As we wait for the release of Cyberpunk 2077, we're all trying to anticipate what the game will be like. To do this, we look at the features the game offers, try to compare it to games by the same developer, or other games in the same or similar genres. But if you want to know what the game will really feel like to play, you must pay attention to another aspect of the game, too, its soundscape.
Developers have released information on who is playing music for the soundtrack, and this tells us a lot. Here're ten feels you can expect from the game based on the soundtrack.
10 A$AP Rocky
A$AP Rocky is a rapper from NYC who has experienced firsthand what the street life can be like. At a young age, he lost his older sister to a drug overdose, and in addition to rapping he has sold drugs on the street. His music can be thematically heavy, but it can also be light in feeling.
A$AP Rocky's music will add feelings of stepping into the shit and coming out clean. This will put you in the mood for conquering Night City. A great feeling for gearing up before a mission or getting down with friends afterward.
9 Rat Boy
Rat Boy is a British rapper who also cites indie rock as one of his key influences. He's been compared to The Beastie Boys, and certainly there is a similarity in his early music. He's had experience as a disposable worker in the service economy, and his personal experiences form the basis for his music. For the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack, he promises music that blends punk influence with an exploration of where electronica can go. This music will likely be good for listening to when things don't go your way; very comforting music for a loser.
8 Richard Devine
Richard Devine is an electronic musician who has produced some amazingly complex sounds. The thickly layered music he produces is very different from the type of music we've encountered before on this soundtrack, and it broadens our understanding of what this soundtrack could be. Devine brings something almost like what Vangelis did for the Blade Runner soundtrack, and this could lead to some very interesting feels for the game. Quiet, deep moments. In the music based trailer, he talks about making "rugged, rough, edgy" music, which isn't the type of sound he's normally known for, so it could be a bit of a wildcard here.
7 Nina Kraviz
Nina Kraviz is a Russian DJ, producer, and singer. Trained as a dentist, she worked many jobs before she finally found success at her calling. In the music trailer, they quote her as talking about music that is "psychedelic, trippy, yet uplifting, engaging."
This goes along with her style of music, which can separate an audience from their surroundings and put them into a headspace that she creates. We can see her music as being ideal for club scenes, of which we expect there will be several.
6 Deadly Hunta
Deadly Hunta combines many disparate influences in his music, including dancehall and reggae. It's nice to see him on the soundtrack, because it helps to bring a more international feel to the game. Deadly Hunta is an African artist who moved to Jamaica before establishing himself as an energetic performer and thoughtful musician. In the music trailer he talks about the music being industrial and connoting a feeling of revolution. There are a lot of places this music might fit, either as background for a drugged-out scene, or perhaps as a call to action for an uprising, the latter is of course hearkens most to his recent song "Chemtrails."
5 Gazelle Twin
Gazelle Twin describes her music as being "quite rebellious, and it's quite noisy and aggressive." That certainly fits the style of this British-based electronic music composer, producer, and musician. The heavy beats and deep themes of her music will make for a very oppressive atmosphere. Adding Gazelle Twin to the soundtrack will create a sensation almost like being trapped under the weight of the world, but like the cockroaches she uses in her "Anti Body" video, the game's heroes are resilient and still capable of escaping the pressure.
4 Tina Guo
While it might initially seem strange to add a cellist to the soundtrack of Cyberpunk 2077, Tina Guo is no ordinary cellist. This Chinese-American musician has come a long way from her training as a classical cellist. She has a long history in pop music, performing with the Foo Fighter as far back as 2008. She has entire album themed to video game music, called Game On!, and she has a number of amazing performance videos out there, including the God of War main theme and an outstanding live performance of the theme from the Wonder Woman movie with violinist Caroline Campbell.
She talks about the range of music she's performing for the soundtrack, including some heavy, dirty tracks, but also some mellow, ambient music. So, I guess we have to expect some mellow scenes?
3 Refused
Refused is a veteran punk rock band from Sweden that debuted just a year after the classic Cyberpunk 2020 RPG printed. They combine driving guitars with a wide range of influences, including jazz. The band has changed dramatically. Their anti-establishment stance makes them a great tonal fit for the game, but Refused isn't actually appearing as themselves. They are portraying the band "Samurai," in the game. This legendary chrome rock band served as the launch vehicle for rocky Johnny Silverhand voiced by Keanu Reaves when he's not singing. Several tracks by "Samurai" have been released, and this gives you your best way to sample the true sonic environment of Cyberpunk 2077.
2 Grimes
Grimes is a Canadian dream pop musician who has already released songs related to Cyberpunk 2077. This includes "4 ÆM," which she also performed live at The Game Awards in a spectacular stage show promoting the game. This song is consistent with some of her other recent work. She says of her music, "I think it fits with Night City because both are scary and pretty at the same time."
In the case of this song, the music has a dreamy, distant feel, like reality is slipping away. This could be in a good way, or it could be in a very bad way.
1 Run the Jewels
Perhaps the simplest inclusion on this soundtrack, Run the Jewels brings a heavy foundation to the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack. Ahead of their highly anticipated new album this year, they are bringing their characteristic hardcore rap sound to the soundtrack, as well as their combination of fun, engaging lyrics. And the feeling they want to convey? That's simple. Killer Mike explains, "We wanna provide you with the soundtrack for f***ing shit up." There is definitely going to be a lot of that, Mike. And it will be a lot more fun with your music.