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The Shards soundtrack: Every song and piece of music featured in Ryan Murphy's new series

Troye Sivan and Leland lead the original songs behind Ryan Murphy's synth-soaked 1980s LA thriller.

Igby Rigney as Bret in a dimly lit swimming pool looking at the camera

Pari Dukovic / FX

Published: Thursday, 6 August 2026 at 10:07 am

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Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis's adaptation of Ellis's own novel The Shards has arrived on FX and Hulu in the US, with a Disney+ release at the same time in the UK.

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Set in the glamour of 1981 Los Angeles, the thriller comes wrapped in the sort of period-perfect music to match the on-screen aesthetics.

The novel itself makes much of music, so you can rest assured the drama makes the most of it too.

Here is everything we know about the music in The Shards, from the original artists to the 1980s tracks woven through the story.

The Shards season 1 soundtrack list

The Shards leans heavily into its early '80s setting, and much of its musical identity is drawn straight from the record collection at the heart of Ellis's novel.

Episode 1 - Pilot

Igby Rigney as Bret in a shirt and sunglasses in The Shards.

Igby Rigney as Bret in The Shards. Ray Mickshaw/FX.

The licensed songs featured in the opening episode are:

Episode 2 - Don’t You Want Me

Homer Gere as Robert Mallory in The Shards

Homer Gere as Robert Mallory in The Shards. Ray Mickshaw / FX

The licensed songs featured in the second episode are:

The series's promotional campaign has also leaned on the songs of the period, with the trailer soundtracked by Let's Go All The Way (Matnetik Remix) by Sly Fox and Ultravox's Vienna.

Alongside the licensed and referenced '80s tracks, The Shards features original songs written specifically for the show by some much-loved modern artists.

FX has confirmed new music from Troye Sivan and his longtime collaborator Leland, plus rising pop artist Hayes Warner, who also appears in the series as one of the central characters, Debbie Schaffer.

One of those original tracks anchors the show's Dance Like Nobody's Watching promo, released by FX as an official music video ahead of the premiere.

Who composed the score for The Shards season 1?

The original score for The Shards is composed by Morgan Kibby and David Klotz.

Klotz has worked extensively across Ryan Murphy productions, while Kibby is known for her atmospheric, synth-driven work.

Their underscore leans into retro synth textures to mirror the series's dark teen drama aesthetic and its 1981 Los Angeles setting, and sits alongside the vocal songs from Sivan, Leland and Warner.

Where can I listen to the soundtrack?

A full official soundtrack album for The Shards has not yet been released.

As the series airs, the original songs from Troye Sivan, Leland and Hayes Warner are expected to roll out across major streaming services, and you can follow those artists directly for tracks tagged to the show.

The Shards is coming soon to Disney+. You can sign up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Lewis Knight, smiling against a lime green background.

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis is the news and trends editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.

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