeles setting — but no scene-specific placements or cue titles have been confirmed. Once the score album or episode-level needle drop data becomes available, this section will include verified highlights with proper scene context.
The Shards Licensed Songs / Needle Drops
Status: Pending. Needle drop databases have not yet indexed any confirmed in-episode song placements, which is expected for a series that has not yet aired. No licensed or catalog songs beyond the original compositions from Sivan, Leland, and Warner have been confirmed for use in the show. This section will be updated episode-by-episode following the August 5 premiere as verified placements become available.
Composer Filmography
Morgan Kibby — Selected Composing Credits
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bang Gang | Film |
| 2020 | Grand Army | Netflix Series |
| 2023 | The Power | Amazon Series |
| 2023 | Wilderness | Amazon Series |
| 2024 | Grotesquerie | FX Series |
| 2026 | The Shards | FX Series |
David Klotz — Selected Composing Credits
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Prom | Netflix Film (co-composer) |
| 2024 | American Sports Story | FX Series |
| 2025 | All’s Fair | Series |
| 2026 | The Shards | FX Series |
Where to Listen The Shards Soundtrack?
No streaming links for a soundtrack album or original songs from The Shards are currently live, since neither has been released. Once available, official score and song releases would typically be expected on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, following the pattern of other Ryan Murphy–produced FX series. This article will be updated with direct streaming links as soon as an official release is confirmed by the composers or label.
FAQs
Who composed the score for The Shards?
The instrumental score for The Shards is composed by Morgan Kibby and David Klotz.
Who sings the original songs in The Shards?
Original songs for the series are being contributed by Troye Sivan and his longtime collaborator Leland, along with series star Hayes Warner.
When does The Shards premiere?
The Shards premieres August 5, 2026, with two episodes airing on FX and Hulu in the United States, and August 6, 2026 on Disney+ internationally.
Is there a soundtrack album for The Shards?
Not yet. No soundtrack album, tracklist, or release date has been announced as of this writing.
How many episodes does The Shards have?
Season 1 of The Shards consists of 10 episodes.
What is The Shards based on?
The series is based on Bret Easton Ellis’s 2023 novel of the same name, a semi-autobiographical thriller set in 1980s Los Angeles.
Where can I watch The Shards?
The Shards is available on FX and Hulu in the United States, and on Disney+ internationally.