A Bittersweet Farewell: Favorite Music Moments from Shadowhunters
With tonight’s movie-length series finale, Shadowhunters comes to an end after a three season run on Freeform. Based on the popular Mortal Instruments YA novels, this will be a bittersweet farewell for the passionate fans of the series, and its soundtrack.
Always a fan favorite on Tunefind, Shadowhunters used music to amplify the drama, and highlight the singing skills of the show’s talented cast. In a nostalgic look back, music supervisor Lindsay Wolfington (The Village, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Royals, One Tree Hill) shares her thoughts as the show comes to an end, and walks us through her favorite music moments from the series.
“Shadowhunters has been so fun and rewarding to music supervise!” shared Wolfington. “I have loved working with my producers and editors to create edgy sparring moments and heart wrenching romantic moments, and in turn, have been touched to see our fans become passionate about the songs and artists we use.”
Beyond the licensed music that soundtracks the action of Shadowhunters, the show gained an avid following for the original songs Wolfington featured throughout the series.
“I have loved being able to create original tracks with Ruelle, as well as with Sam Hollander for Simon’s songs,” said Wolfington. In addition to the songs performed by Simon (played by Alberto Rosende) on the show, like ‘Fragile World’ and ‘Royal Blue,’ Wolfington tapped Hollander for a number of other key moments, many featured on the Shadowhunters soundtrack album released previously.
And, then, of course, there’s Ruelle. Perhaps the key artist who defined the sound of Shadowhunters, Ruelle has had some 20 songs featured in the series. Her distinctive dark electronic sound has made Ruelle one of the most popular artists on Tunefind.
Wolfington leveraged the prolific singer/songwriter’s catalog, but also tapped her to write original songs specifically for the show, including the dramatic theme song, ‘This Is the Hunt.’ The artist herself gave Tunefind some insight into her inspiration when writing these songs for big Shadowhunters moments. Ruelle has also released an album titled Ode to Shadows – timed with today’s finale – featuring her music from Shadowhunters, including the previously unreleased track ‘Invincible.’
As this era draws to a close, Wolfington has loved her time in the Shadow World, saying, “I am so grateful to have been with the show from the start and see it grow. Thank you to Ed Decter, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Matt Hastings, Constantin Film, and Freeform for trusting me on this wonderful run.”
And now, Lindsay Wolfington walks us through her favorite music moments from Shadowhunters.
War of Hearts
by Ruelle
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 1 · Episode 12 · Malec
Alec and Lydia's wedding; Magnus enters the roo…
Lindsay Wolfington: I love to score big dramatic moments with a song, and what better way to score Alec leaving the altar with a musical swell and the words “I can’t help but love you, even though I try not to!” And of course, their kiss! Love this one!
[This song was also featured in the Freeform livestream concert by Ruelle, below.]
The Other Side
by Ruelle
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 2 · Episode 14 · The Fair Folk
Clary is forced by the Fairy Queen to kiss Jace…
LW: I told Maggie Eckford (Ruelle) about the general love triangle that Clary was finding herself in, and she wrote this song. I knew instantly it would be perfect for when Clary was tricked into kissing Jace. I also felt it was a return to Jace and Clary’s sound, as we had used so many Ruelle songs during the development of their relationship in S1.
Love Surrounds You
by Ramsey
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 2 · Episode 15 · A Problem of Memory
Ramsey sings onstage; Quinn takes Simon to a 'b…
LW: This was a fun moment for me. The Bleeder’s Den was a dark seductive underworld, something unfamiliar and uneasy to Simon. It was fun to find a song that encompassed all those feelings and was a little more unusual than what we typically heard on the show.
Michelangelo (From "Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments")
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 3 · Episode 5 · Stronger Than Heaven
Simon busks on the street when Jace comes down …
LW: This was my favorite Simon song! We had this song written by Sam Hollander and his team and dang, it is catchy! It was fun to create something for that show that you would actually want to jam to in your car!
The Chain
by Mattis
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 3 · Episode 12 · Original Sin
Alec re-trains Magnus how to fight. The fight t…
LW: I loved finding songs for our training moments, but this one was particularly fun because it embodied the sensuality between Magnus and Alec. All our training songs were rhythmic and had peaks and valleys to play the sparring and usually something flirty about them. This one took it to the next level to play our beloved Malec’s fiery chemistry!
Glass House
by Morgan Saint
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 3 · Episode 13 · Beati Bellicosi
Jace and Clary have an intimate moment at the end.
LW: This song had the perfect blend of sweetness and sensuality for Jace and Clary’s first big intimate moment. The production on the track felt like our show, and I love how it comes in sweetly and builds to a beautiful chorus with the lyrics “just love me now.”
Bridges
by Aisha Badru
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 3 · Episode 20 · City of Glass
The city is under attack and the end of the wor…
LW: This scene was hopeful and heartbreaking at the same time, which is what made it one of my favorite uses. The lyrics “We were worlds apart, so I fell from the start” and “I’ll stick through it, oh I swear” felt perfect with Magnus and Alec. Then the way the song soared at the end of the scene as Magnus gives up everything… It’s hopeful because he’s doing what’s needed, but gutting because he’s leaving Alec behind. When Alec falls to his knees, I cry every time. The song has tons of heart but takes on an epic quality which makes it such a great match for this moment.
Nomad
by Fleurie
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 3 · Episode 21 · Alliance
Simon arrives at the Institute to find Izzy; th…
LW: Well, finally we get a Sizzy kiss! This song had a magical quality to it, which played beautifully as the camera spun around Simon and Izzy. It also has the perfect pause right before the moment we have all been waiting for – the kiss! It was also nice to use a Fleurie song since she sang on the song “Carry You,” which was used when Izzy drank Simon’s blood to save him earlier in the season.
1995
by Emmit Fenn
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 3 · Episode 22 · All Good Things…
Jace and Clary dance, kiss. Jaces notices somet…
LW: Todd asked me to send songs for Jace and Clary’s slow dance while filming the finale, and I had just gotten some new Emmit songs and took a listen. This song kills me. The piano is gorgeous, the vocals are so cool. And then the lyric “I must be dreaming” as the scene ends. My heart aches every time I hear the song and watch the scene.
I Get to Love You
by Ruelle
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 3 · Episode 22 · All Good Things…
The Malec wedding.
LW: Well, we all knew this would be perfect, and it was. Thank you Todd and Darren for embracing this one wholeheartedly!
Where We Come Alive
by Ruelle
from Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack · Season 3 · Episode 22 · All Good Things…
At the end, Clary discusses her work as Jace wa…
LW: I mean, what better way to end Shadowhunters than with Ruelle! I was listening for this moment, going through her songs and knew we needed something that began softly for some dialogue and then went big. This song delivered all of that, plus the lyrics “out of the shadows and into the light” over what Clary just went through!?! It was kismet. And it felt good to end the series triumphantly and hopefully. It’s been a great run!
More
〉Tunefind’s full list of songs featured in Shadowhunters
〉Follow Shadowhunters on: Twitter @ShadowhuntersTV | Insta @ShadowhuntersTV | Freeform Shadowhunters
〉Top TV Song: Ember by Kat McNamara
〉Ruelle Shares Details on Livestream Concert for Shadowhunters Fans
〉Shadowhunters Soundtrack Features Exclusive Songs
〉Ruelle’s Cinematic Sound Rules the Screen