Let’s talk voices — the kind that slip into your head and refuse to leave. Who’s steering the weird, wild vibes of the Common Side Effects soundtrack? Look to Anya Lagman and Kathrine Wandall. These two aren’t just names in the credits. They’re the backbone of some of the show’s most hypnotic, oddly heart-rending moments. Whether you’ve got “Sick World” or “American Bullshitter” stuck on repeat (no judgment — me, too), you’ve heard their power. But how did they get here, and what exactly makes their contributions so magnetic, so achingly human? Buckle up, let’s break it down.
Meet Anya Lagman: Composer with a Sharp Edge
First up, Anya Lagman. Don’t let her modest online presence fool you. She has an impressive track record, and she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty with genre-mixing. Anya grew up in Manila, honed her craft by the time she hit the University of Southern California, and walked out as a summa cum laude graduate from the elite Thornton School of Music. That’s not an easy walk — or walk-off.
But she never settled for anonymity. Orchestras know her name. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra? Check. The Philippine Philharmonic and the Manila Philharmonic? Check and check. She’s even worked as a composer’s assistant for Nicolas Snyder (yes, that Nicolas Snyder, the one behind most of Common Side Effects’ trippy musical backbone).
Now, let’s address the deliciously sinister elephant in the room—“Sick World.” Lagman didn’t just show up for a cameo. She co-composed, produced, and delivered vocals that slice through the sonic noise. Her voice rings both urgent and fragile. It’s the perfect fit for a show that dances on the edge of absurdity and anxiety.
Anya’s Magic Touch — Cracking “Sick World” Wide Open
So what’s happening in “Sick World?” A lot, actually. The track clocks in at just a few minutes, but Lagman injects every second with tension. The arrangement pulsates with digital anxiety, using industrial clicks, humming synths, and those unmistakably raw vocals.
Lagman isn’t credited alone, of course. Still, her mark is there — her keen sense of composition plus that slightly haunted vocal tone give the track a breathlessness. Listen close and you’ll hear layers: sharp lyricism, unexpected chord progressions, even a few cheeky nods to earlier orchestral work. It’s like she’s sneaking classical drama into the cyber-apocalypse, one beat at a time.
Enter Kathrine Wandall: The Voice You Keep Humming
Now, don’t skip past Kathrine Wandall. Her voice kind of sneaks up on you. Suddenly, you’re two episodes deep, and her choruses are embedded in your skull for the rest of the day. While Lagman brings a composer’s brain to the table, Wandall brandishes a vocalist-and-lyricist double threat.
And yes, credits matter. Her name sits right alongside Snyder’s for “Epiphany and Paranoia” and, crowd favorite, “American Bullshitter.” This isn’t background noise. These are the kind of tracks that thread through the show’s weirdest emotional turns.
But who is she, outside of the soundtrack studio? While she keeps her bio tightly under wraps, her impact is clear. Every note feels intentional, every lyric lands with a gut-punch or a smirk.
How Both Artists Shape the Show’s Sound
Now, let’s pull back. Why do these two matter so much to the Common Side Effects listening experience?
For starters, soundtracks in animated series usually play it safe. Not so here. Lagman and Wandall dive into murky psychological waters and don’t bother resurfacing for air. Here’s why their input changes the entire emotional balance:
- Anya Lagman fuses orchestral gravitas with synth-driven lunacy.
- Kathrine Wandall crafts lyric hooks that echo well beyond the episode.
- Both use vocal textures that flex with the show’s themes: paranoia, heartbreak, bizarre epiphanies, and moral absurdity.
- Each vocal cameo supports the series’ rollercoaster of moods, from manic hope to existential dread.
Their voices tug you closer to the show’s bruised soul, scene after scene. There’s no floating above the madness here — you’re in it.
Cutting Through the Static: “American Bullshitter” and “Epiphany and Paranoia”
Let’s get specific. “American Bullshitter” hits like a punchy satire. Wandall’s vocals are playful, yet razor-sharp. Listen to how she plays with phrasing — sometimes smirking, sometimes teetering on despair. The lyrics are clever, pointed, and delivered with an effortless sort of grit. It’s commentary and confession, all at once. The track swerves between genres, sometimes synthpop, sometimes anti-folk, always with that self-aware attitude the show loves.
“Epiphany and Paranoia” delivers a different vibe. Wandall’s voice stretches, strains, almost cracks — there’s fragility but also defiance. Every chorus lands with new energy, which matches the show’s mood swings. And yet, the track always feels whole because her performance threads all the emotional chaos together.
What the Critics and Fans Say
Spotify numbers do not lie — both “Sick World” and “American Bullshitter” rake in thousands of listens in the first week. Twitter buzz follows fast, with fans swapping their favorite lyric lines and quoting off-the-cuff moments. The consensus? The vocal performances punch hard. Critics compare the tracks’ lyrical intelligence and production quality to heavyweights like Gorillaz and Phoebe Bridgers (check VGMdb and soundtrack.net buzz).
Reddit threads dissect Wandall’s delivery — especially her sly, self-aware inflections in “American Bullshitter.” Redditors run wild with theories about how Lagman’s classical training seeps into the show’s heavier moments, especially on “Sick World.” Some even unearth Lagman’s orchestral concert videos and try to connect them to the soundtrack’s motifs.
Signature Styles: Anya and Kathrine’s Secret Sauce
Let’s distill what makes each artist tick. What are their secret creative weapons?
Anya Lagman:
- Bold orchestral drops and modular synths
- Tense, narrative-driven chord changes
- Vocals laced with urgency and vulnerability
Kathrine Wandall:
- Witty lyricism and razor-sharp hooks
- Flexible, chameleon-like vocal delivery
- Flawless transitions between satire and sincerity
Sometimes, you can hear both styles clash — all sparks — in the same song. Yet, their chemistry never misses. Every harmony feels like the product of a delirious all-night jam session in some neon-lit backroom.
Behind the Scenes — Making It All Happen
So how did these collabs come together? Snyder acts as the mad scientist at the mixing desk. He hands off creative control to Lagman and Wandall when the track calls for vocals with nervous electricity, or aching clarity. According to official releases and recording logs, they often build the tracks layer by layer. Lagman sketches out core melodies and harmonies, then hands them off to Wandall for energetic vocal workshopping.
Both artists treat the lyrics less like lines and more like living, breathing character monologues. No one mumbles through filler here. Each word matters, each vocal nuance has a point.
Why This Soundtrack Matters
Animation fans adore a good tune, but Common Side Effects dares to go deeper. The vocal tracks, especially those marked by Lagman and Wandall’s fingerprints, work on two levels. They propel the plot, but also inject subtext, highlighting themes nobody wants to say out loud.
Feel the tension brewing under “Sick World?” That’s Lagman’s classical training clashing with the show’s dark humor. Think about Wandall’s sneer on “American Bullshitter.” She’s channeling the show’s skepticism and wry social commentary through every word.
And this is just the beginning — their involvement on the soundtrack clearly isn’t the end. With consistent streaming performance and warm fan response, it’s easy to imagine their voices echoing through future seasons.
One More For The Playlist
Loop those tracks again, and listen closer this time. Anya Lagman and Kathrine Wandall aren’t merely part of the musical wallpaper — they are the pulse. Their music colors every punchline, every panic attack, and every moment of weird hope that makes Common Side Effects such an addictive trip.
Next time you catch yourself humming “Sick World” or belting out “American Bullshitter,” remember: you’re riding the creative energy of artists who know exactly how to make chaos sing.
Keep an ear out for their names — you’ll be hearing them a lot more if the buzz keeps growing. And trust me, your playlist won’t complain.
