Emmy-nominated composer Dan Romer discussed his approach to scoring A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aiming for a more intimate, grounded sound than the grand, epic scale of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
Quick read:
- Dan Romer intentionally moved away from the massive orchestral style of GOT
- The music focuses heavily on Dunk and Egg’s relationship
- He didn’t try to compete with Ramin Djawadi’s iconic GOT themes
A different musical approach
In a conversation with Gold Derby, Romer explained that he wanted the music to reflect the story’s smaller, more personal focus on Dunk and Egg’s adventures. Rather than relying on massive orchestral swells and choirs typical of the main Game of Thrones saga, he blended medieval textures with subtle Western and folk influences to create a warmer, more character-driven score.
He emphasized building the emotional world of the duo; capturing Dunk’s sense of honour, Egg’s curiosity, and their growing bond through intimate instrumentation and themes that evolve as their relationship develops.
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“I wanted it to feel like you’re on a journey with these two characters. It’s not about conquering kingdoms; it’s about two people trying to do the right thing in a complicated world.”
Romer highlighted his collaboration with the showrunner Ira Parker to ensure the music supported the series’ lighter tone, humour, and coming-of-age elements while still feeling part of the larger Westerosi universe.
Ramin Djawadi
Not competing with Ramin Djawadi
The composer noted that he avoided trying to compete with Ramin Djawadi’s iconic Game of Thrones themes, instead carving out a distinct identity that feels more personal and grounded. He described the challenge of scoring a prequel that must honour the franchise’s legacy while standing on its own.
“I never would have thought in my entire life I would get to write a piece of music that has the Game of Thrones riff behind it. As soon as I started writing with that riff, it was like, “Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m doing this. This is amazing.” It’s an honour.”
Overall, Romer’s work has been praised for bringing emotional depth and intimacy along with light-heartedness to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, proving that Westeros can sound just as compelling on a more human scale as it does with dragons and large-scale battles.
