Special Interview: Goodbye June Composer Ben Harlan

On this special interview episode, Erin speaks with composer Ben Harlan to discuss his work on Kate Winslet’s directorial debut, Goodbye June.

Ben Harlan is a composer whose work is rooted in storytelling, music, and theater, approaching every score with narrative clarity as the guiding principle. His philosophy is simple and disciplined: music should enhance a story, never overpower it. Favoring minimal, non-sentimental scoring, Harlan uses restraint and carefully placed surges to elevate key emotional moments without telegraphing them—allowing performances and story to lead.

Goodbye June marks several pivotal firsts. It is Harlan’s feature film debut as a composer and his first collaboration with Kate Winslet, who also makes her directorial debut on the film.