By Onyx Rei
If you’re a fan of Greek mythology or a musical geek, this one is definitely for you. With Christopher Nolan’s announcement of his upcoming film, The Odyssey, it felt timely to explore another retelling of Homer’s famous poem — Epic: The Musical, a concept album that reimagines the tale with a modern musical twist. It tells the story of Odysseus, a Greek hero and king of Ithaca, on his perilous homecoming journey after battling the ten-year Trojan War.
At first, I didn’t get the hype. I had just hopped onto the Hamilton bandwagon and was blasting My Shot at full volume, rapping in the shower like an off-beat Broadway wannabe. Sure, my roommate had introduced me to a few Epic tracks before the musical was completed, and while I was quite intrigued by Warrior Of The Mind and Ruthlessness, I didn’t dive in yet. Then came the TikTok edits of one of the newly released songs from the final saga — Would You Fall In Love With Me Again? I thought, not bad, and decided to give the full musical a try. So, I plugged in my earphones and listened to all nine sagas in chronological order, for two hours and twenty-three minutes. By the end, I was emotionally wrecked — in the best way possible, stabbed six hundred times by Poseidon’s trident (figuratively). Now this musical is my new obsession, my addiction, my religion — the very blood that courses through my veins.
Epic stunned me with its lyrical genius, compelling storytelling, and powerful orchestration. Each song can be played over and over again, and you’ll continue to uncover new layers and musical nuances. The musical elements and details hidden within each song provide a rewarding listening experience. Given the diverse cast, one of its most impressive features is how every character is represented by a unique musical instrument: Odysseus by the guitar, Athena by the piano, Polites by the marimba and kalimba, Penelope by the viola, and so on. Before a character appears and begins singing, their instrument is heard first, a clever cue that hints to listeners of their majestic arrival. For example, in Warrior of the Mind, Athena’s piano motifs introduce us to Odysseus’s patron goddess herself in a captivating duet with Odysseus, and that’s where we get to first hear her signature piano tunes. Later in the track, Remember Them, the piano melody subtly returns, signalling Athena’s presence as she warns Odysseus not to spare the cyclops, Polyphemus. This anticipation and musical layering garners interest, adding richness and emotional depth to each scene, capturing the sheer thrill of a character’s grand entrance.
Now, I won’t spoil too much of the fun. If you struggle to fully grasp the immense storytelling of ancient wars, complex politics, and divine affairs, fear not. The story is easy to follow with music that instantly gets you hooked, and there are plenty of fan-made animatics from artists on YouTube that help bring the narrative to life visually and envision the story better.
From this musical, it is also clear how much blood and sweat the creator, Jorge Rivera-Herrans, poured into perfecting this masterpiece. On social media, he shared the behind-the-scenes challenges of casting voices that truly matched each character, going as far as to explain each character’s personality and the kind of vocals he envisioned during the open auditions back in 2019. It’s this attention to detail that elevates Epic: The Musical to a whole new level of storytelling.
Epic: The Musical isn’t just a retelling; it’s a reinvention, one with its own growing fandom. With intricate musical motifs, rich character arcs, and a powerful emotional core, it invites a new generation to rediscover Homer’s tale through melody and myth. Whether you’re a Greek mythology enthusiast or a musical theatre junkie, this one’s worth your ears and your heart.
