Ambient music innovators Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore have announced the release of their original score for Threshold, a new documentary chronicling the journey of Olympic champion cross-country skier Jessie Diggins. This marks the duo’s second collaborative project this year, following their critically acclaimed studio album, Tragic Magic. The announcement coincides with the documentary’s streaming debut, and three tracks from the score—"Cold Open," "Sick And Tired," and "Gallivare 10km"—were made available immediately, offering a sonic preview of the sixteen-track album set for release on November 20 via Florid Recordings / Blue Pool Recordings.
A New Collaborative Chapter in Film Scoring
The collaboration between Barwick and Lattimore on the Threshold score represents a significant development in their respective careers and in the application of ambient music to cinematic narratives. Having just completed their debut collaborative album, Tragic Magic, earlier this year, the artists were uniquely positioned to embark on another joint venture. The decision to score Threshold came shortly after the completion of Tragic Magic, indicating a rapid and fertile period of creative synergy between the two highly regarded musicians. This new project not only underscores their versatility but also highlights the increasing recognition of ambient soundscapes as powerful tools for enhancing documentary storytelling.
Threshold, directed by brothers Lars and Torsten Brinkema, delves into the multifaceted life and career of Jessie Diggins, a figure whose triumphs and personal struggles resonate deeply beyond the realm of professional athletics. The film aims to provide an intimate portrayal of Diggins, exploring the dedication, resilience, and vulnerability that characterize her path to becoming an Olympic champion. The choice of Barwick and Lattimore to compose the score suggests a deliberate artistic decision by the directors to imbue the documentary with a contemplative and emotionally resonant sonic backdrop, one that can subtly amplify the narrative without overpowering it.
From ‘Tragic Magic’ to ‘Threshold’: A Shifting Artistic Palette
Mary Lattimore provided insightful commentary on the distinct creative processes involved in developing Tragic Magic versus the Threshold score. "Fresh off of recording our album Tragic Magic in 2025, we were asked to co-score this documentary about the brilliant cross-country ski champion Jessie Diggins," Lattimore recounted. She highlighted a fundamental difference in the artistic parameters of the two projects. For Tragic Magic, the duo operated under specific instrumental constraints, utilizing "historic, delicate and mysterious ones," yet simultaneously enjoyed "total sonic freedom" within those boundaries. This approach allowed them to explore abstract sound textures and create an album characterized by its ethereal beauty and introspective depth, receiving widespread critical praise for its innovative blend of their individual styles.
In stark contrast, the Threshold score presented a different set of challenges and opportunities. Lattimore elaborated, "In the case of Threshold, the sky was the limit with instrumentation and we held an expansive palette, but our music existed within the framework of Jessie’s life and the vision of the directors." This statement elucidates the nuanced demands of film scoring, where the music serves to support and enhance a pre-existing narrative rather than define its own abstract space. The ability to switch between these two modes of composition—one emphasizing pure sonic exploration, the other narrative subservience—demonstrates the remarkable adaptability and artistic maturity of Barwick and Lattimore.
Lattimore reflected on the unique experience of navigating both projects concurrently: "Holding both projects in our hands, two sides of the same coin, was challenging, mind-expanding and satisfying, in this year of making music as a duo." This sentiment underscores the intensity of their collaborative year and the profound artistic growth derived from tackling such diverse creative briefs. The score’s objective was to capture the full spectrum of Diggins’ journey, from exhilarating victories to profound personal challenges. "Jessie’s story has many triumphs, thrilling races and wins, but also quite low points that feel very human and call for musical tenderness," Lattimore noted, emphasizing the emotional range the score needed to convey. She concluded by expressing her pleasure in collaborating with Julianna, Lars, and Torsten "to find the right melodies to enhance this great doc about someone so admired."
The Subject: Jessie Diggins’ Enduring Legacy
Jessie Diggins stands as one of the most prominent figures in American cross-country skiing history. A two-time Olympic medalist and multiple World Championship medalist, Diggins broke barriers and elevated the sport’s profile in the United States, a country where Nordic skiing often takes a backseat to more mainstream winter sports. Her gold medal victory in the team sprint at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, alongside teammate Kikkan Randall, was a historic moment, marking the first-ever Olympic gold for American cross-country skiing. Diggins followed this up with a silver medal in the 30km mass start at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, further solidifying her status as an elite athlete.
Beyond her athletic prowess, Diggins is also known for her vibrant personality, relentless positivity, and vocal advocacy for mental health and body positivity in sports. Her journey has not been without its challenges, including an open struggle with an eating disorder, which she has candidly discussed in her memoir, "Brave Enough." These personal dimensions make her an ideal subject for a documentary like Threshold, which aims to explore the human story behind the athletic achievements. The score, as indicated by Lattimore, is tasked with musically interpreting both the "thrilling races and wins" and the "low points that feel very human," suggesting a rich emotional tapestry for the film. The documentary’s release and the accompanying score are poised to offer fans and newcomers alike a deeper understanding of Diggins’ remarkable resilience and impact.
The Architects of Sound: Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore’s Individual Prowess
The collaboration on the Threshold score brings together two distinct yet complementary voices in contemporary ambient music.
Julianna Barwick is celebrated for her ethereal, loop-based vocal compositions. Her music often conjures images of sacred spaces and natural landscapes, characterized by intricate layers of her own voice, creating a sound that is both intimate and expansive. Albums like The Magic Place (2011), Nepenthe (2013), and Healing Is A Miracle (2020) have cemented her reputation as a singular artist whose work transcends traditional genre boundaries. Barwick’s signature style, which relies heavily on improvisation and intuitive layering, lends itself exceptionally well to creating immersive atmospheres. Her ability to evoke profound emotional states through abstract vocal textures is a key asset in film scoring, particularly for a documentary that explores the inner world of its subject.
