For most TV shows, music is an afterthought—a finishing touch added once the edit is locked. But Apple TV's Trying flips that convention entirely. This beloved comedy, now in its fifth season, commissions an entirely original soundtrack for every season, with a different artist writing songs inspired by the characters before the episodes are even finished. The result is a series where music isn't just background—it's woven into the very fabric of the storytelling.
This approach makes Trying stand out in Apple's already impressive lineup. While other streamers rely on pricey needle drops or playlists of familiar hits, Andy Wolton's comedy has built something far more distinctive. Each season has its own musical identity, and every finale lands with a song that feels inseparable from the emotions on screen. Apple has even found a way to extend that experience onto Apple Music without it feeling like a corporate gimmick. It's a creative strategy few streamers could replicate, let alone sustain across five seasons.
Every Season Is Its Own Album
From the start, Trying has understood that becoming a parent is a series of chapters. Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) navigate infertility, adoption, and the messy reality of raising kids. Instead of reusing the same tracks throughout, each season gets its own soundtrack. Season 1 featured original music by Guy Garvey, Season 2 by Maisie Peters, Season 3 by Bear's Den, Season 4 by BEKA, and the newly released Season 5 by Orla Gartland. Each artist brings a fresh perspective while serving the same emotional goal: capturing feelings the characters can't always articulate.
That decision gives every chapter a distinct personality. As the show evolves, so does its sound. The music grows alongside Nikki and Jason rather than staying frozen in the emotional space where the series began. It's a subtle choice, but one that explains why Trying never feels like it's recycling the same beats.
Music Written From the Story, Not Added After
When Maisie Peters joined for Season 2, she wasn't handed finished episodes and asked to write music afterward. She received scripts before filming, took detailed notes on characters, imagery, themes, and emotional turning points, and then wrote eight original songs inspired by the season. That meant the production team could edit pivotal closing montages around music already written for those moments, rather than dropping in temporary tracks and hoping licensed songs would fit later.
It's an unusually collaborative process that blurs the line between songwriter and storyteller. The lyrics rarely mention specific plot points or character names, yet they capture exactly what Nikki, Jason, and those around them are experiencing—love, disappointment, hope, fear, self-doubt, and family—without being overly literal.
Those closing minutes have become one of Trying's defining signatures. Nearly every episode slows down just before the credits, giving viewers a chance to sit with what just happened as the original music takes over. It's where the show's biggest emotional punches often land because the songs deepen what was already there.
Season 5 continues that tradition through Orla Gartland, whose eight original tracks were written around the season's evolving family dynamics before gradually becoming personal reflections on love, growth, and belonging. Even as the artist changes, the philosophy remains exactly the same.
Apple TV Has Built an Ecosystem Others Can't Easily Copy
The soundtrack itself would already make Trying unusual. What elevates the concept further is what happens after the credits roll. Because Apple owns both Apple TV and Apple Music, the songs don't disappear once an episode ends. They become albums that listeners can revisit independently, giving each season another life outside the series. It feels less like an extension of the story and more like a way to reconnect with the emotions of a season simply by pressing play.
Much of Season 1's soundtrack isn't readily available on competing streaming platforms, making Apple Music the primary home for songs created specifically for Trying. Instead of treating the soundtrack as disposable marketing material, Apple has preserved it as part of the show's identity. Other streamers certainly commission original music, but few have consistently built an entirely new soundtrack for every season of a scripted series while giving those songs a permanent home within their own music ecosystem. It requires creative planning, long-term investment, and an infrastructure that most competitors simply don't have.
For fans of Trying, this means the music isn't just a bonus—it's essential. And for anyone who loves seeing innovation in TV, it's a reminder that Apple is willing to take risks that others can't match. If you're looking for more shows that push boundaries, check out Ted Lasso's upcoming return or the mind-bending second season of Dark Matter. But for now, Trying stands alone in its commitment to making music a true partner in storytelling.
