The Girl With The Needle

OONA Recordings is proud to announce the upcoming release of the soundtrack for “The Girl With The Needle” by Frederikke Hoffmeier.  Hoffmeier, whom has built up a cult following under the stage name Puce Mary, brings a raw, visceral and atmospheric score to this Oscar-nominated film, which is contending for Best International Feature.   Known for her bold, experimental approach to sound, Hoffmeier’s composition immerses listeners in the film’s dark, emotionally-charged world.

Directed by Magnus von Horn, The Girl With The Needle premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it earned praise for its uncompromising vision. The film went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Non-English Language Film and won two prestigious awards at the European Film Awards, including Best Score for Hoffmeier’s hauntingly powerful work.

The score to The Girl With The Needle is as dark as it is compelling, a masterclass in creating tension, unease, and raw emotional weight. Hoffmeier’s sound design is equal parts abrasive and intimate, drawing the listener into a world of fractured beauty.  Her use of organic textures, electro-acoustic undertones, and dissonant, atonal melodies challenges traditional notions of film music, offering something deeply visceral and unpredictable.

The Guardian described Hoffmeier’s score as “nerve-abrading,” highlighting the relentless, uncomfortable energy that underpins the film. The Chicago Reader similarly calls the score haunting, noting how it amplifies the film’s stark atmosphere. Drawing comparisons to the intense works of composers like Mica Levi, Awards Radar Magazine praises Hoffmeier for pushing the film’s emotional core to its breaking point, deepening the agony of the protagonist.

Throughout the film, Hoffmeier’s score becomes as much a character as the people on screen. Her collaboration with von Horn is marked by a shared vision of pushing the limits of cinema and sound. Screen Daily describes the score as “daring,” with its aggressive, contemporary tones standing in stark contrast to conventional film scores. The result is a uniquely modern, avant-garde work that reflects the film’s visceral and unsettling nature. Hoffmeier crafts a world of sound that lingers long after the credits roll.

The soundtrack’s fusion of organic instrumentation with electro-acoustic elements and bold industrial sounds sets it apart from the ordinary. The British Film Institute notes how Hoffmeier’s “atonal score” creates an “enervating effect,” pulling listeners deeper into the film’s raw emotional depths. The combination of brutal sound design and haunting melodies builds a layered, evocative listening experience, one that grows increasingly intense with every listen.

The The Girl With The Needle soundtrack is available for vinyl pre-order (orders will ship mid May, 2025) and is available across all major streaming platforms and digital stores now.