Mary Lattimore, a harpist and composer, has similarly carved out a unique niche in the ambient and experimental music scenes. Her distinctive approach to the harp, utilizing effects pedals and various extended techniques, transforms the instrument from its classical origins into a vehicle for swirling, contemplative soundscapes. Albums such as At the Dam (2016), Hundreds of of Days (2018), and Goodbye, Hotel Arkada (2023) showcase her talent for crafting narratives through instrumental improvisation, often drawing inspiration from personal experiences and physical locations. Lattimore’s music possesses a delicate yet powerful quality, capable of conveying both tranquility and underlying tension, qualities that are invaluable in scoring a documentary that traverses moments of both triumph and adversity.
The fusion of Barwick’s layered vocals and Lattimore’s processed harp creates a rich sonic tapestry that is both familiar to their individual fans and innovative in its combined form. Their collaborative dynamic, honed during the creation of Tragic Magic, allows them to push each other’s creative boundaries, resulting in a sound that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Crafting the Sonic Narrative: Insights from the Studio
The sixteen tracks on the Threshold score were composed and recorded in two vibrant neighborhoods of Los Angeles: Highland Park and Echo Park. These areas are known for their thriving artistic communities and numerous independent studios, suggesting an environment conducive to creative exploration. While specific details about the recording process are limited, Lattimore’s earlier statement about an "expansive palette" and the "sky was the limit with instrumentation" implies that the duo likely had access to a broader array of synthesizers, electronic processing, and perhaps even orchestral elements compared to the more constrained setup for Tragic Magic. This freedom would have allowed them to craft a dynamic score capable of supporting the varied emotional beats of Diggins’ story—from the quiet introspection of training to the adrenaline of competition.
The tracklist itself offers a chronological and thematic roadmap of the documentary’s narrative:
01 "Cold Open"
02 "Jessie Childhood"
03 "Following In Dad’s Footsteps"
04 "Peyongchang"
05 "Gold Metal Glory"
06 "Burning The Candle"
07 "Sick And Tired"
08 "Press Zoom"
09 "Ruka Race"
10 "Travel To Gallivare"
11 "Gallivare 10km"
12 "Death Is Imminent"
13 "Xmas"
14 "Tour De Ski"
15 "Connected"
16 "Worthy Of Love"
The titles clearly trace Diggins’ life, from her early years and influences ("Jessie Childhood," "Following In Dad’s Footsteps") through her Olympic highs ("Peyongchang," "Gold Metal Glory"). However, they also hint at the struggles and pressures she faced ("Burning The Candle," "Sick And Tired," "Death Is Imminent"), showcasing the documentary’s commitment to a holistic portrayal. Specific race locations ("Ruka Race," "Gallivare 10km," "Tour De Ski") ground the narrative in her athletic career, while more abstract titles like "Connected" and "Worthy Of Love" suggest the personal growth and emotional resolutions explored in the film. The "Cold Open" serves as an immediate atmospheric entry point, while tracks like "Xmas" and "Press Zoom" likely capture specific moments or periods in Diggins’ life and the challenges of a public persona.
The careful sequencing of these tracks within the documentary will undoubtedly play a crucial role in guiding the audience through Diggins’ emotional and physical landscape, with Barwick and Lattimore’s music acting as a silent narrator, underscoring the triumphs and tribulations with subtle grace and power.
The Growing Trend of Ambient Film Scoring
The commissioning of Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore for the Threshold score is indicative of a broader trend in documentary filmmaking: the increasing embrace of ambient and experimental artists for original scores. Traditionally, film scores have often relied on orchestral compositions or more conventional melodic structures to convey emotion. However, contemporary filmmakers are increasingly turning to artists whose expertise lies in creating immersive soundscapes, textural compositions, and atmospheric resonance.
This shift is driven by several factors. Ambient music’s non-linear, often abstract nature allows for a more nuanced emotional layering that can subtly influence viewer perception without dictating it. For documentaries, which often aim for authenticity and emotional depth, an ambient score can provide a powerful, yet unobtrusive, emotional undercurrent. It can evoke feelings of introspection, wonder, tension, or melancholy, enhancing the visual narrative without distracting from it. Artists like Barwick and Lattimore, with their mastery of sonic environments, are perfectly suited for this role, bringing a unique artistic sensibility that elevates the entire production. Their involvement further legitimizes ambient music as a powerful and versatile tool in the broader cinematic landscape.
Label Support and Distribution
The Threshold score will be released on November 20 through a joint effort by Florid Recordings and Blue Pool Recordings. Both labels are known for their commitment to innovative and experimental music, making them ideal homes for Barwick and Lattimore’s work. Florid Recordings, for instance, has a history of supporting artists who push the boundaries of sound design and electronic composition. Blue Pool Recordings, similarly, often curates releases that prioritize artistic integrity and unique sonic visions. The partnership between these labels for the Threshold score ensures that the album will reach an audience appreciative of its artistic merit and its contribution to the ambient and film scoring genres. Pre-orders for the score are available, signaling anticipation for this unique project.
In conclusion, the Threshold score represents a significant artistic milestone for Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore, showcasing their collaborative depth and versatility in a new context. By translating the complex emotional landscape of Jessie Diggins’ life into an expansive sonic narrative, they not only enrich the documentary but also further solidify the role of ambient music in contemporary film scoring. The project stands as a testament to the power of sound to convey profound human experiences, from the triumphs of an Olympic champion to the quiet resilience of personal struggle.
