The Shards Soundtrack Season 1 (2026) Guide
Set in Los Angeles in 1981, the story follows a 17-year-old version of Bret Easton Ellis during his final year at the elite Buckley prep school. Upending his world is the arrival of a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory, whose unsettling presence coincides with the activities of a serial killer known as The Trawler.
Adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’s chilling novel set in 1981 Los Angeles, FX’s thriller series The Shards anchors its dark, hedonistic atmosphere with an authentic early-80s soundtrack. Fusing high-gloss synth-pop, post-punk, and new wave, the musical selection mirrors Bret's paranoia as a series of sinister murders unsettles his privileged high school circle.
The series' promotional campaign and defining character scenes are defined by classic 80s hits. A Flock of Seagulls' synth-pop track 'Space Age Love Song' and Sly Fox's 'Let's Go All The Way' drive the trailers, while The Cars’ 'Moving In Stereo' and Ultravox’s 'Vienna' accompany Bret’s solitary, tense drives through Los Angeles in the premiere.
Episode 1 Songs (Aug 5, 2026)
Pilot: It's the summer of 1981 in Los Angeles; a series of disturbing crimes coincides with the arrival of a strange new student in Bret's orbit.
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Scene Context: Bret narrating about the movie The Shining while driving.
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Vienna
Ultravox
Scene Context: Bret singing while driving
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Planet Earth
Scene Context: Song playing in the house party
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This Town
Scene Context: Other music played at the party
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Scene Context: LP record playing on the turntable
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Bad Boys Get Spanked
The Pretenders
Scene Context: Brett in a car chase
Episode 2 Songs (Aug 5, 2026)
Don't You Want Me: Bret digs deeper into Robert's murky past and uncovers shocking evidence.
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Don't You Want Me
Scene Context: LP record while they are drinking in the hottub
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Scene Context: Debbie is going to talk to her mother while she puts on her makeup.
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Video Killed the Radio Star
The Buggles
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Rasta Roots Man
Floyd Lloyd
Scene Context: Listening to the music through headphones
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Let's Go All The Way
Sly Fox
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Year of the Cat
Al Stewart
Scene Context: Brett listening to the cassette tape through headphones / Ending Credits Music
Episode 3 Songs (Aug 12, 2026)
Help Me! Rhonda: A beloved student's sudden disappearance causes chaos for the senior class.
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Games Without Frontiers
Scene Context: Bret drives and follows Robert.
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Scene Context: Bret discovers a bleeding iguana in a cage upon entering the basement during the final credits.
Episode 4 Songs (Aug 12, 2026)
Robert's Party: Susan's welcome party for Robert is overshadowed by a terrifying and violent incident.
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Square Biz
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Scene Context: Susan and Thom engage in a slow dance.
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Lady I Love
Parker's Band
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Nobody Takes Me Seriously
Split Enz
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Make Me Whole
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Walk Right up Beside You
The Crew
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Funkytown
Lipps, Inc.
Episode 5 Songs (Aug 19, 2026)
Murder on the Dancefloor: A televised dance competition culminates with a horrifying showstopper.
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Scene Context: Bret instructs Thom on dance moves for the competition Dance Off!.
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Dancing with Myself
Generation X
Scene Context: Robert, Bret, Susan, and Debbie arrive at the Dance Off! set.
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Arriba Tipo
Enrique Olivarez Y Los Vampiros
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The Story of Your Life
Dream System 8
Scene Context: Dance Off! begins with the introduction of participants.
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Scene Context: On Dance Off!, contestants participate in dance competitions.
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Scene Context: Thom arrives at the Dance Off! parking lot.
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Scene Context: In "Slow Jam Romance," Debbie dances with Bret, and later, Robert dances with Susan.
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Scene Context: At the studio, Terry expresses concern for Debbie; shortly after, Thom initiates an attack on Robert.
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Scene Context: Debbie leaves angrily, blaming Terry. The scene concludes with Rhonda returning, visibly injured. End credits.
Episode 6 Songs (Aug 26, 2026)
Homecoming (1): Troubled Debbie is galvanized by a new extracurricular.
