WHERE DARK MEETS LIGHT – ANTONY PARTOS TURNS SYDNEY INTO A LIVING SOUNDTRACK

Australian composer Antony Partos brings his haunting orchestral-electronic sound to Vivid Sydney’s Drone Show: Star-Bound. With 1,000 drones rising above Cockle Bay Wharf, Partos transforms the harbour into a living soundtrack inspired by mathematics, rhythm, and emotion. The free nightly spectacle runs from 22 May, blending art, science, and cinematic storytelling.  

Sydney’s night sky is about to become a canvas of sound and light, thanks to the visionary work of Antony Partos. Though his name may not be instantly familiar, his music has long resonated with audiences worldwide, from the critically acclaimed Animal Kingdom to The Artful Dodger and Oscar-nominated productions. Now, Partos is bringing his unmistakable orchestral-electronic style to Vivid Sydney, composing the score for the Drone Show: Star-Bound.  

The spectacle unfolds above Cockle Bay Wharf, where 1,000 drones pulse in synchrony to Partos’s score, morphing into galaxies, waves, Fibonacci spirals and luminous nebulas. For the composer, Vivid offers a rare opportunity to write not for a screen, but for an entire harbour. “This is storytelling on a completely different scale. It is ultimately a very cinematic experience, but with the sky as opposed to a screen as one’s canvas,” he reflects.  

The composition itself is rooted in mathematics and nature. Emerging from the depths, the track harnesses the harmonic series as drones rise from the water. Built around the Fibonacci sequence – the building blocks of life – the score pulses at 60 beats per minute, mirroring the rhythm of daily existence. Gradually fractured through layered cross-rhythms, the tempo accelerates into a supernova-like rebirth, echoing the cosmic imagery above.  

Partos’s creative journey began with Animal Kingdom, establishing a long-standing collaboration with director David Michôd and cementing his reputation for crafting “dark, beautiful and moody” sonic worlds. “That’s my happy place,” he admits. “Melancholia, tension, satire, requiems – there’s a deep beauty in exploring the darker corners of human emotion.” His influences draw from legendary pairings such as Bernard Herrmann and Alfred Hitchcock, where music and storytelling become inseparable.  

In 2010, Partos co-founded Sonar Music, now one of Australia’s most influential sound studios. Its credits span international blockbusters and acclaimed series, including I Am Mother starring Hilary Swank, Disney+’s The Artful Dodger, and Christy with Sydney Sweeney. Recent highlights include Kangaroo, Australia’s highest-grossing film of 2025, and Kill Jackie starring Catherine Zeta-Jones.  

With Star-Bound, Partos extends his artistry beyond cinema, creating a soundtrack for the city itself. The free show runs from 22 May, Sunday to Wednesday at 7:30pm and 9:30pm (excluding Sunday 7 June), inviting audiences to experience Sydney as a living, breathing symphony of light and sound.