Poster for Youth

Youth Soundtrack Season 1 (2026) Guide

Youth

HBO Max 7.7 Comedy | Drama 2026

Created by and starring Sharon Horgan, Youth is a sharp and honest HBO comedy-drama that follows Alex, a 50-year-old London-based literary agent navigating the chaotic aftermath of a divorce. As she attempts to reclaim her love and sex life, Alex finds herself constantly pulled in every direction while balancing a demanding career, managing her troubled, should-be-grown-up teenage son, and caring for her ailing parents. Blending realistic humor with midlife precarity, the series delivers a funny yet beautifully relatable portrait of trying to "have it all" when life keeps getting in the way.

Created by and starring BAFTA winner Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe, Bad Sisters), Youth brings a sharp, unapologetic perspective on midlife reinvention to HBO. Set in London, the comedy-drama follows Alex, a fifty-year-old literary agent navigating the messy fallout of a recent divorce while juggling awkward romantic entanglements, a wayward teenage son (Aran Murphy), and aging parents. Alongside Rupert Friend and Sharlene Whyte, Horgan balances biting humor with genuine vulnerability, portraying the exhausting tug-of-war between professional ambition and personal survival.

The soundtrack of Youth mirrors the chaotic emotional pace of Alex's daily life, leaning into an eclectic mix of sharp post-punk, vintage alternative rock, and classic electroclash. The musical selections shift effortlessly from the punk fury of Amyl and the Sniffers' "Jerkin'" and Viagra Boys' satirical "Sports" to the seductive dancefloor nostalgia of Goldfrapp’s "Strict Machine" and LCD Soundsystem "Time to Get Away." The season also weaves in heartfelt cuts from Jill Scott and Fiona Apple’s raw ballad "I Want You To Love Me," matching the messy collisions of Alex’s romantic life.

Soundtrack by Episode

Episode 1: Lockjaw (Sep 20, 2026)

After a surprising diagnosis, Alex deals with Ruari’s graduation stunt, her ex’s decision to move to Canada, and a setup with an older man.

Episode 2: Wagon Burner (Sep 20, 2026)

Alex has a delicate meeting with the agency’s most lucrative author, tries to get Ruari to open up, and reconnects with Patrick.

Episode 3: Welcome to the Rat's Nest (Sep 27, 2026)

Episode 4 Songs: At the Frankfurt Book Fair, Alex tries to keep Ruari occupied while being bombarded by the viral success of Malcolm’s self-published novel.

Episode 4: Michael Man (Oct 5, 2026)

Episode 4 Songs: Sam gives Alex the unsavory task of getting Malcom back as a client. Later, Alex leans on Michael at a family dinner.

Episode 5: The Holiday (Oct 11, 2026)

Episode 5 Songs: In Ibiza for Sam and Frank's 10-year anniversary, Alex finds herself on a couples' holiday with her ex-husband Lorcan and ex-fling Patrick, both of their new girlfriends, and Ruari as her plus one.

Episode 6: Desperate Measures (Oct 18, 2026)

Episode 6 Songs: After getting asked out on a date, Alex tries to make sense of where things stand with Patrick. As Ruari starts his internship at the agency, Sam and Alex attempt to win back Malcolm before Grayson swoops in.

  • Far Too Much

    Oscar Jerome

    00:01:05

    Scene Context: Frank serves a meal at his home. Alex discusses Patrick with Sam and subsequently receives a date invitation from Lars.

  • Can't Carry On

    Gruff Rhys

    00:17:06

    Scene Context: Outside the pub, Alex checks her phone and greets Patrick with a hug and a kiss before joining his friends.

  • Van Gogh's Ear

    Seamus Fogarty

    00:17:38

    Scene Context: At a pub, Lars arrives to find Alex, which leads to an argument between Alex and Patrick, after which Alex leaves.

  • Quando Ti Guardo (feat. Francesco Senni)

    Cyril Giroux

    00:23:08

    Scene Context: During a meeting at a café with Camille regarding Yafa’s book, Alex interrupts to address an issue with her father's podcast and contacts Patrick.

  • Winesong

    The Mary Janes

    00:27:39

    Scene Context: Alex and Patrick kiss while Ruari and Wally are in the background, just before the end credits begin.

Youth Season 1 Trailer Songs

Alongside the original score by veteran comedy-drama composer Jeff Cardoni (Silicon Valley, The Kominsky Method), standout needle drops take center stage during the final moments of each chapter. The opening episode delivers an unforgettable emotional punch by closing on Radiohead’s haunting Kid A opener, "Everything In Its Right Place," as Alex lies beside her sleeping son. Later, the mournful warmth of The Velvet Underground’s archival classic "Ocean" underscores a painful romantic fracture, showing how the series uses seminal alternative records not merely as background noise, but as a direct window into its heroine’s private mental exhaustion.

Main Cast

  • Sharon Horgan
  • Rupert Friend
  • Sharlene Whyte
  • Aran Murphy
  • Robbie Gee

Official Trailer

Official Trailer Thumbnail for Youth

Complete Soundtrack List - All Songs Played in Every Episode

Episode Song Title Artist
E1 Jerkin' Amyl and The Sniffers
E1 DUOS JGRANTBEATS
E1 Au Pays du Cocaine Geese
E1 Whow The Funk Tico Pierhagen
E1 Strict Machine Goldfrapp
E1 One Is the Magic # Jill Scott
E1 Everything In Its Right Place Radiohead
E2 L'estro armonico. Concerto No. 4 for 4 Violins in E Minor, Op. 3, RV 550: IV. Allegro Antonio Vivaldi
E2 Time to Get Away LCD Soundsystem
E2 I Want You To Love Me Fiona Apple
E2 Pontypridd Edward H. Dafis
E2 Sports Viagra Boys
E2 Ocean The Velvet Underground
E3 Nach fest kommt lose Die Sterne
E3 Passion Babe Aldous Harding
E3 I.O.U. (12" Version) Freeez
E3 Loco Loco Gordo
E3 Love Spell Westend
E3 Schwerelos MilleniumKid
E4 Peligro (Danger) Panda Bear
E4 Sad Disco Flipturn
E4 Heels over Head Seamus Fogarty
E4 Sweet Old Sorry Me Tim Burgess
E4 Rinse & Repeat Riton
E4 Les Fleurs Minnie Riperton
E5 Hu Man Greentea Peng
E5 A Caballo Simon Munting
E5 Free Sault
E5 Stay Flo Solange
E5 Move On Up Curtis Mayfield
E5 EARFQUAKE Tyler, The Creator
E6 Far Too Much Oscar Jerome
E6 Can't Carry On Gruff Rhys
E6 Van Gogh's Ear Seamus Fogarty
E6 Quando Ti Guardo (feat. Francesco Senni) Cyril Giroux
E6 Winesong The Mary Janes
SHOW INFO
Composer Jeff Cardoni
Network HBO Max
External Links TMDB, IMDb