Composer Tomás Barreiro gives Cinemacy an early invitation to listen to his latest score for the newly-released series, La Máquina. La Máquina is a Mexican boxing drama that has already made history as Hulu’s first-ever Spanish language series. Blending the familiar sounds and rhythm of Hispanic heritage music, Barreiro (La Cocina, Museo, The Good Girls) creates a standalone soundtrack that brightly evokes the spirit of Mexico. The six-episode series stars Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, and Eiza González. It is available to watch now on Hulu (U.S.) and Disney+ (Internationally).

Hulu’s First-Ever Spanish Language Series

After a devastating loss, Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna (Gael García Bernal) is at a low point in his boxing career. Lucky for him, his manager and best friend Andy Lujan (Diego Luna) is determined to get him back on top. But when a nefarious organization rears its head, the stakes of this rematch become life or death. While struggling to mount a comeback, Esteban must also juggle his demons and protect his family, including his ex-wife Irasema (Eiza González), a journalist who finds herself on a collision course with the dark side of the boxing world.

Cinemacy is excited to premiere a Score Sampler from La Máquina, below:

The sampler features three tracks that cover the series’ thematic spectrum. The first track, “Llegada De Felix” has a rhythmic drum beat that sounds similar to a traditional drum circle. The song is organic and animalistic. The second track titled “No Merecia Garnar” steers away from the heaviness of the drums and instead opts for lighter strings and piano. The result evokes feelings of tingly anxiety or anticipation. The final track, “Llegan A Feria” is a more classical composition. It involves slower pacing with a more balanced orchestral tonality.

Says Barreiro of his creative intention behind the score: “La Máquina sequences needed 3 basic musical materials… hectic drums for Andy’s frenzy, a gloomy one for the mind of Esteban, and a sarcastic almost shrine-like for Andy’s mother and their shallowness. All that mixed with Latino flavors in drums, percussion, and guitars make the score for La Máquina!”

About Tomás Barreiro

Born in Mexico City, Tomás Barreiro is a multidisciplinary composer whose work spans film, TV, theater, and live performances. In 2008, he was selected by renowned composer Steve Reich as one of four finalists for the prestigious Toru Takemitsu Composition Award in Tokyo. Reich gave Barreiro his seal of approval, stating he “has a very fine ear.”

With over 15 years of experience in the cinematographic medium, Barreiro has contributed to over 20 feature films, both Mexican and international productions. These films include Güeros (2014), Museo (2018), and Verde (2016). He has received accolades throughout his career including Ariel and Fénix Prizes, Berlinale, and Toronto International Film Festival. Barreiro recently expanded his career to the United States, with productions like Bad Hombres (2020) a documentary directed by Andrew Glazer. Tomás Barreiro is a member of Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte, a program that reunites Mexico’s most distinguished artists. He also teaches film scoring at the Panamerican University in Mexico City, and Hidalgo State’s Music School.