When the original “Twin Peaks” debuted on ABC in 1990, the eerie mystery-drama distanced itself from everything else on network television by how it looked. Over a quarter-century later, the show’s creators, David Lynch and Mark Frost, have brought “Twin Peaks” back into a TV landscape where “cinematic” is the norm, not the exception. Yet Showtime’s “Twin Peaks: The Return” still stands out from the pack with images unlike any ever seen on the small screen.



And it’s not just the visual side that has been different. Since the days of his early short films and his midnight classic “Eraserhead,” Mr. Lynch has pushed the boundaries of motion picture sound design, mixing mechanical clanks, distorted wails, whistling winds and pretty music into evocative soundscapes. With “Twin Peaks: The Return,” in which he is credited as the sound designer, he has reunited with the composer Angelo Badalamenti to create a memorably atmospheric soundtrack.

Mr. Lynch generally prefers not to discuss what his work is “about,” but on Monday, he hopped on the phone to talk about his passion for sound design, and to describe the philosophy and process behind the new show’s audio. These are edited excerpts from the conversation. (Spoilers follow.)

You once famously said that one of the inspirations for “Twin Peaks” was the sound of wind through the tall trees, but this season it seems like when you venture into the wilderness outside of town, there’s a persistent electric hum beneath the rustling.