The soundtrack for the hit HBO series Heated Rivalry has become a phenomenon in its own right, as fans clamored for its release. The person behind the music, Canadian composer Peter Peter, is just as surprised as anyone by the show’s massive success. Reflecting on the experience, he stated, “It was an honor and it went so fast”. The electronic, synth-driven score was his first major project for television, and its creation was a deeply intuitive process that involved live improvisation to the show’s most intimate scenes. Due to overwhelming demand from viewers, the release of the full 34-track soundtrack was moved up, with the digital album arriving on January 16, 2026.
The series, created by Jacob Tierney, premiered on Crave in Canada on November 28, 2025, before streaming on HBO Max in selected territories. It quickly became a breakout hit, telling the story of two rival hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who begin a secret romance. The show’s unique atmosphere is heavily shaped by its music, which includes both Peter Peter’s original score and a curated selection of nostalgic songs.
How The Heated Rivalry Score Was Created
Peter Peter was brought onto the project after creator Jacob Tierney listened to his 2024 album, “Éther.” Tierney reached out via Instagram to ask if the musician was interested in screen composing. Despite having no prior scoring experience, Peter Peter agreed, motivated by his positive first conversation with Tierney. He began his work early, reading script drafts and composing initial demos. However, his early ideas were largely discarded once he saw the first footage of the series. “I threw basically everything down the drain from what I had composed,” he admitted. The scenes were “way more sensual and way more delicate” than he had pictured.
His real work began once he received the final, edited footage, known as picture lock. With a tight deadline of about ten days to score each episode, Peter Peter developed a unique, improvisational method. He synced the video to his digital workstation and set up his synthesizers and drum machines. Instead of programming notes in advance, he watched the scenes and played his instruments live, recording the takes that felt right.
“I was improvising live to images,” Peter Peter explained. “I had the episodes in my digital workstation and it was all synced to my setup and I was just playing along to the characters with everything”.
A clear example of this approach is the series of four tracks titled “Heartbeat.” For these pieces, Peter Peter intentionally avoided a fixed tempo. He let the music’s pulse fluctuate, creating a sound that mirrored the characters’ racing hearts as their connection deepened. His goal was for the music to feel connected and sincere, enhancing the emotion without overpowering the scene. “I’m proud that I was able to find my place. It’s really easy for music to take something away from a scene. I managed to blend into the background,” he noted.
The Soundtrack Release and Fan Reaction
The plan to release the Heated Rivalry (Original Series Soundtrack) was always part of Peter Peter’s contract, but the timeline was accelerated due to an explosive fan reaction. The soundtrack was initially slated for release later in 2026, but the immediate and passionate response to the music online forced the team to move faster.
“The reactions were so out of this world that we had to start during the holidays,” Peter Peter said. “We rushed things because the fans really wanted it now”.
The album was released by Milan Records on January 16, 2026. A double lead single featuring the tracks “Rivalry” and “It’s You” was released on January 9, 2026, to build anticipation. Physical CD and vinyl editions of the soundtrack are also planned for release later in the year. The soundtrack quickly found chart success, with the single “Rivalry” peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart. When asked about his favorite pieces from the score, Peter Peter highlighted “Inferno,” which scores a penthouse scene, for its “dark, sexy vibe,” and “One Soul,” which accompanies a lakeside moment, for its beauty.
The Show’s Curated Songtrack and Cultural Impact
Beyond the original score, Heated Rivalry is notable for its powerful use of existing songs, many from the Canadian and indie rock scenes of the 2000s. Creator Jacob Tierney built key scenes around music from his own youth, creating a nostalgic and emotionally resonant backdrop. This carefully selected soundtrack has had a dramatic effect on the artists featured. Streaming data from Spotify Canada showed massive spikes in plays for songs after they appeared in the series.
- The song “I’ll Believe in Anything” by Wolf Parade, used as a recurring theme for a secondary couple, saw streams increase by 2,650%.
- Tracks by Feist experienced a 1,500% increase in streams.
- The inclusion of “Bonnie” by the duo Absolute Treat propelled the emerging artists from around 1,000 monthly listeners on Spotify to nearly 230,000.
- The show also gave international exposure to Francophone music. Dumas’s song “Une journée parfaite,” featured in the first episode, saw its streams in the United States surpass those in Canada.
Tierney explained that the period-appropriate feel of the soundtrack was not a calculated decision but a personal one. “People always say to me, ‘You really tried to do this accurate to the period.’ No, the [songs] just happened to largely be from a playlist I made,” he said. “It’s the music of my early twenties”. One of the most talked-about musical moments uses the song “All the Things She Said” by t.A.T.u., along with a remix by Harrison. Tierney described it as the show’s equivalent of a major sync moment, used to underscore the agony of the characters’ hidden love.
Also Read:
Awards Eligibility and The Road Ahead
Despite its critical and popular acclaim, Heated Rivalry faces a significant hurdle during the 2026 awards season. As a series produced entirely by Canadian companies for Crave, it is classified as a foreign production for U.S. awards bodies. Official rules from both the Golden Globes and the Primetime Emmy Awards state that foreign programs are only eligible if they are the result of a co-production with a U.S. partner that is established before production begins.
Since HBO Max only acquired the streaming rights after the first season was completed, the show does not meet this criteria. This means stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, along with the show itself and Peter Peter’s score, are not eligible for the 2026 Primetime Emmys or Golden Globes in television categories. The series is, however, eligible for International Emmy Awards and has already received a nomination for Outstanding New TV Series at the GLAAD Media Awards.
The series has been renewed for a second season, with the main stars contracted for three potential seasons. While HBO Max will stream the new seasons, the network has stated it will not be involved in production. HBO and Max content chairman Casey Bloys said, “I think the last thing the show needs is people meddling in what works… I will be excited to receive my episodes”. There has been fan and industry speculation about big-name musical guests for future seasons, with names like Carly Rae Jepsen and Miley Cyrus being mentioned, though no official plans have been confirmed.
Also Read: Will Trent Season 4 Episode 4 Release Info, Salsa Murder Plot, and Streaming Details
Keep up with more entertainment stories and exclusive insights on your favorite shows by following VvipTimes.
