Inside Oli Julian’s rhythmic approach to Netflix’s The Twits

Composer Oli Julian brings a bold, playful, and character-driven sound to Netflix’s adaptation of The Twits, a film that transforms Roald Dahl’s chaotic, 40-page story into a full 90-minute feature. Having loved the book as a child, Julian approached the project with nostalgia and irreverence, channeling the same mischievous energy that defines its infamous characters.

His score swings between eccentricity and warmth, pulling humor, rhythm, and tension from the unpredictable world of the story.

At the very center of his flow was Abbey Road Vintage Drummer, a leading element in shaping the film’s rhythmic personality. Used from the very beginning of the project, the library helped Julian craft grooves that carried the story’s humor while keeping a human looseness to the performance.

Jump to these sections:

• Capturing childhood unease
• Comedy through rhythm and tone
• Bringing Abbey Road Vintage Drummer to life
• Character-driven percussion
• Lessons from scoring animation

In this interview, Julian talks about rhythm, character, and how Abbey Road Vintage Drummer was central to his first full-length animated feature score.

Explore the Kontakt instrument that became Oli’s comedic tool and storytelling assistant.

Explore Abbey Road Vintage Drummer

You’ve mentioned that The Twits was a childhood favorite. How did that early connection influence the tone you wanted to capture musically?

The Twits was a regular read for me as a child, and I remember feeling uneasy about how mean they were. I wanted to bottle that sense of unease and marry it with the inherent comedy in the script. I wanted to build a world for the Twits that was musically a bit loose and DIY in places, but also with specific character instrumentation.

For example, Mr. Twit is scored with low, flatulent brass, whilst Mrs. Twit is followed around by an off-key operatic soprano that represents her failed singing ambitions. Conversely, the Mugglewumps have a purer, more beautiful palette, utilizing lush strings and a musical saw that lean into their sense of empathy.

There are a lot of weird and wonderful characters, and their individual sounds are glued together with a kind of orchestral Americana.

When approaching comedy, does rhythm or melody do more of the heavy lifting in establishing timing and tone?

I’m tempted to say both, but really, rhythm is key for me. I’m first and foremost a drummer, so I think I have a drummer’s brain. I often start writing with groove and pace in mind first. With comedy, it’s always about supporting the jokes, which usually means setting up the punchlines.

Comedy is all about timing and pace, so it stands to reason that rhythmic music can help support that. Musical tone is also crucial for giving the comedy the proper context to exist in.

It’s often about having lightness of touch in the more emotive and dramatic moments to allow the jokes to breathe.

Pro tip from Oli Julian: Try not to overwrite and make your score too dense. I still do it and end up stripping out 20% of what I’ve written in the end to make space for dialogue and sound effects.

Where did Abbey Road Vintage Drummer first enter the workflow for this score?

At the very beginning. It’s often my go-to drum kit to write with. I love its looseness, and it doesn’t feel too closely mic’d or too “studio.” It usually lays the foundation for a cue and lets me punctuate moments in the music really well.

Were there particular kits, grooves, or articulations inside Abbey Road Vintage Drummer that became signatures across multiple cues?

I love both the Ebony and Ivory kits. I often mix and match them because I love the brightness of the Zildjian First Stamp ride in the Ivory – it really cuts through. I also love the looseness of the Ebony kick and snare.

Pro tip from Oli Julian: Try to think like a drummer when programming drums. This will help you to get a natural performance. For instance, a drummer wouldn’t be able to play all of the drums at the same time.

The Twits are such distinctive characters. How did you use rhythm to differentiate between them or to match their personalities?

The cues that score the Twits’ scenes often have an oompah rhythm. That’s almost a Balkan sound, and there is a clear “Twit” theme that recurs in these moments.

Mr. Twit’s brass usually is the rhythmic backbone, and Mrs. Twit’s more sustained melodies sit on top.

Looking back, what did working with Abbey Road Vintage Drummer on The Twits teach you about balancing precision, personality, and playfulness in film scoring?

This is the first feature animation I’ve worked on, and it was pretty different from scoring live action. Story and action in animation often move at a quicker pace, and you need to be nimble to move with it.

Using tools like Abbey Road Vintage Drummer allowed me to have the full gamut of dynamic range, whilst still being precise enough to hit the comedic beats.

Pro tip from Oli Julian: Don’t be afraid to mix and match presets for drum kits and even libraries. Get the exact sound you want.

Wrapping it all up

Oli Julian’s score for The Twits shows how rhythm can drive emotion as much as melody. By grounding his approach in instinct and humor, he built a sound that feels handcrafted and full of imperfections. That looseness helps the music breathe alongside the story. Abbey Road Vintage Drummer gave him the flexibility to move between tight precision and loose, organic flow, keeping each cue alive with character.

The Twits is out now on Netflix. Learn more about Abbey Road Vintage Drummer and explore how its expressive kits can bring life, movement, and personality to your next score.

Explore Abbey Road Vintage Drummer