Are you enjoying the soundtrack to X4: Split Vendetta? In the coming weeks we will occasionally give you some insights into its production. The composer of the X series soundtracks, Alexei Zakharov, will highlight individual pieces from the X4: Split Vendetta OST and tell short stories about these titles. To kick things off, here are Alexei's insights into "Heart of Acrimony".
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=srqI7tS5fNM
"One of the community's most popular pieces of music from the X series is without a doubt "Kingdom's End" from X3: Reunion. The work on this piece started with a melody that I couldn't get out of my head. The melody wasn't really meant for the soundtrack, it was too "different" and not "spacey" enough. At least that's what we thought at first. So we just tried it and put it into the game, which turned out to be a very good decision. A short time later, it was clear that the players liked the title a lot and eventually it was almost given iconic status.
On the X4: Split Vendetta soundtrack, I wanted to follow the basic idea of "Kingdom's End" with "Heart of Acrimony", but develop it significantly further. Under the cover of the track is a strong title melody, created with the same set of instruments as on "Kingdom's End", but enhanced by a number of modern, analogue synthesizers. I also wanted to bring an eastern, Asian touch to the track, so I used the erhu, a Chinese string instrument. It underlines the main melody in the piece and occasionally even takes the lead in the orchestra.
I hope you like "Heart of Acrimony" and I'm looking forward to your comments and questions about this piece of the X4: Split Vendetta soundtrack.
Until next time,
Alexei"
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1277600/
Find the X4: Split Vendetta soundtrack on Steam, Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Deezer and many other stores and streaming platforms!