Sony Music To Release 'We Bought A Zoo' Soundtrack March 19th

Sony Music is proud to announce the release of the original motion picture soundtrack for We Bought A Zoo with music by Sigur Rós front man and leading light, Jon Thor Birgisson, aka Jónsi on March 19th, 2012. Composed at the personal request of We Bought A Zoo director - and huge Sigur Rós aficionado - Cameron Crowe, for the movie that will be in cinemas everywhere March 16th from Twentieth Century Fox. It includes original music composed by Jónsi which plays an integral part to the films heartfelt emotional landscape.

The soundtrack to We Bought A Zoo was written and recorded in short order, over four months last summer/autumn at the famous Village Studios in Los Angeles and at the singer's home studio in his native Iceland. It comprises more than half-an-hour of brand new music from Jónsi, including two full songs and nine achingly beautiful themes, plus reimagining's of songs from Jónsi's acclaimed solo album, 'Go', as well as what might well be regarded as Sigur Rós' most memorable tune, in 'Hoppipolla'. (See track list below.)

"[Jónsi] arrived from Iceland with a toy sampler keyboard and a headful of ideas," says Cameron. "Within a week, [he] had composed a series of themes that would reflect everything we'd hoped for. In his music were all the highs and lows and passionate in-betweens of the film itself. The instinct that made the movie come full circle."

Cameron's relationship with Jónsi and Sigur Rós goes back almost as far as the band's position in the international spotlight, to 2001 and the director's much-noticed inclusion of three of the band's songs in the hugely successful Tom Cruise film 'Vanilla Sky'. Cameron has long heralded the band and their filmwork, to the extent that the secret project name for We Bought A Zoo was, in fact, 'Heima' in honor of the band's 2007 tour film.

"Early on it was obvious that [Sigur Rós'] music would have a profound effect on the making of We Bought A Zoo," says Cameron. "In preparation for making the movie, we gave all the actors and crew members a copy of Sigur Rós' transcendent documentary, 'Heima'."

Even ahead of getting Jónsi on board as composer, We Bought A Zoo was broadly 'temped' with Jónsi' solo material. It's an open secret that Cameron would encourage Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson and the other actors on the movie to listen to specific songs by the band to create the right energy for a scene.

"The actors listened to the music during their takes; it quickly became part of the film's DNA," says the director.

Perhaps even more potent is the fact that the closing scene of We Bought A Zoo is a cinematic homage to a specific moment in 'Heima' when gleeful crowds stream in a Sigur Rós show in the far North of Iceland or, in this case, the newly opened zoo.

Among the original score and new songs is 'Gathering Stories', a song co-written by Jónsi and Cameron, in something of a collaborative first for the notoriously private Icelander. Orchestral arrangements on the score have been handled by previous Jónsi working partner, and 'Reader' soundtrack composer, Nico Muhly, who brings his quixotic genius to the string and brass sections.

We Bought A Zoo Soundtrack

Why Not
AEvin Endar - Jónsi *new track
Boy Lilikoi - Jónsi
Sun
Brambles
Sinking Friendships - Jónsi
We Bought A Zoo
Hoppipolla - Sigur Rós
Snaerisendar
Sink
Go Do - Jónsi
Whole Made of Pieces
Humming
First Day
Gathering Stories - Jónsi *new track

WE BOUGHT A ZOO, in cinemas everywhere March 16th from Twentieth Century Fox, is a funny, inspiring and true story about the magical power of family to persevere in the face of extraordinary challenges. This is Crowe's first motion picture for all audiences, and stars Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson and Thomas Haden Church.

Damon portrays a single dad who, looking to give his family a much-needed fresh start, moves to a home situated in the middle of a zoo, which he and his two children will attempt to bring back to its once glorious state. The film weaves together warmth, laughter and a spirit of optimism.
For more on the film, visit www.weboughtazoo.com