Pop-Culturalist.com

Music can be a powerful tool used in visual storytelling. The right song can add emotional depth to a scene and pull on the heartstrings of viewers. Or it can increase the tension and rev up an action sequence. In the past two seasons, the music crew behind Shadowhunters has done an exceptional job of selecting songs that highlight the badassness of the fierce warriors and that speak to the love story of our favorite ships. The go-to favorite of the Shadowhunters music crew is Ruelle. She has composed original songs for the show that have become an iconic accompaniment to the series. Let’s take a look back at all the times Ruelle was featured on Shadowhunters seasons one and two.

“This Is The Hunt”

Episode: 1.01 The Mortal Cup
Scene: The official theme that plays over the opening credits exclusively written by Ruelle for the show.

Listen:

“Monsters”

Episode: 1.01 The Mortal Cup
Scene: Our first glimpse of Jace, Alec, and Isabelle as they track a demon at Pandemonium. If you ever need a song to get your Shadowhunter swagger on, this would be it!

Listen:

“Invincible”

Episode: 1.03 Dead Man’s Party
Scene: Jace takes Clary on a thrilling demon motorcycle ride. The song reflects Clary’s growing confidence in herself and acceptance of her Shadowhunter side.

Listen:

“Where Do We Go From Here?”

Episode: 1.06 Of Men and Angels
Scene: Isabelle breaks up with Meliorn and begins to change herself into a more serious Shadowhunter. Ruelle’s lyrics give us a glimpse into Isabelle’s state of mind and how she really feels about her new persona.

Listen:

“Storm”

Episode: 1.07 Major Arcana
Scene: First kiss between Clary and Jace. It was the moment fans had been anticipating since the beginning of the show and Ruelle’s song just intensified the fangirl feels. Clace are lost in each other and we’re happily lost in them.

Listen:

“War of Hearts”

Episode: 1.12 Malec
Scene: First kiss between Magnus and Alec. This ship and this moment are extremely special to fans, so it’s no surprise Ruelle was asked to write a song exclusively for them. Her lyrics beautifully encapsulates the confusion, conflict, and eventual acceptance Alec feels in regard to Magnus.

Listen:

“Bad Dream”

Episode: 1.13 Morning Star
Scene: Jocelyn wakes up from her magic-induced coma. This song holds double meaning as it refers to Jocelyn’s unconscious state and Clary’s fear of losing her mother. As Clary has an emotional reunion with her mother, Ruelle’s song reminds us that the “bad dream” is finally over.

Listen:

“The Other Side”

Episode: 2.14 The Fair Folk
Scene: Clary and Jace kiss at The Seelie Court. This is the moment that Clary and Jace could no longer deny what they truly desired: each other. In my opinion, this is the defining Clace song. Ruelle’s words convey the deep, all consuming love that Clary and Jace feel for each other. Another exclusive song written for the show.

Listen:

“Hold Your Breath”

Episode: 2.14 The Fair Folk
Scene: Isabelle bravely takes a chance on love, only to be rejected by Raphael. Clary tries to explain herself to Simon after the fallout at The Seelie Court. Couldn’t have picked a more appropriate song for a break up.

Listen:

“Recover”

Episode: 2.19 Hail and Farewell
Scene: Clary and Jace confess their feelings and share a kiss. The ship has sailed once again! For real this time. This song represents Clary and Jace’s emotional state after two seasons of hardships and how they are ready to move forward together.

Listen:

We can’t wait to hear more of Ruelle on the next season of Shadowhunters! Which Ruelle song has been your favorite so far?

Season 3 of Shadowhunters premieres March 20th on Freeform.

Make sure to follow Ruelle on Twitter and Instagram, and listen to more of her music on YouTube. For more info go to www.ruellemusic.com.

Photo Credit: Ruelle Music