Before viewers catch a glimpse of the intense opening scene of Apple TV+’s latest series, Smoke, they are greeted with an unsettling opening credits sequence, perfectly underscored by Thom Yorke’s powerful vocals, effectively setting the tone for what’s to come.

The show, inspired by real-life occurrences, centers on a police detective portrayed by Jurnee Smollett and an arson investigator played by Taron Egerton, as they join forces to pursue two serial arsonists. Filled with unexpected twists, uncovered secrets, and profound examinations of the human condition, the series promised a gripping storyline. Hence, creator, writer, and executive producer Dennis Lehane knew the introduction needed to hit all the right notes. That’s where Thom Yorke came in, crafting and performing the main title theme for Smoke, aptly named “Dialing In.”

“You’ll witness the awe on my face,” Lehane shared in a Zoom interview with Decider. “Thom Yorke, who was an idol for someone of my generation, turned out to be a massive fan of Black Bird,” he recounted, still amazed. “I was taken aback. He indicated he was open to collaboration, so we eagerly approached him for this project.”

When collaborating with the songwriter and Radiohead frontman, Lehane admitted he was extremely dialed in (sorry) to specific elements of Smoke that he hoped Yorke could capture. “I told him that I wanted the song to represent a sub-theme of the show, which is, not only do we lie to ourselves all the time — which we do — but we’re being lied to by all the pillars of our society on a regular basis. And that’s what’s causing so much of the chaos — that nobody knows what to believe anymore. There’s no facts left anymore. We’re just being lied and lied to and lied to,” Lehane explained.

As Smoke‘s main title sequence introduces crucial pieces of evidence, flames, and other meaningful images related to the series, Yorke’s soul-stirring vocals and purposive lyrics create a haunting energy atop each installment.

While Smoke‘s episode intros last around 1:30, Yorke shared his full song with extended visuals on YouTube, along with the lyrics for “Dialing In”:

Telephone calling me / Who put all that shit in your head? / Saying things telling things ’til you break / Filthy water bubbles up / Who put all that shit in your head? / Dialing in, half asleep, half awake / Let the demons out your head / Let the demons out your head / How they sing, how they stare, how they gawp / We would like some privacy / Strangled roots have become trees / How they sing, how they stare, how they gawp / Like leaves in the trees ….

When further reflecting on the collaboration, Lehane noted one line in particular that stands out in his mind. “‘Who put all that shit in your head?’ is one of the lines of the song that recurs. And Tom just crushed it,” the Smoke creator gushed. “Then, the most surreal moment of my life was when they asked me to give him notes. I was like, ‘I’m not gonna give Thom Yorke notes on a song! My note is: ‘Wow, that’s awesome!’ Like, done!”

As Smoke heats up over the course of its nine-part season, Yorke’s vocals and those deep “Dialing In” lyrics grow increasingly impactful, so the main title theme gets a “10/10. No notes!” from us, as well.

Buckle up, Smoke fans. You’re in for a wild ride. And if you want to the full effect of the series, don’t you dare don’t skip that intro.

New episodes of Smoke premiere Fridays on Apple TV+.