Soundtrack of an Era: Laryssa Kim

For the documentary mini-series Mobutu’s Game by Guillaume Graux, aired on Belgian broadcaster VRT since January 14, 2025, she composes a soundtrack that accompanies both intimate narratives and collective memory.

Through Mobutu’s Game, the director offers a vital perspective on the history of Mobutu Sese Seko (Congo’s former dictator), moving beyond the fixed image of the dictator to explore the invisible forces that shaped his rise to power. The story highlights the involvement of Belgium and the United States in the construction of his power, in a narrative where archives, images, and sounds intertwine organically. This is not just the recounting of an individual’s destiny, but a portrayal of the broader repercussions of a shared history, where every silence resonates as much as every word.

If Contezza (2024), Laryssa Kim’s previous album, was described by Pitchfork as ‘a trance-inducing spell with atmospheric electroacoustic arrangements and haunting vocals,’ Mobutu’s Game score’ marks a deeper journey—a dive into memory. It is a journey where sound seeks neither emphasis nor immediate emotion, but intimate resonance—one that accompanies history without betraying it.”