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Alien Exchange Student: Original Soundtrack by Kevin Hartnell

April 27, 2025
Kevin Hartnell - Alien Exchange Student cover art animated

Back in 2020, the popular kids’ podcast Kidpod Theater released a fun, genre-bending series titled Alien Exchange Student. I had the absolute pleasure of composing the original score for the show, and I am thrilled to announce that the full soundtrack is now available for streaming and download.

A Multi-Genre Challenge

Scoring Alien Exchange Student was a wonderful creative challenge because it required such a diverse palette of sounds. Unlike my usual work in darkwave or horror, this project needed to be lighthearted yet musically sophisticated. The brief called for a wide array of styles, pushing me to explore genres I do not typically touch.

The soundtrack features everything from retro 1960s spy themes (think James Bond meets The Pink Panther) to upbeat synthwave tracks. There are also 80s pop-style pastiches, dark ambient themes for “industrial espionage” scenes, and late 70s funk detective cues. The goal was to create a cohesive sonic world that was exciting for kids but musically rich enough for the parents listening along.

Composer’s Note

Writing for a younger audience is a unique discipline. The melodies need to be immediate and memorable, and the emotional beats need to be clear without being overly complex. It was great fun to stretch these musical muscles and pay homage to so many classic film and TV tropes within a single project.

Listen Now

Whether you are a fan of the podcast or just enjoy eclectic instrumental music, there is something in this collection for you. You can stream the full album on Bandcamp via the player below. For more of my soundtrack work, visit the Kevin Hartnell Artist Page.

Stream and Download

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The Sounds of Nightmares 8 animation

The Sounds of Nightmares 8: New Horror Music by Kevin Hartnell

January 1, 2025
The Sounds of Nightmares 8 by Kevin Hartnell - cover art

The Sounds Of Nightmares 8: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

Kevin Hartnell presents “The Sounds of Nightmares 8,” featuring 39 tracks of original music composed for the horror anthology podcast Campfire Radio Theater. This volume marks a significant milestone in an ongoing musical journey, compiling a year’s worth of horror cues.

This collection features scores from three distinct tales: “West Palm Readers,” “The Heretic’s Handbook,” and “Final Resting Place.” Unlike scoring a single film with a consistent palette, working with Campfire Radio Theater requires a chameleon-like approach, pivoting from organic acoustic dread to 80s-inspired synth textures.

Please consider supporting the show by listening to the full episodes where these tracks appeared at Campfire Radio Theater.

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The Sounds of Nightmares 8: what this volume covers

This release highlights the versatility required for anthology storytelling. “West Palm Readers” sets a tense, urban stage for a tarot reading gone wrong, while “The Heretic’s Handbook” descends into the folk-horror of a pagan woodland retreat. Finally, “Final Resting Place” unearths subterranean dread in a summer cemetery, blending seismic rumblings with supernatural threats.

Below, you can play the episodes directly on the page. If you prefer to jump straight to listening to the scores, use the Spotify and Bandcamp embeds at the bottom. Bandcamp is also the best option if you want to support the work directly.

West Palm Readers

In the bustling heart of Times Square, a street-savy couple running a tarot and palm reading storefront plot one final big score… but their scheme takes a terrifying turn when a new client steps into the shop.

The Heretic’s Handbook

A romantic woodland retreat spirals into a terrifying ordeal as newlyweds Trent and Mia fall prey to a pagan religious order.

Final Resting Place

In the summer of 93, a cemetery caretaker and his grandson discover a series of ominous rumblings under the earth that may originate from something far more disturbing than seismic activity.

Listen to the Scores

If you prefer uninterrupted listening, use the full-album players below. Spotify is convenient for streaming and playlists. Bandcamp is ideal if you want high-quality playback and direct support. If you are sharing the release, linking to this page is also useful because it keeps the episode scores and album players in one place.

Stream & Download

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#AudioDrama #Horror #Soundtrack #Score #CampfireRadioTheater #KevinHartnell

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Kraken Mare animated art

Kraken Mare: The Score – Original Soundtrack by Kevin Hartnell

December 19, 2015

Kraken Mare: The Score

On November 10th, Matthew McLean from YAP Audio Production and the Audio Drama Production Podcast contacted me needing someone to score his latest audio drama. I gladly accepted the offer and began working on music for his excellent science fiction/horror story “Kraken Mare.”

