Music isn't just background noise in Monterey. It's a character. Honestly, if you strip away the Michael Kiwanuka and the Leon Bridges, Big Little Lies becomes a very different, much colder show. Jean-Marc Vallée, the late director who basically pioneered the show's sonic identity, didn't want a traditional score. He hated the idea of "manipulative" orchestral swells telling the audience how to feel. Instead, he leaned into diegetic music—sounds that the characters themselves are actually hearing. You’ve seen it: Madeline Martha Mackenzie (Reese Witherspoon) aggressively curated her playlists while driving her SUV, or Chloe, her young daughter, acting as the world’s most sophisticated seven-year-old DJ. It’s brilliant.
The Big Little Lies soundtrack isn't just a collection of cool indie tracks. It’s a psychological map. When a song plays, it’s usually coming from an iPod, a car stereo, or a vinyl player in a multi-million dollar living room. This choice creates an intimacy that most dramas lack. We aren't just watching Celeste or Jane; we are listening to what they use to drown out their own thoughts. It’s raw. It’s visceral. And it’s why, years after the show premiered on HBO, people are still obsessed with these specific songs.
The Soul of Monterey: How the Big Little Lies Soundtrack Defines Atmosphere
Let’s talk about that opening theme. "Cold Little Heart" by Michael Kiwanuka. It is arguably one of the most iconic TV openings of the last decade. The long, atmospheric build-up and the soulful, slightly pained vocals set the tone before a single line of dialogue is even spoken. It tells you exactly what the show is about: secrets, internal bleeding, and the masks people wear. Kiwanuka actually told The Guardian that the song was about his own insecurities, which fits the "Monterey Five" almost too perfectly.
The music supervisor, Susan Jacobs, is a legend for a reason. She won the first-ever Emmy for Music Supervision because of this show. She didn't just pick "hits." She picked textures. You have these massive, sweeping shots of the Pacific Ocean paired with the raspy, vintage soul of Charles Bradley or the ethereal folk of Agnes Obel. It’s a contrast that works because the lives of these women are equally jagged.
Why Diegetic Music Matters Here
Most shows use music to tell you "be sad now" or "this is a scary part." Big Little Lies doesn't do that. By making the music part of the physical world—like Jane Chapman running on the beach with her earbuds in—the soundtrack becomes an extension of their agency. When Jane listens to Martha Wainwright's "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole," it’s not just a song choice. It’s her trauma finding a voice. It’s a catharsis that feels earned because we know she’s the one who hit "play."
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The Chloe Factor: A Seven-Year-Old’s Impeccable Taste
We have to address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the child in the room. Chloe Mackenzie.
The show’s conceit that a first-grader has the musical palate of a 45-year-old crate-digger is hilarious. But it’s a necessary plot device. Chloe is the conduit for the Big Little Lies soundtrack to move from scene to scene. She’s the one playing Leon Bridges’ "River" while her parents argue in the other room. It’s a clever way to keep the music constant without it feeling forced.
Leon Bridges actually saw a massive surge in streaming thanks to the show. "River" became synonymous with the show's quieter, more reflective moments. It provided a spiritual, almost redemptive quality to scenes that were otherwise filled with guilt and deception. That’s the power of a well-placed track. It adds a layer of morality to the story that the script doesn't have to explicitly state.
Key Tracks That Define Season One
- "Cold Little Heart" by Michael Kiwanuka: The soul of the series.
- "River" by Leon Bridges: The sound of seeking forgiveness.
- "September Song" by Agnes Obel: Used during those haunting transitions.
- "You Don't Know" by Gladys Knight & The Pips: Pure Monterey energy.
Moving Into Season Two: Change and Complexity
When the show returned for a second season, there was a lot of skepticism. Would the music hold up without Jean-Marc Vallée in the director’s chair? Andrea Arnold took over, and while the visual style shifted slightly, the commitment to the Big Little Lies soundtrack remained.
The vibe shifted to be a bit more haunting. We got more The Spinners, more Patti Smith. It reflected the mounting pressure of "The Lie." The music started to feel a bit more claustrophobic, which was appropriate given that Meryl Streep’s character, Mary Louise, was hovering over everyone like a vulture.
One of the standout moments from the second season was the use of "The Badener Stomp." It’s quirky, it’s weird, and it perfectly encapsulates the off-kilter tension of the community trying to pretend everything is normal when it clearly isn't. The soundtrack in season two acted more like a ticking clock.
The Cultural Impact of the "Monterey Sound"
It’s hard to overstate how much this show influenced the "vibes" of modern prestige TV. Suddenly, every limited series wanted a soulful, moody soundtrack. But few can replicate what Jacobs and Vallée did. They understood that soul music—true, deep-cut soul—is the perfect companion for a story about domestic tragedy.
It’s about the grit.
The Big Little Lies soundtrack works because it isn't polished. It’s full of cracks and imperfections. When you hear Sufjan Stevens or Irma Thomas, you’re hearing artists who lean into the messiness of being human. That’s the secret sauce. You aren't just listening to a playlist; you're listening to a nervous breakdown set to a beautiful beat.
Fact-Checking the Soundtrack's Success
- The Season 1 soundtrack peaked in the top 5 of the Billboard Soundtracks chart.
- It spurred a massive revival in interest for Charles Bradley, who sadly passed away shortly after the first season aired.
- The "Chloe's Playlist" on Spotify has hundreds of thousands of followers, proving that the diegetic conceit worked.
How to Listen: A Practical Guide
If you're looking to dive back into this world, don't just shuffle a random playlist. There’s an intentionality to how these songs are ordered.
Start with the official soundtracks released by ABKCO Records. They curated the essentials. But if you want the "real" experience, look for the user-created playlists that include every single background track. Some of the best songs in the show only play for fifteen seconds while someone is pouring a glass of wine.
What to Look For
- The Soul Classics: Don't skip the Otis Redding or the Temptations. They provide the "old money" feel of Monterey.
- The Indie Folk: This is the "ocean" music. It’s for when you're feeling existential.
- The Modern Soul: This is the heart of the show. Michael Kiwanuka, Leon Bridges, Brittany Howard.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers
If you're a fan of the Big Little Lies soundtrack, you probably appreciate the intersection of storytelling and sound. Here is how to actually use this soundtrack to enhance your own life or creative projects:
Curate Your Life Diegetically
Instead of just having "background music," think about your day in "scenes." What song would you actually be playing in your car if you were the protagonist of a high-stakes drama? This changes how you perceive your environment. It’s a form of mindfulness, honestly.
Explore the Roots
The show is a gateway drug to 60s and 70s soul. If you liked the Charles Bradley tracks, go deeper. Listen to the artists he was inspired by, like James Brown or Bobby Womack. The soundtrack is a history lesson disguised as entertainment.
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Use Music for Emotional Regulation
Follow Jane Chapman’s lead. Use specific, high-intensity tracks for physical release (like running or working out) and soulful, grounding tracks for reflection. The show demonstrates that music is a tool for processing trauma; it can be that for you, too.
Create "Atmospheric Contrast"
The next time you’re hosting or just hanging out, try pairing "gritty" music with "soft" environments. The Monterey aesthetic is all about the juxtaposition of beautiful glass houses and raw, pained vocals. It creates a depth that "chill lofi beats" just can't touch.
The music of Big Little Lies isn't going anywhere. It’s timeless because it taps into emotions that don't age: fear, regret, and the desperate hope for a fresh start. Whether you're driving along a coast or just sitting in your living room with a glass of Pinot Noir, these songs have a way of making life feel a little more cinematic and a lot more honest.