that foreign music blog🌎

Pic credit to wccftech

So I’ve recently been into the popular game series, Life is Strange. It has a pretty solid fanbase, but if you’re unfamiliar with the story, I’ll give you a bit of backstory.

In the first series of games, Life is Strange, the main character, Max, discovers that she has time-traveling capabilities. With her powers, she tries to save her long-lost best friend, Chloe Price. The game’s progression depends on the choices the player makes throughout the game.

Although it’s been criticized for its writing and several plotholes, I’d consider it to be something of a success story. Incorporating Native American symbolism and a wide range of characters and issues they each deal with, I’d say Life is Strange has more pros than cons. But why mention it HERE, in a MUSIC blog?

Well, on more than one occasion, Life is Strange has brought attention to several indie artists, such as Alt-J and, in the Life is Strange prequel, Daughter.

While I knew Daughter via Spotify, her music fits a little too well into this prequel: Before the Storm, resulting in several of her songs being used in the first part of the new series.

Before the Storm definitely takes on a darker tone than the previous game, although issues such as rape and suicide were covered in the first game, as well. Before the Storm, however, focuses on the broken Chole Price, who deals with the pain of her abandonment with underage partying, ditching class, and hanging out with the wrong crowd. I wouldn’t say it’s the most creative narrative, but it contrasts the relaxed mood of Max’s “playlist”, so to speak. As a punk fan, and a lover of dark things, I’m naturally more drawn to Chloe’s taste.

Some of the songs included are:
“Through the Cellar Door” by Lanterns on the Lake
This is one of the more uplifting tunes that features during the train riding scene in Before the Storm. I say ‘uplifting’ because I think it’s about two people who want to run away, which is exactly what plays out in this specific scene. For that moment, they’re escaping their problems.
“Are you Ready for Me” by Pretty Vicious
This is a punk song that’s featured during the first part of the game. Although only portions of the song are heard, I think the reason it’s in the FIRST part of the game is that it’s characteristic of Chloe’s rebellious personality—the side that most players of the first Life is Strange games are most familiar with. She’s constantly on the defense and isn’t afraid to fight for what she wants. And more often than not, she DOES. People often think of her as selfish for this reason.
“No Below” by Speedy Ortiz
This is a slow grungy song with a really interesting message about finding the right person just when you’re ready to lose hope. It’s definitely one of those songs to satisfy your hurting heart on those days when you can’t face the world.
“Flaws” by Daughter
This one features in the scene where Chloe’s friend bursts out into tears and begins screaming, ultimately causing a huge forest fire. The piano and bass at the beginning of the song softly lead the listener towards the heart of the song, which starts after a short pause. A short BREATH, so to speak. The ghoulish voice against this powerful instrumental offers the feeling of letting out a scream, and the humming bass beneath the voice further evokes the idea that the feeling is coming from very deep within.
“Dreams of William” by Daughter
This song has a few lyrics but is more of an instrumental that used in Chloe’s memories. The echoing guitar behind the bass offers the idea that a message being said, is heard in a different way. For example, with Chloe’s “Fuck you” attitude, people may see her as callous, but she’s actually hurting. So, her “Fuck you” could actually be heard as, “Why did you do this to me?”  When the bass and guitar come together, rather than follow one after the other, it mirrors how Chloe comes to terms with all that’s happened.

Compared to the first soundtrack, Before the Storm seems to use more instrumentals. While I found this kind of annoying at first, I realized that there might be a reason. Max, from the first game, thinks things through carefully and is constantly having a dialogue in her mind. Although an introvert, she’s honest about how she feels, whereas Chloe is more reluctant to be open with her emotions. Despite her rambunctious behavior, it’s mostly a front to hide her fragility. It’d make sense that her “playlist” would have fewer words, as the words Chloe says really have no meaning compared to the things she DOES. She doesn’t really think, she acts on impulse.

This might be completely wrong, as I’ve never analyzed this game to great length, but I can say with confidence that this game’s OST will be a hit once it’s released.