The journey that led Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein into Hawkins’ eerie, neon-lit world began with a mock trailer. The Duffer Brothers, ever the inventive visionaries, had pieced together a teaser featuring their show’s tone and wanted a soundtrack that would instantly evoke 1980s suspense and mystery. Enter Survive’s track “Dirge,” which caught their attention and ultimately became the sonic backbone for the series pitch.
When Netflix greenlit Stranger Things in July 2015, the Duffers immediately contacted Dixon and Stein. Their reaction was enthusiastic: they shared an array of unreleased tracks and sketches, inviting the composers to immerse themselves fully in Hawkins. The Duffers even encouraged them to leave their day jobs and focus entirely on the score—an invitation that, in hindsight, changed the auditory landscape of contemporary television.
The collaboration was electric from the start. Dixon and Stein didn’t just provide music—they brought a language of sound that could speak for characters, moods, and supernatural events without saying a word. Their experimental sketches, often accompanied by absurd or whimsical working titles, became a playground for the Duffers’ imagination. Names like “Soakers Forum 3” and the undeniably memorable “Lighting Candles and Eggy Pizza” became part of the show’s identity, each carrying a playful nod to the offbeat tone of Hawkins and its inhabitants.
The Unique Sound of Stranger Things
What makes the Stranger Things soundtrack instantly recognizable is not only the lush 1980s analog synth textures but also the way Dixon and Stein’s titles hint at personality and narrative. Each piece was carefully composed with both nostalgia and character in mind. Tracks like “Prophecy,” which eventually evolved into the iconic main theme, demonstrate how even working titles can capture the essence of a show before final polishing.
Dixon and Stein’s approach was meticulous yet playful. They often sent “sketches” back and forth with the Duffers, who would give feedback on how the tracks felt against specific scenes. The duo leaned heavily on analog synthesizers, particularly the Prophet-6, to emulate the warmth and depth of early 80s electronic music. By doing so, they tapped into a cultural zeitgeist that evokes both innocence and dread, perfectly complementing Stranger Things’ blend of supernatural horror and coming-of-age drama.
Nearly 14 hours of music emerged over the course of a year, each track carefully layered to convey character moods, tension, or whimsy. “Lighting Candles and Eggy Pizza,” for instance, doesn’t just serve as a catchy title—it embodies the idiosyncratic mix of ordinary life and otherworldly threat that defines the show. It’s the sound of kids riding bikes through small-town streets while ominous forces lurk just out of view. It’s Hawkins distilled into melody.
The seemingly nonsensical titles are a window into the composers’ creative minds. They give a sense of humor and humanity to a process that could easily become clinical or overly technical. Dixon and Stein have described their approach as “storytelling through sound,” and the playful titles reflect the joy and experimentation that fueled their collaboration with the Duffers.
These titles also create curiosity loops for fans. Who wouldn’t want to know why a track is called “Eggy Pizza”? Some names hint at moments on set, private jokes, or spontaneous bursts of inspiration. In a way, the soundtrack becomes another layer of storytelling, inviting viewers to imagine the backstory behind each track while still immersing them in Hawkins’ unnerving world.
The music and titles together reinforce a signature vibe: a mix of nostalgia, tension, innocence, and strangeness. It’s what makes Dixon and Stein’s work feel alive, as if Hawkins itself had a musical consciousness that could react to its own drama. The odd titles become part of the show’s lore, endearing the soundtrack to fans almost as much as the characters themselves.
As Stranger Things Season 5 approaches in November 2025, the soundtrack remains a cornerstone of the series’ identity. The odd original titles and hours of synthesized soundscapes are more than just background—they are an integral part of storytelling. The eerie synth pulses when danger lurks, the lighter melodic motifs echo the innocence of childhood, and every quirky title invites fans to explore the creative DNA of the show.
Dixon and Stein’s music reminds us why the series resonates so deeply. It’s not only about monsters, portals, or epic battles against the Upside Down. It’s about mood, memory, and emotional texture. Whether it’s the anxiety of a disappearing friend, the tension of a hidden threat, or the joy of youthful adventure, the soundtrack captures it all with precision and flair. And those oddball titles? They signal that even in a world filled with darkness, creativity and whimsy have their place.
For fans who appreciate behind-the-scenes details, these titles and the creative process offer insight into how Stranger Things became more than a show—it became a cultural touchstone, with music that evokes an era, a feeling, and a story all at once. Dixon and Stein transformed electronic music into narrative glue, binding together plot, character, and atmosphere while keeping a sly sense of humor alive through their track names.
