'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' Soundtrack to Include Wheaton Songwriter

The newest movie in the Twilight Saga series, Breaking Dawn: Part One opens Friday, Nov. 18. The soundtrack, featuring Wheaton native Ryan O'Neal's song Turning Page, will be released Tuesday, Nov. 8.

O'Neal, 28, the singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist for Sleeping at Last, recently concluded his Yearbook project, which included the release of three new songs each month from October 2010 to September 2011.

After having his music in Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, O’Neal had the idea to write a song for the next Twilight film. “I asked (the people who submit songs for TV and film) if there was any way I could write something for Twilight … and they said, ‘Well, give it a shot,’ ” said O’Neal.

“I crammed all the movies in and visualized where I thought the relationship was going to go … and tried to imagine what that might sound like.”

While O’Neal hadn’t seen all of the Twilight movies, he knew and loved the series' soundtracks. “I’d always been a huge fan of the soundtracks, and what is unique is that music has played such a special and significant role in the films,” he said. “I thought, I’d love to just try—so when I watched I really pushed myself into that world.”

O’Neal said he wrote Turning Page as a love song he thought would align with the direction of the Twilight characters’ relationship. “I knew this (movie) would focus on where the relationships go and mature … I knew it’d be the height of that love story,” he said.

After months of no answers and convincing himself the song was a no go, O’Neal received a call from music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas—who is from Glen Ellyn, O’Neal said—who let him know Turning Page was a success.

“I’m still not quite wrapping my head around it,” he said.

Twilight has such passionate fans that there was excitement for the release of what would be on the soundtrack, he said. “It’s lots of new ears to Sleeping at Last … I’ve had the privilege of talking to several fans. It’s fun to be in that world.”

Sleeping at Last recently finished it’s yearlong Yearbook project, which saw the release of three new songs each month from October 2010 to September 2011.

“It was a challenge to write all those songs,” he said. Prior to that, “I was a semi-slow songwriter.” The idea started with the question of what he loves most about Sleeping at Last.

“I love writing songs,” he said. Prior to the Yearbook project, O’Neal said he was a “semi-slow” songwriter, and wanted to challenge himself.

“That came together with one full year of nonstop writing and creativity—I felt like three was just enough to really challenge me, but it felt doable.”

The response to his prolific songwriting in such a short time has been positive, said O’Neal. “As an independent musician you have to adapt to the new media and new ways in which people consume music, so it was a great way to keep a very consistent relationship with people that listen to Sleeping at Last. … It translated well to being on people’s minds and having something to talk about.”

O’Neal is now in Los Angeles to promote Breaking Dawn, and said he plans to move there with his family in early 2012.

Click for more information on the Breaking Dawn soundtrack. The album will be available in stores and on iTunes Tuesday, Nov. 8.