Lena Hall is proud of the work she’s done in the new Apple TV+ drama Your Friends & Neighbors — both her acting and her music, which she performed live while filming.
The 45-year-old Tony Award winner opened up about recording the versions of songs her character sings onscreen while chatting exclusively with Parade at the series’ red carpet premiere in New York City on Tuesday, April 8.
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“When I got the audition scene, it opened with me, a character playing guitar [and] singing ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ by Radiohead, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s so me,'” she began. “I was lucky enough that I got the job, and the music was already baked into the character in a [way that’s not very] intrusive. It’s an important way because it’s a way that she’s able to express her emotions.”
Hall went on to explain to Parade that she “told [production] not to pre-record anything” and wanted to “just do raw vocals” for her character’s music scenes. She also played guitar live, which she said “helps the storyline a lot because it’s very connected.”
She continued: “I did so many songs in the first season that I had enough for an EP. So I was like, ‘Why don’t I do my own versions of these and release them when they come out with the show, so that when people hear it, they can go on Spotify, and they can actually listen to the track.'”
In addition to Hall, Your Friends & Neighbors features a star-studded cast, including Olivia Munn, Amanda Peet, Hoon Lee and Jon Hamm, whom Hall called “amazing” to work with.
“John is a consummate professional. He was very warm and loving. He’s really good,” she shared. “And he would improvise with me to make me feel, you know, more at home, more in the character. And so, John’s awesome.”
The first episode of Your Friends & Neighbors premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday, April 11.
