We have long been obsessed with Hans Zimmer and his epic composition, This Land, which was famously featured in The Lion King. The first half of the score represented the rainstorm that took place shortly after Simba’s presentation, whilst the latter half represented Simba’s encounter with Mufasa’s ghost. When we heard that the score had been re-imagined by Charly S., we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves in this modern re-interpretation.
Charly S. opens This Land – Orchestra with delicate piano notes, cosmic vocalizations and an emotive strings performance. The opus evolves with a piano solo, building with an orchestra with the signature melody of the original but with a more ambient and meditative energy.
The emotional quotient is high, poetic, and of course, reminds us directly of the film itself. It is the astral vocal harmonies that set the piece apart as well as its more peaceful intention. It would certainly make for potential use in a recreation of the film, perhaps a future live action remake.
We appreciate the innovation and learn that Charly S. produced the entire composition at home. The artist confesses, “The recording and production process for this release focused on creating a spacious and immersive sound using a fully digital setup in FL Studio. A combination of high-quality orchestral VST instruments was used to carefully recreate the core elements of the original composition, while allowing room for a more ambient reinterpretation.”
Charly S. continues, “One of the key approaches was simplifying certain sections and slowing down the overall pacing, which created more space for reverb tails and atmospheric textures to develop naturally. This process reflects a modern approach to orchestral production, where digital tools are used not just for realism, but to create a unique atmosphere and emotional experience.”
Most importantly, the rising composer from Netherlands says, “I’m not trying to recreate the original – I’m trying to recreate the feeling it leaves behind. Rather than replicating the original, the goal was to capture its emotional depth while introducing a more ambient and immersive interpretation.”
We deeply connect with this modern approach to orchestral ambient music, and have added This Land – Orchestra to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Charly S. including Au Revoir, and Still Waters.