Michael Stein

Texan producer and composer Michael Stein is known for being one-fourth of the Austin-based synth group S U R V I V E and the score for Netflix’s hugely successful Stranger Things series. Stein is one of the co-founders of S U R V I V E, which he formed in 2009 with fellow synth enthusiasts Kyle Dixon, Mark Donica, and Adam Jones. They put out their debut EP, LLR002, in 2010 before their eponymous full-length arrived in 2012, and achieved a cult following. The band went on to release the MF064 EP via Monofonus Press in 2014 and the RR7349 album in 2016. Stein (along with Kyle Dixon) went on to compose for the Stranger Things series in 2016 — the soundtrack was released as two separate volumes later that year. The score was commended for its innovative use of electronics and homage to classic soundtracks of ’80s horror and sci-fi movies. The Stranger Things title theme went on to earn both composers the 2017 Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon returned to compose the score for the show’s second season, which was released in the fall of that year. ~ Rob Wacey