In the upcoming film Cold Storage, Liam Neeson, Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, and Sosie Bacon star in a story about a battle against a toxic substance transforming people into zombies. During a recent interview, Neeson asked co-star Joe Keery a curious question about the music genre trip-hop, sparking a discussion about the role of music in the movie and in Keery’s creative process.
Understanding Trip-Hop Through Joe Keery’s Explanation
While speaking with Rachel Leishman for CBR, Liam Neeson inquired, “Joe, what is trip-hop?” Keery responded with a candid attempt to define the genre. He described trip-hop as a style of music featuring breakbeat drums, originating in the early 1990s. After reflecting on the details, he admitted some uncertainty but explained that the character he plays in Cold Storage, Travis, listens to trip-hop as part of his daily routine. Keery said,
“Trip hop is a genre, it’s kind of like, I don’t know, it’s like kind of breakbeat drums, I would say with, I don’t know, it’s early 90s, I guess… Anybody else have a better explanation? I don’t know, someone’s gonna grill me, but I basically would just listen to all these playlists because it says in the book actually, that that’s what he’s listening to on his way into work,”
Joe Keery’s description highlights trip-hop’s rhythmic and atmospheric qualities, though he remains humble about his expertise.
Trip-hop emerged as a prominent dance and electronic music style in the United Kingdom during the 1990s, popularized by acts such as Massive Attack, Portishead, and Tricky. This music choice contributes to shaping Travis’s identity in the film, tying his character to the cultural mood of the era. Keery’s connection to music is well-known from his earlier work, particularly his role in Stranger Things, where music played a significant part in storytelling—for example, featuring tracks like David Bowie’s “Heroes” in Season 1, Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” in Season 5, and Prince’s “Purple Rain.”
Joe Keery’s Musical Influences and Acting Process
Beyond acting, Joe Keery also pursues music as a member of the band DJO, which pronounces his name. His song “Endings Beginnings” has gained traction post-Stranger Things. In the interview, Keery discussed how music sometimes influences his approach to specific roles, though he emphasized that there is no single method that applies to every project. He explained,
“Sometimes I’ll do that, but it really depends on, I don’t know. One size doesn’t really fit all, I would say. Sometimes that’ll work for something, and sometimes it wouldn’t,”
showing his flexible artistic approach.
When preparing for Cold Storage, Keery created multiple trip-hop playlists to draw inspiration from the genre that his character listens to. However, he shared that this musical immersion ended up being less important than anticipated, admitting,
“For this one, though, I did listen to like a bunch of trip-hop playlists, but it kind of was inconsequential at the end of the day. I think I did a lot of it and then I kind of was like, ‘Well, maybe you really need to do that.’
This insight reveals the sometimes fluid relationship between an actor’s preparation and the final performance.
Music’s Role in Shaping Characters and Atmosphere
Music often connects musicians and actors through shared creativity. Keery’s example shows how music can serve as both a character trait and a thematic element within film and television. His ability to draw from varying musical influences—from the styles of David Byrne and The Talking Heads to the legacy of Paul McCartney—demonstrates his broad understanding of music’s impact. Neeson’s genuine curiosity about trip-hop reflects the sometimes surprising intersections of music and acting in a collaborative setting.
Cold Storage is set to open in theaters on February 13, giving audiences a chance to see how these elements come together through a tense narrative and a talented ensemble cast including Liam Neeson as Robert Quinn, Joe Keery as Travis “Teacake” Meacham, Georgina Campbell as Naomi Williams, and Sosie Bacon as Dr. Hero Martins.
