Crafting Distinctive Dragon Voices in HBO’s "House of the Dragon"
In HBO’s "House of the Dragon," sound designer Paula Fairfield breathes life into the series’ iconic dragons by crafting unique vocal personalities for each creature. From the seasoned “old lady” Vhagar to the youthful “white boy who thinks he can rap” Caraxes, and the “fidgety” 13-year-old Taylor Swift fan Syrax, Fairfield begins with a backstory that helps her understand and differentiate these majestic beings. This storytelling approach became increasingly vital in Season 2, as the epic conflict between the Targaryen factions saw more dragons soaring through the skies than ever before.
Fans of George R. R. Martin’s "Fire & Blood" recognize that this prequel chronicles the tragic downfall of the Targaryen lineage and their dragons. Fairfield emphasizes the importance of honoring these magnificent creatures, stating, “We know this is the war where they all end, so it’s about finding their most beautiful voices, even in death.”
To create the vocal profiles of these dragons, Fairfield draws from a rich library of animal sounds, utilizing thousands of hours of recordings. Often, she starts her work even before the visual effects of the dragons are completed. “While I sometimes incorporate human voices, I prefer using sounds from the animal kingdom because they convey pure emotion,” she explains. “Animals don’t act; they simply express themselves, and that raw authenticity is what I aim for.” For Vhagar, she even taps into baby animal sounds, capturing her character’s “tired, cranky, and IBS” essence.
Once she selects the right sounds, Fairfield skillfully manipulates them through techniques like compression, expansion, and pitch shifting. This was particularly crucial in Season 2, especially during the heart-wrenching battle scene where Meleys, Rhaenys’s dragon, meets its demise. “I used seals, pigs, and bird sounds, focusing on higher ranges that could be twisted and shaped,” she notes.
One of Fairfield’s greatest challenges is ensuring that the dragons’ voices cut through the powerful score composed by Ramin Djawadi. In scenes like “The Red Sowing,” where Queen Rhaenyra gathers her forces by recruiting riders for unclaimed dragons, the subtle nuances in dragon vocalizations play a pivotal role in storytelling. For instance, during a tender exchange between Rhaenyra and the towering Vermithor, the dragon responds with a gentle hum, foreshadowing his choice of rider, Hugh.
Fairfield has a whimsical approach to sound design, describing a unique “chirp” for Vermithor’s fiery breath as the “fire sphincter.” This humorous take showcases her creativity while underscoring the importance of sound in conveying the dragons’ personalities.
After Vermithor’s dramatic entrance, the elegant Silverwing also chooses her rider, Ulf. Initially accompanied by a piece of Djawadi’s score, this moment was later reworked to highlight Fairfield’s sound design. She expresses her pride in this decision, stating, “This has only happened a couple of times in my career. The choice to remove the score allowed Silverwing’s discovery of her rider to be told through her voice.”
In "House of the Dragon," Paula Fairfield’s masterful sound design not only enriches the dragons’ characters but also elevates the series, making their stories resonate with audiences around the world.
