Kevin Kiner (‘Ahsoka’ composer) learns how to ‘push and be experimental’ with the titular hero’s move to live action [Exclusive Video Interview]

“If somebody told me when I was 25 years old getting into this, that someday my themes would be really a part of the DNA of Star Wars, I would’ve not believed it,” admits Kevin Kiner. The Emmy-nominated composer recently made the jump to live action with “Ahsoka” on Disney+. It’s a full circle moment for this “Star Wars” legend, as he previously created the sonic identity for the titular hero in the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars: Rebels.” Stretching his music into new directions is part of the fun for this composer. Watch the exclusive video interview above.

When Kiner began writing music for Ahsoka Tano, she was just a young girl training to be a Jedi. With the story of “Ahsoka” taking place years later, and the role being inhabited by Rosario Dawson, Kiner has evolved the character’s music along with her journey into adulthood. “All of my music is in support of the picture, and in support of the emotion, and in support of the journey that these characters go on,” states Kiner, “And her journey is a pretty harsh one because all she has known her entire life is fighting and war and battles.”

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Kiner initially created Ahsoka’s theme primarily using a shakuhachi, a type of Japanese flute, which leaned into the samurai themes found throughout “Star Wars” stories. What started in the animated series as a simple, light melody, is tinged with darker tones in this live action series. “Rosario gives such gravity to Ahsoka and such maturity,” explains Kiner on his inspiration, “so we had to reflect that.” Ahsoka’s sophisticated theme marches proudly into the closing credits of each episode.

It should be noted, however, that Kiner is not writing alone, as his children Sean Kiner and Deana Kiner are his frequent collaborators on the series. It turns out music, and “Star Wars,” runs in the family. “Personally, it is everything,” gushes Kiner when asked about the opportunity to create with his kids. “I’ve been doing this for 41 years, and I’ve been working on ‘Star Wars,’ like I said, since 2006. So emotionally, it would be pretty easy to burn out…it means everything to have my kids working with me because they take the load off.”

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In fact, Sean and Deana are a huge source of inspiration for the “samurai groove” that the series has found. “They grew up with anime, and so it’s much more in their DNA than it is in mine. My DNA is Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Ennio Morricone, James Horner.” The influences of Kiner and his kids weave together seamlessly in the soundscape of “Ahsoka.”

“I’m always trying to move forward stylistically,” suggests Kiner when looking at the evolution of his work. It’s evidenced in adopting the anime influences of his kids, or in the distorted organs that boom ominously in Grand Admiral Thrawn’s theme, or in the punk rock track “Igyah Kah” rocks out to on her speeder bike. “My strength is my range, and I love that about my job, that I am sort of like a shark…I have to keep moving or I can’t breathe,” describes Kiner. “We really try to push and be experimental.”.

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