Rockbeasts! Ready to go wild and let your fur fly? We've just released four songs from the Rockbeasts soundtrack ready for you to listen to and rock-out ahead of the game's release! Listen to them now on your preferred music platform: Rockbeasts EP 1
So, stick on the EP and get ready to this next Backstage Pass Dev Blog! Today we'll be handing over to our composer, Marcin Sonnenberg as he talks about creating Rockbeasts' soundtrack and the creative process he's been on with the team!
Without further ado, over to Marcin!
First Steps to Rock and Roll
Hi! My name's Marcin Sonnenberg, and I'm a composer, songwriter and music producer based in Warsaw. I'm very excited to finally talk about the music that I helped to create for Rockbeasts together with my colleague and fellow musician, Adam!
I started working with Rockbeasts' developer, Lichthund on their very first game, Lichtspeer, so I've been with them from the very beginning!
The Rockbeasts Vibe
With a game like Rockbeasts, music was always going to be a huge part of the experience, so I was brought in at the really early stages of development. At the beginning, we explored a lot of musical directions, but the core idea quickly became clear: we need to capture the raw energy of 90s American alternative rock.
Right away, I knew I couldn't do it alone – I needed a guitarist who could really nail that sound. After some searching, I was connected with Adam, and we clicked immediately! He's a walking encyclopaedia of 90s rock and I really hope that passion shines through when players hear the music in-game!
Taking Inspiration
The challenge at the beginning was immense! As we put together the tracks, we weren't just trying to mimic a genre; we wanted to explore the nuances of the entire era.
People often lump bands together under labels like "grunge” – which is perfectly natural – but looking closer, the reality turns out to be much more complex. Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Nirvana — all "grunge" on paper, but their music comes from such distinct places.
In Rockbeasts, players will be able to shape the band's musical journey, which gave us the freedom to pay tribute to a wide range of influences. We had a blast diving deep into our favorite bands, from Sonic Youth and Mudhoney to Weezer, Sleater-Kinney and Green Day, and we hope players pick up on those inspirations in the game's soundtrack!
Getting Lyrical
I knew I wanted to tie each track's name and lyrics back to the game's animal theme. You can already see that in two of the tracks we've released so far - 'Let Sleeping Dogs Lie' and 'Eight Arms' (which you can listen to using the link at the top). Sticking to that theme forced me to be creative in how we weaved those elements into the songs without being cheesy (okay, without being overly cheesy).
I also wanted all of the songs to have substance, not just feature throwaway wordplay in the lyrics. Each track touches on themes that resonated with me personally but that I also felt was authentic to the era.
Put Me Down is a personal favorite track! It's got some raw Mudhoney energy, that chaotic, fun anger, but then it takes an unexpected turn with a Slint-esque bridge. And you can listen to it right now!
The Recording Process
From the start, we knew we had to record these songs in a real studio. MIDI drums just wouldn't cut it. We needed that live, human element to capture the authenticity we were aiming for. So, we went to Otterhead Studio in Rugby, UK, with an amazing team: producer Ant, engineers Ellis and Jamie, drummer Jake, and backing vocalist Lisa. And Hyoie, who voices the singer Vernon in the game, turned out to be a fantastic vocalist himself.
It really felt like making an actual rock record (or two, given the aesthetic diversity) – because it was basically that! Working with everyone has been an incredible experience, definitely the most challenging and rewarding project I've been a part of. I can't wait for the game to be released and for players to hear more of the tracks we've been working on!
Rockbeasts Music Credits
Written By Marcin Sonnenberg & Adam Kiepuszewski
Additional Lyrics By Jakub Szamałek
Lead Vocals
Hyoie O’Grady
Backing Vocals
Lisa Olivant
Guitars and Bass Guitars
Adam Kiepuszewski
Drums
Jake Stanton
Produced, Mixed and Mastered By
Anthony Chapman
Engineering By
Ellis Powell-Bevan
Additional Engineering By
Jamie Ward
Recorded At
Otterhead Studios
Thank you for taking the time to read this Backstage Pass blog! If you like the sound of Rockbeasts, make sure to check out the Announcement Trailer below!
And don't forget to wishlist on Steam!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1445880/Rockbeasts/