Composing Worlds Seen and Unseen: Nikhil Koparkar on The Wheel of Time and The Hills of Tanchico
Show Notes:
In this episode of The Slow Dive, host Farida Rafique sits down with award-winning composer Nikhil Koparkar, whose music has shaped stories across film, television, and gaming. His song “The Hills of Tanchico”—featured in Amazon’s hit fantasy series The Wheel of Time—is currently in consideration for the 2026 GRAMMY® Awards for Best Song Written for Visual Media, marking a career milestone that bridges imagination and mastery.
From the haunting score of Dead Whisper to global collaborations with Riot Games on League of Legends, Nikhil reflects on the evolution of his craft and the art of sonic storytelling. Together, he and Farida explore the creative process behind composing for different mediums, the balance between intuition and technology, and how AI is reshaping the soundscape of modern music.
Nikhil also shares his vision for adapting beloved literary works and the ways culture, collaboration, and creativity continue to influence his sound.
This is a conversation about sound as story, art as connection, and the power of music to move us beyond words.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Nikhil Koparkar
03:43 The Creative Journey Begins
08:48 Exploring Different Mediums of Composition
11:25 The Hills of Tanchiko: A Musical Love Letter
16:52 Collaborating with Actors and Filmmakers
22:53 Advice for Filmmakers on Communicating Music
25:30 Memorable Projects and Their Impact
26:58 Creative Process and Project Management
30:39 Musical Influences and Inspirations
34:19 Collaboration and Tools in Composition
37:20 Memorable Film Scores and Their Impact
40:56 The Role of AI in Music Composition
44:51 Future Aspirations and Ideal Projects
46:42 Soundtrack of Earth and Global Interconnectedness
47:58 Practicing Kindness and Humanity
Takeaways:
Nikhil Koparkar is an award-winning composer known for his work in film, television, and gaming.
His creative process is deeply influenced by his early experiences with music and storytelling.
Composing for different mediums requires different approaches and understanding of the narrative.
The Hills of Tanchico for Amazon Prime was a significant project that showcased his ability to work under tight deadlines.
Collaboration with actors and directors is crucial in the music composition process.
Technology plays a vital role in modern music composition, but the human touch remains irreplaceable.
AI tools can assist composers but should not replace the creative process.
Nikhil aspires to work on projects that combine his love for literature and music.
He believes in the importance of kindness and service to others as a way to improve humanity.
The interconnectedness of music and culture is essential in creating a global sound.
ABOUT NIKHIL KOPARKAR
Website: http://nikhilkmusic.com
Facebook.com/nikhilkmusic
Instgram.com/nikhilkmusic
X.com/nikhilkmusic
https://www.youtube.com/@NikhilKoparkarmusic
IMDB: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm5047915?s=c8cce308-b67e-bd0c-cda5-4b88ac772fb2&site_preference=normal
Nikhil Koparkar is a composer known for creating compelling scores for Film, Television, and Gaming. In 2025, he composed the original song 'The Hills Of Tanchico', a musical number performed by the lead actors in the hit Amazon fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It is now in consideration for the 2026 GRAMMY® Awards in the "Best Song Written For Visual Media" category.
His work on the psychological horror film Dead Whisper, released theatrically, earning him a nomination for the prestigious SCL Awards in the David Raksin Award for Emerging Talent category.
In 2023, he wrote the official main theme for Riot Games’ League Of Legends - Lunar New Year Campaign, which is featured in all their videos, in-game, as well as the foundation for other composers’ music.
He previously worked as an additional composer alongside Lorne Balfe at 14th Street Music, writing and arranging music on TV shows like Netflix’s Life On Our Planet, Amazon’s The Wheel Of Time, HBO’s His Dark Materials, and the Hulu docu-series, Victoria’s Secret: Angels & Demons.
