Poster for Lanterns

Lanterns Soundtrack Season 1 Guide

Lanterns

HBO Max 7.8 Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Mystery

New recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops, are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

Bringing a grounded, True Detective-style mystery to the DC Universe, Lanterns pairs veteran lawman Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) with younger recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) in an eight-episode HBO Max original series. Developed by Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy, and Tom King, the crime procedural follows the two intergalactic peacekeepers as they investigate a murder in rural America that threatens to expose a deep extraterrestrial conspiracy. Alongside Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry and Garret Dillahunt, the series trades cosmic battles for muddy tire tracks and small-town tensions, driven by an earthy, vintage soundtrack curated by music supervisor Gabe Hilfer.

Throughout the season, the soundtrack of Lanterns anchors the investigation in classic American rock, Southern hip-hop, and timeless soul. The series sets an energetic pace with seventies favorites from KC and the Sunshine Band and The Stooges' raw anthem "No Fun," before branching into deep-cut soul with Leon Bridges' "Coming Home." Standout episodic needle drops include Atlanta rap royalty Outkast taking center stage with "ATLiens" and "Gasoline Dreams," alongside modern indie rock favorites like Wunderhorse and British post-punk band Pretty Sick.

Soundtrack by Episode

Episode 1: Pilot (Aug 16, 2026)

Episode 1 Songs: After a fatal shooting, Green Lantern Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart set out to prove it was an extraterrestrial event

Episode 2: Trust Fall (Aug 23, 2026)

Episode 2 Songs

  • Human Condition

    Pretty Sick

    00:49:07

    Scene Context: In Sinestro's prison cell, Hal Jordan interrogates him about the Manhunters as the end credits begin to roll.

Episode 3: OutKast (Aug 30, 2026)

Episode 3 Songs: When his dad misunderstands a contact attempt from the Guardians, John is put forth as the next best option to fulfill the Green Lantern destiny. Then, after a lifetime of preparation, John finally gets his chance to interview for the Guardians.

Episode 4: The Weenie (Sep 6, 2026)

Episode 4 Songs: As the 48-hour deadline nears, John develops a new theory about the Manhunter's location, leading him and Hal to run their next move by Sheriff Kane. Meanwhile, Hal's visit to Sinestro has consequences.

Episode 5: Lights Out (Sep 13, 2026)

Episode 5 Songs: As the Macon family's history unravels, Rushville mobilizes in the face of the escalating threat. As John is placed in an impossible position, Hal risks everything in a final attempt to take down the Manhunter.

Episode 6: Bad Optics (Sep 20, 2026)

Episode 6 Songs: Now in business with his brother Marcus, John is on the verge of landing a major investor for his innovative take on panic rooms when an unexpected phone call pulls him back to Rushville, and everything he worked so hard to leave behind.

Episode 7: The Jordan Boys Legacy (Sep 27, 2026)

Episode 7 Songs: Finding themselves on another planet, Hal and John must put aside their fractured past to solve a murder. Along their journey, both men are forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts...and the ways their childhoods shaped who they are today.

Episode 8: Dirt and Stars (Oct 4, 2026)

Episode 9 Songs:

Lanterns Season 1 Trailer Songs

Grammy-winning composer Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) provides the haunting original score, highlighted by the sweeping series theme "In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night" and the evocative Episode 5 end credits piece "Away from Home (Rushville's Lament)." As the season drives toward its emotional conclusion in "Bad Optics," the final stretch delivers powerful placements from The Kinks, Bon Iver's "THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS," and Dan Auerbach's soulful rocker "Heartbroken, In Disrepair" during Hal Jordan's funeral and the closing credits.

Main Cast

  • Aaron Pierre John Stewart
  • Kyle Chandler Hal Jordan
  • Kelly Macdonald Sheriff Kerry
  • Garret Dillahunt William Macon
  • Poorna Jagannathan Zoe

Official Trailer

Official Trailer Thumbnail for Lanterns

Complete Soundtrack List - All Songs Played in Every Episode

Episode Song Title Artist
E1 In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night (Lanterns Theme) [from "Lanterns"] Stephanie Economou
E1 Boogie Shoes KC and the Sunshine Band
E1 Get Down Tonight KC and the Sunshine Band
E1 Sigue creyendo en mí Sandhy & Mandhy
E1 No Fun The Stooges
E1 Brand New Key Melanie
E1 Coming Home Leon Bridges
E1 Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude Johann Sebastian Bach
E1 Knievel Scud Mountain Boys
E2 Human Condition Pretty Sick
E3 ATLiens Outkast
E3 John Stewart (from "Lanterns") Stephanie Economou
E3 Gasoline Dreams (with Khujo Goodie) Outkast
E4 Walk Away James Gang
E4 Arpeggione Sonata in A Minor, D 821: III. Allegretto Franz Schubert
E4 Open Your Eyes (from "Lanterns") Stephanie Economou
E4 Midas Wunderhorse
E5 I'm Going Home David Elliott
E5 Sleepwalker The Kinks
E5 THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS Bon Iver
E5 Away from Home (Rushville's Lament) [feat. Ari Mason & Wayne Ingram] [from "Lanterns"] Stephanie Economou
E6 New Broom Sweeps Good Clarence Ashe
E6 Love Is Coming Back Kookie Freeman
E6 There's Nothing I Can Do About It Mike and the Censations
E6 Waves Of Nostalgia Simon Webster
E6 Heartbroken, In Disrepair Dan Auerbach
E6 In the Dirt (from "Lanterns") Stephanie Economou
E7 Father To Son Queen
E7 Don't Think Twice, It's All Right Melanie
E7 (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty KC and the Sunshine Band
E7 SpottieOttieDopaliscious Outkast
E7 Father To Son Queen
E7 An Alien World (from "Lanterns") Stephanie Economou
E8 Right Back to It Waxahatchee
E8 Cruel to Be Kind Nick Lowe
E8 Hero Michael Kiwanuka
SHOW INFO
Supervisors Gabe Hilfer
Network HBO Max
External Links TMDB, IMDb