Caroline Polachek and Hideo Kojima have teamed up, blending their artistically ambitious careers to create the title track for the video game Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.
Kojima’s genre-defying 2019 video game blurs the lines between film, music, gameplay, and heavily philosophical storytelling, creating a unique and captivating playing experience, setting the expectations for his sequel game high. Similarly, Polachek is a disruptor within the music industry, with her haunting and experimental vocals often standing out among the rest, continuously testing the bounds of what a vocalist and musician can do. This collaboration is nearly perfect, with Kojima and Polacheck’s ambitions aligning, ultimately leading to this rare yet creatively vital artist-creator partnership.
[ 'On The Beach' Album Cover ]
There are two versions of ‘On The Beach’, the standard and Timefall mix, both of which are available now on all streaming platforms. Both tracks are co-produced and co-written by Polachek alongside her frequent collaborator, Danny L Harle. The two work together to create these moving sonic plains, layering expansive distorted vocals over metallic synths and a prominent battle drum that crescendos into a moment of bliss. ‘On The Beach’ and the Timefall mix both illustrate how music carefully exists within Kojima’s world, how it can be completely full of depth and emotion, but also reflection and connection. You can stream the tracks HERE.
“ ‘On The Beach’ was actually one of the first songs I ever made with Danny L Harle, but it was too alien and industrial- almost too evil - to work sense on Pang, so I set it aside til the right thing came along. When Kojima approached me about DS2, I showed him the sketch of it and he agreed that it was a perfect fit, and so eight years after starting this song, it got reopened, extended, and finished for the perfect setting.”
-Polachek on ‘On The Beach’
Developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Death 2 Stranding is due to release later this year. Its release is rumoured to be a global event for both gamers and music lovers alike, as Kojima often brings on bold artists to create boundary-pushing soundtracks. CHVRCHES, Bring Me the Horizon, and Low Roar have all been iconic features for fans, with Polachek joining not only them but also Woodkid, Magnolian, and Hania Rani for the sequel's soundtrack.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach will be hitting the markets on June 26th.
FOLLOW CAROLINE POLACHEK
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / YOUTUBE