When I began working on scoring the story, the first thing that struck me was the fantastic soundscapes Matthew had created. On top of that, quality acting and writing truly inspired me! It was a pleasure to create music to help illuminate the production.

The Story

Nine years ago the Wells-Dyson satellite picked up images of what appears to be some sort of wreckage on the floor of Titan’s biggest hydrocarbon ocean – Kraken Mare. The discovery prompted eccentric billionaire Jennifer Barrie to fast-track an expedition to the mysterious moon of Saturn.

The three British astronauts who have just arrived in Titan’s orbit have only one job – find out what’s lying under Kraken Mare. And potentially answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we alone in the universe?

Listen to the Audio Drama

You can listen to the full production of “Kraken Mare” below. This production was created by YAP Audio Production, the makers of the hit audio drama series A Scottish Podcast.

Stream the Score

The original score was released via Overlook Hotel Records (Catalog R237-015).

Credits:

  • Story & Production: Matthew McLean (YAP Audio Production)
  • Original Score: Kevin Hartnell
  • Artwork: Kessi Riliniki

Cast:

  • Jamison: Robert Cudmore
  • Butler: Caitlin Sneddon
  • McGovern: Jim Balfour
  • Barry: Fiona Thraille
  • News Reporter: Owen McCuen

#KrakenMare #AudioDrama #SciFiHorror #Soundtrack #Score #KevinHartnell #MatthewMcLean #YAPAudio #FictionPodcast

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The Sounds of Nightmares by Kevin Hartnell - Cover Art

The Sounds of Nightmares: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

October 28, 2015
The Sounds of Nightmares by Kevin Hartnell - Cover Art

The Sounds of Nightmares: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

Kevin Hartnell presents “The Sounds of Nightmares,” the very first collection of original music composed for the horror anthology podcast Campfire Radio Theater. This volume compiles over 40 tracks from the series’ earliest hits, establishing the sonic identity of the show.

This collection features scores from four classic tales: “Ghosts of Flannan Lighthouse,” “Night Delivery,” “Whispers From Hell,” and the Jack the Ripper thriller “RIP.” It features a diverse range of styles, from the synthesized dread of the 1980s to the fog-drenched atmosphere of Victorian London.

Please consider supporting the show by listening to the full episodes where these tracks appeared at Campfire Radio Theater.

Quick navigation

The Sounds of Nightmares: what this volume covers

As the debut volume in the series, this release captures the early evolution of the Campfire Radio Theater sound. The music shifts rapidly between genres to match the anthology format—one moment delivering cold, maritime drones, and the next, driving synthwave pulses or gothic orchestral stabs. The priority was always to serve the story, whether that meant terrifying silence or bombastic horror.

Below, you can play the episodes directly on the page. If you prefer to jump straight to listening to the scores, use the Spotify and Bandcamp embeds at the bottom. Bandcamp is also the best option if you want to support the work directly.

Ghosts of Flannan Lighthouse

A chilling mystery unfolds in 1900 off the Scottish coast as Joseph Moore arrives at the Flannan Island Lighthouse to find it cold and abandoned… its keepers vanished. Will a blood-stained journal reveal a clue to their dark fate or resurrect an ancient long-dead curse?

Night Delivery

A rookie late night radio DJ is entangled in the web of a beguiling young beauty in red and devilish reverse rock lyrics as a dark wave of violence sweeps 1980s Atlanta.

Rip

Newlyweds on the final eve of their honeymoon are haunted by the ghosts of old Whitechapel as a mysterious pub patron breathes terrifying new life into the bloody terror that gripped the streets of Victorian London.

Whispers From Hell

Harmless pranks turn dark as a young woman fears a voyeuristic predator may be stalking her from the shadows of peaceful suburbia where a dreadful secret lies in the cemetery next door.

Listen to the Scores

If you prefer uninterrupted listening, use the full-album players below. Spotify is convenient for streaming and playlists. Bandcamp is ideal if you want high-quality playback and direct support. If you are sharing the release, linking to this page is also useful because it keeps the episode scores and album players in one place.

Stream & Download
Recommendations

#AudioDrama #Horror #Soundtrack #Score #CampfireRadioTheater #KevinHartnell

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