Short answer
39 cues in total, per A24’s annotated playlist: 9 from the Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross score and 30 songs, including six Frank Ocean cues, Kendrick Lamar’s Backseat Freestyle, Tame Impala’s Be Above It, Kanye West’s I Am a God, Radiohead’s True Love Waits and SZA’s Pretty Little Birds. It opens on Animal Collective’s FloriDada and ends on Alabama Shakes’ Sound & Color.
Tyler’s half: songs 1 to 23
- 01
FloriDada Animal Collective
Opens the film; Shults says its chaotic energy matches the film’s messy human experience, and its bridge motif recurs.
- 02
Be Above It Tame Impala
Introduces Tyler’s driven world and his inner thoughts.
On Lonerism (2012): find the album on Amazon
- 03
Mitsubishi Sony Frank Ocean
The high of partying with friends; linked to the kids’ improvised "shut up" bit.
- 04
What a Difference a Day Makes Dinah Washington
A church scene and a hopeful family moment; a nod to Chungking Express.
- 05
La Linda Luna Kelvin Harrison Jr.
An original by the actor who plays Tyler, about a loving relationship that unravels.
- 06
Lvl A$AP Rocky
The beat rises with the MRI machine just before Tyler’s life changes.
- 07
Bad News Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
The first score cue: Tyler’s inner turmoil after his MRI results.
- 08
Odds Against Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
Follows the tense confrontation between Tyler and his father.
- 09
Rushes Frank Ocean
The highs and lows of a relationship; foreshadows the second half.
- 10
Backseat Freestyle Kendrick Lamar
Slowed down to match Tyler’s rebellion, a brief release.
On good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012): find the album on Amazon
- 11
Everything Burns Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
Tyler’s regret over his lost love, scored over fire imagery.
- 12
America The Shoes
Matches the energy of Tyler and his friend.
- 13
The Light Shines Through Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
Tyler’s first full breakdown and his last deep moment with Emily.
- 14
Focus H.E.R.
Alexis dancing in a phone video; a relationship near its end.
- 15
IFHY (feat. Pharrell) Tyler, The Creator
An honest teenage love song that fits both siblings.
- 16
Surf Solar Fuck Buttons
Drive and propulsion that carry a teenager’s fear of missing out.
- 17
Love Is a Losing Game Amy Winehouse
Turns the story briefly to Emily and a moment between the young women.
On Back to Black (2006): find the album on Amazon
- 18
I Am a God Kanye West
Hits right after Tyler overpowers his father; Shults says it should feel like a panic attack.
On Yeezus (2013): find the album on Amazon
- 19
U-Rite / U-Rite (Louis Futon Remix) THEY.
Played live during a single take party scene for real party energy.
- 20
Be Above It (Erol Alkan Rework) Tame Impala
Returns to the opening song to show how far Tyler has fallen.
- 21
Ghost! Kid Cudi
A song about depression that marks Tyler’s lowest point.
- 22
The Stars in His Head (Dark Lights Remix) Colin Stetson
Scores the nightmarish spiral at the turning point.
- 23
After the Fire Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
The weight of the tragedy, and the story passing from brother to sister.
Emily’s half: songs 24 to 39
- 24
Wounds Heal Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
Emily’s isolated grief; the piano theme as her spirit reaching through.
- 25
How to Begin? Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
Emily’s cautious curiosity about opening up to someone.
- 26
Moonlight Serenade Glenn Miller
The first music that is not score since the tragedy; hopeful.
- 27
What a Difference a Day Makes Dinah Washington
Returns at the diner and pushes Emily to open up.
- 28
Loch Raven (Live) Animal Collective
A raw, hopeful song about looking for love and starting over.
- 29
How Great (feat. Jay Electronica and My Cousin Nicole) Chance the Rapper
Celebrates spirituality and beauty; filmed at a Florida spring.
- 30
Sideways Frank Ocean
Its ending leads into the next track.
- 31
Florida Frank Ocean
A joyful Florida moment Shults calls one of his best days filming.
- 32
Rushes (Bass Guitar Layer) Frank Ocean
Tyler’s presence haunting the film; brings back the ocean moment with Alexis.
- 33
Bluish Animal Collective
The music taste Shults gave both siblings as South Florida teens.
On Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009): find the album on Amazon
- 34
Pretty Little Birds (feat. Isaiah Rashad) SZA
Emily lets go; mirrors Tyler’s earlier car window shot.
On Ctrl (2017): find the album on Amazon
- 35
Seigfried Frank Ocean
Echoes the young love imagery of the opening.
On Blonde (2016): find the album on Amazon
- 36
Ties Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
Feels like living inside a memory, beautiful and sad at once.
- 37
Leaving Missouri Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score
Ties death to forgiveness as Emily works toward forgiving Tyler and herself.
- 38
True Love Waits Radiohead
Shifts to the parents’ grief and closes the emotional arc.
On A Moon Shaped Pool (2016): find the album on Amazon
- 39
Sound & Color Alabama Shakes
Ends the film on hope as Emily moves toward healing.
On Sound & Color (2015): find the album on Amazon
Why the music matters so much here
Shults wrote with music playing and built scenes around specific tracks; he has shared a much longer 55 track playlist of songs that shaped the script (The Film Stage). Several cues were cleared in altered forms: Kendrick Lamar’s Backseat Freestyle is slowed down, and Kanye West’s I Am a God plays in a clean version (Wikipedia). The score’s full track list is on the Waves score page.
Listen
The score is sold and streamed as Waves (Original Score): find it on Amazon. The albums holding the licensed songs are linked in the list above, and the most asked for are in the shop section on the home page.
Questions people ask
Is there a Waves soundtrack album?
The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross came out as a 14 track album on November 26, 2019. We found no single album collecting the licensed songs; A24 published them as an annotated playlist instead.
What songs are in Waves?
Songs by Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, Kanye West, Radiohead, Amy Winehouse, SZA, Animal Collective, A$AP Rocky, Tyler, The Creator, Kid Cudi, Chance the Rapper, H.E.R., Dinah Washington, Glenn Miller, Colin Stetson and Alabama Shakes, plus an original song sung by Kelvin Harrison Jr.
What is the song in the Waves trailer?
We could not confirm the trailer music from a reliable source, so we do not list it here.
Did Kanye West approve I Am a God for Waves?
Yes. Wikipedia reports that West’s approval required a clean version of the song.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Streaming catalogs and listings change; check the service before you pay.