The Original Soundtrack for HBO'S Navajo Police: Class 57 is now available on all major digital streaming platforms

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 24, 2023 - PRLog -- Emmy Award-winning film composer and music producer Tyler Strickland has released his original album for HBO's 3-part docu-series Navajo Police: Class 57. The soundtrack is now available on digital platforms everywhere, including Apple Music and Spotify. Having premiered on October 15th, the series highlights the Navajo Nation Police Academy, chronicling its unique mix of politics, community, and history that all play a part in the academy's dynamic. Specifically, the series spotlights the 57th class of cadets to go through the Navajo National police academy training, focusing on how current socio-political factors have affected their internal and community interactions.

Packed with unique musical tracks and note patterns that blend traditional Navajo sounds with Strickland's personal tonal palette, the music perfectly serves the story, setting a backdrop for the uneasiness and authenticity conveyed throughout the project. Strickland also employs a slight use of a militaristic soundscape, adding snare drums to the score, which balances the traditional native-leaning sounds with a nod to the intensity and pressure of the police force. The score is heavily made up of live string quartet, mixed with organic instruments along with some Navajo percussion, which was performed by local musicians on the reservation. Strickland also co-wrote the main theme with Native American composer Michael Begay, who lives on the Navajo reservation.

"The score for Navajo Police is a blend of the high energy music you would expect to go with cop ride-alongs and training scenes, but also highly emotional and sparse music that allowed us the chance to feel what life on the Navajo Nation sounds like," noted Strickland. "It's a beautiful and expansive place, and I wanted that space to come through in the score. It was also very important to collaborate with local, native musicians like Michael Begay on the main title theme and percussion throughout."

Along with the rest of the creative team, Strickland worked to accentuate the extreme isolation that the Navajo Nation experiences from being located in the middle of the desert. With the police cadets coming directly from the reservation and the Navajo people being so tight-knit with such a rich history, there is this underlying tension that exists between the force and the community. Understanding this uniquely strained relationship, Strickland used his music to underscore this connection– leaning into the familial themes and nods to Navajo traditions, while simultaneously crafting this tense feeling with his compositions.

Class 57 Navajo Police was produced by Academy Award Winner Davis Guggenheim and directed by Alex Jablonski and Kahlil Hudson. Previously, Strickland collaborated with Hudson on Wildland, a project that went on to win multiple Emmys. Most recently Strickland has worked on Netflix's Sly, a documentary following the legendary life of Sylvester Stallone, which premiered at TIFF and will launch on Netflix November 3rd. Throughout his career he has scored over 50 films that have collectively received a dozen Emmy nominations and have won numerous awards from the most prestigious film festivals around the world. His original scores can be heard on projects including Netflix's Hot Girls Wanted and Audrie & Daisy, as well as Showtime's Jackson, HBO's Ernie & Joe, and CNN's Fresh Dressed. On the television side, Strickland has composed for Netflix's Chef's Table, as well as George Clooney-produced true crime series, Trial By Media, and Stephen King's Castle Rock for Hulu. Set to release later this year for Strickland is Sony documentary, Thriller 40, which will follow the success of Michael Jackson's highest grossing album of all time.

The original album for Navajo Police: Class 57 is available now on all listening platforms.

Track Listing:

1. Twin Warriors
2. Main Title
3. Target Practice
4. Keep Our People Safe
5. Moving Forward
6. Field Training
7. Navajo Way of Life
8. Never Quit
9. Responding to Calls
10. Domestic Violence
11. Blood Lessons
12. Self Doubt
13. People Are Leaving
14. Nora At Home
15. Stronger Together
16. Class 57 Graduation