39 songs
Quick answers
The film opens on FloriDada by Animal Collective, the first party scene uses Frank Ocean’s Mitsubishi Sony, and it ends with Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes right after Radiohead’s True Love Waits.
How the list was built
The 39 entries and the scene notes come from A24’s annotated Waves playlist, where Trey Edward Shults explains each choice, in the order the music plays. "Tyler’s half" is entries 1 to 23, up to and including the turning point; "Emily’s half" is 24 to 39. Score cues are by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Album links appear only where we are sure which album holds the song.
Prefer one long list? See every song in order or the score track list.
Questions people ask
What song plays at the end of Waves?
Radiohead’s True Love Waits plays as the story turns to the parents, and the film closes on Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes, per A24’s annotated playlist.
What Frank Ocean songs are in Waves?
Mitsubishi Sony, Rushes, Sideways, Florida, Rushes (Bass Guitar Layer) and Seigfried.
What is the song in the car scene with Emily?
A24’s playlist notes say Pretty Little Birds by SZA (with Isaiah Rashad) lets Emily let go, mirroring Tyler’s earlier car window shot.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Streaming catalogs and listings change; check the service before you pay.