The Shards Season 1 Trailer Songs
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Let's Go All The Way
Sly Fox
The Shards FX Teaser Music
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The Shards Official Trailer 3 Song
Party scenes throughout the season immerse viewers in the era's music scene, featuring Duran Duran’s 'Planet Earth,' The Go-Go's 'This Town,' and The Stranglers’ 'Golden Brown.' The soundtrack also incorporates iconic tracks like The Human League’s 'Don't You Want Me' during a hot tub scene, alongside Fleetwood Mac’s 'Tusk' and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.
Main Cast
- Igby Rigney Bret Easton Ellis
- Homer Gere Robert Mallory
- Graham Campbell Thom Wright
- Hayes Warner Debbie Schaffer
Official Trailer
Complete Soundtrack List - All Songs Played in Every Episode
| Episode | Song Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | Moving In Stereo | The Cars |
| E1 | Vienna | Ultravox |
| E1 | Planet Earth | Duran Duran |
| E1 | This Town | The Go-Go's |
| E1 | Golden Brown | The Stranglers |
| E1 | Crimson and Clover | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts |
| E1 | Bad Boys Get Spanked | The Pretenders |
| E2 | Don't You Want Me | The Human League |
| E2 | Déjà Vu | Dionne Warwick |
| E2 | Video Killed the Radio Star | The Buggles |
| E2 | Tusk | Fleetwood Mac |
| E2 | Rasta Roots Man | Floyd Lloyd |
| E2 | Let's Go All The Way | Sly Fox |
| E2 | Year of the Cat | Al Stewart |
| E3 | Help Me, Rhonda | The Beach Boys |
| E3 | Games Without Frontiers | Peter Gabriel |
| E3 | Edge of Seventeen | Stevie Nicks |
| E4 | Square Biz | Teena Marie |
| E4 | The Weakness In Me | Joan Armatrading |
| E4 | Lady I Love | Parker's Band |
| E4 | Nobody Takes Me Seriously | Split Enz |
| E4 | Make Me Whole | Al Kerbey |
| E4 | Walk Right up Beside You | The Crew |
| E4 | Heart of Glass | Blondie |
| E4 | Funkytown | Lipps, Inc. |
| E4 | We Got the Beat | The Go-Go's |
| E5 | Our Lips Are Sealed | The Go-Go's |
| E5 | Dancing with Myself | Generation X |
| E5 | Arriba Tipo | Enrique Olivarez Y Los Vampiros |
| E5 | The Story of Your Life | Dream System 8 |
| E5 | Super Freak | Rick James |
| E5 | Turn Me Loose | Loverboy |
| E5 | Waiting for a Girl Like You | Foreigner |
| E5 | Angel of the Morning | Juice Newton |
| E5 | Just Can't Get Enough | Depeche Mode |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for The Shards: Season 1?
The score for The Shards: Season 1 was composed by Morgan Kibby, David Klotz, Troye Sivan, Hayes Warner.
How many songs are in the soundtrack for The Shards: Season 1?
There are 37 songs featured in the soundtrack for The Shards: Season 1. SeekerTune lists all of them with detailed scene descriptions.
What are the genres of The Shards: Season 1?
The main genres for The Shards: Season 1 include Drama.
How many seasons does The Shards have?
The TV show The Shards currently has 1 season.
What is the song they play on the record player at the pool party? Lyrics: I I I wanna give you a kiss
Hello Elise, We still haven't been able to find the name of this song.
I’d like to know what the end-credits song from Episode 1 is the one that goes "Feels like LA once we dead"... "Feels like Hollywood once my neck."
Hello Martha, We're still trying to find out the name of this song.
It's really hard to find several songs from this series. I'm looking for the song from the beginning of episode 2 of The Shards, when they’re in the hot tub, that has the lyrics: "Jesus another day goes by"
It's really hard to find some songs. We haven't found the one you're looking for yet, either.
Community Q&A
Elise says:
What is the song they play on the record player at the pool party? Lyrics: I I I wanna give you a kiss
SeekerTune says:
Hello Elise, We still haven't been able to find the name of this song.
Martha says:
I’d like to know what the end-credits song from Episode 1 is the one that goes "Feels like LA once we dead"... "Feels like Hollywood once my neck."
SeekerTune says:
Hello Martha, We're still trying to find out the name of this song.
Corine says:
It's really hard to find several songs from this series. I'm looking for the song from the beginning of episode 2 of The Shards, when they’re in the hot tub, that has the lyrics: "Jesus another day goes by"
SeekerTune says:
It's really hard to find some songs. We haven't found the one you're looking for yet, either.