Netflix’s true-crime limited series The Witness premiered on June 4, 2026, bringing a devastating real-life story back into the spotlight through a deeply personal lens. The three-part British drama, created and written by Rob Williams and directed by Alex Winckler, retells the aftermath of the 1992 killing of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common, focusing on her partner André Hanscombe and their young son Alex. The series is based on Alex Hanscombe’s memoir Letting Go: A True Story of Murder, Loss and Survival, and stars Jordan Bolger, Jahsaiah Williams, Max Fincham, Kerry Godliman, Neil Maskell, and Mark Stanley, among others. Produced by STV Studios, the series quickly climbed Netflix’s global rankings after release.
While the cast and the harrowing real-world story have drawn most of the headlines, the series is also accompanied by an original score that plays a quiet but crucial role in setting its tone. From this point on, this article shifts focus entirely to the music behind The Witness — who composed it, what it sounds like, and where you can listen to it.
The Witness Soundtrack Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series Title | The Witness |
| Director | Alex Winckler |
| Production Company | STV Studios |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Series Release Date | June 4, 2026 |
| Composer | Oliver Coates |
| Soundtrack Label | Netflix Music |
| Soundtrack Release Date | June 5, 2026 |
| Total Tracks | 20 |
| Total Runtime | 37:55 |
The Witness Soundtrack Overview
The official score album, titled The Witness (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series), was released digitally on June 5, 2026 through Netflix Music, one day after the series debuted. The album runs for 37 minutes and 55 seconds across 20 tracks and is available as a hi-res digital album on platforms including Apple Music and Spotify.
Composed entirely by Oliver Coates, the score leans into a minimalist, textured sound that mirrors the emotional restraint of the series itself. Rather than relying on sweeping orchestral cues, the music uses sparse string work, electronic textures, and quiet ambient passages to underscore the story’s themes of grief, resilience, and the slow passage of time. Track titles such as “Rupture,” “Coexistence,” and “Float Free” hint at the emotional arc the score is designed to support, moving from shock and fragmentation toward something closer to peace.
Who Composed The Witness Soundtrack?
Oliver Coates is the sole composer behind the score for The Witness. Born in London in 1982, Coates is a British cellist, film composer, music producer, and electronic musician. He began playing the cello at age six and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, where he reportedly received one of the highest scores ever awarded to a student there.
Before establishing himself as a film composer, Coates built a reputation as a classical cellist, serving as principal cellist for ensembles including the London Contemporary Orchestra, the Aurora Orchestra, and the London Sinfonietta. His collaborative work has included projects with Jonny Greenwood on the scores for There Will Be Blood and The Master, as well as work with Mica Levi on Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin. He has also contributed to Radiohead’s album A Moon Shaped Pool and has performed as an opening act for both Radiohead and Thom Yorke.
As a solo artist, Coates has released multiple albums through RVNG Intl., including Shelley’s on Zenn-La and Skins n Slime. In film and television, he is best known for scoring Aftersun (2022) and The Stranger (2022), both of which earned him award recognition — IMDb credits him with one win and five nominations to date. The Witness marks his most recent television scoring credit, following his work on the Netflix limited series The Stranger, with which it shares both a streaming home and a composer.
The Witness Official Tracklist
The following tracklist is verified via FMDB and matches the official Netflix Music release:
- The Witness — 2:43
- Rupture — 0:45
- Courier — 1:17
- Back of the Ambulance — 1:22
- The Common — 2:29
- Solace — 2:26
- Process — 2:16
- Non-Locatable Energy — 2:04
- As You Can Imagine — 0:56
- Coexistence — 1:52
- Press — 1:14
- Cycles — 2:00
- Packed Bag Ready to Go — 1:57
- Split the World in Two — 2:16
- Court Appearance — 4:00
- Progress / Breakthrough — 2:21
- Invigilation — 1:11
- Headlines Filtered Tones — 1:14
- Time Shunt — 1:48
- Float Free — 1:44
Total runtime: 37:55
Score Highlights
A few tracks stand out as central pillars of the album:
- “The Witness” — The title track opens the album and establishes the score’s restrained, atmospheric palette, setting the emotional tone for the series.
- “The Common” — Named for Wimbledon Common, the site of the murder at the heart of the story, this track carries an understandably somber, weighted quality.
- “Court Appearance” — The longest track on the album at four minutes, this piece likely underscores one of the series’ pivotal legal sequences, building tension through extended, sustained passages.
- “Coexistence” and “Float Free” — These later tracks suggest a tonal shift toward resolution, reflecting the series’ framing around healing and the bond between father and son.
- “Non-Locatable Energy” and “Time Shunt” — Titles that point to Coates’ signature blend of electronic processing and acoustic instrumentation, a hallmark of his scoring style from Aftersun and The Stranger.
The Witness Licensed Songs / Needle Drops
As of publication, no licensed needle drops or featured songs have been confirmed for The Witness through SeekerTune, WhatSong, or other verified soundtrack-tracking sources. Coverage of the series to date indicates that its music is carried entirely by Oliver Coates’ original score rather than a library of licensed tracks. If any confirmed needle drops are identified in future episode breakdowns, this section will be updated accordingly.
Oliver Coates Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Under the Skin | Music Department |
| 2022 | Aftersun | Composer |
| 2022 | The Stranger | Composer |
| 2023 | Occupied City | Composer |
| 2024 | Mary & George | Composer |
| 2024 | Foe | Composer |
| 2025 | Pillion | Composer |
| 2025 | The History of Sound | Composer |
| 2026 | 100 Nights of Hero | Original Music |
| 2026 | Frank & Louis | Music |
| 2026 | The Witness | Composer |
Where to Listen to The Witness Soundtrack?
The Witness (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) by Oliver Coates is available to stream now on Apple Music and Spotify, where it was released as a digital hi-res album via Netflix Music on June 5, 2026. The album can also be found on other major streaming services that carry Netflix Music releases. Fans of Coates’ previous work on The Stranger and Aftersun will find a similar atmospheric, minimalist sensibility throughout this 20-track collection.
FAQs
1. Who composed the soundtrack for The Witness?
The score for The Witness was composed by British cellist and film composer Oliver Coates, who also scored Netflix’s The Stranger (2022) and the acclaimed film Aftersun (2022).
2. How many tracks are on The Witness soundtrack album?
The official album contains 20 tracks with a combined runtime of 37 minutes and 55 seconds.
3. When was The Witness soundtrack released?
The soundtrack was released on June 5, 2026, one day after the series premiered on Netflix.
4. Where can I stream The Witness soundtrack?
The album is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and other major digital platforms via Netflix Music.
5. Does The Witness soundtrack include any licensed songs?
No confirmed licensed needle drops have been reported for the series. The music consists entirely of Oliver Coates’ original score.
6. What is the longest track on The Witness soundtrack?
“Court Appearance” is the longest track at 4:00, followed by “The Witness” at 2:43.
7. What is The Witness series about?
The Witness is a three-part Netflix drama retelling the 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell and its impact on her partner André Hanscombe and son Alex, based on Alex Hanscombe’s memoir Letting Go.