“ECHOES OF THE FIRST DREAMER: THE MUSICAL PREQUEL TO GOLEM“
Album releases worldwide on digital & streaming platforms July 25,
CD in stores July 28, vinyl release to follow
umthing Else Music Works, the premier record label dedicated to releasing video game soundtracks, and independent game studio Highwire Games, proudly present the visionary new album from celebrated Haloand Destiny composer Marty O’Donnell. Written for piano and orchestra, “Echoes of the First Dreamer: The Musical Prequel To Golem” is not the soundtrack to Highwire’s forthcoming exclusive PlayStation VR game Golem – it is a musical prequel; composed, arranged and recorded as an independent work that introduces audiences to the world and themes of Golem. The album will be released July 25 via digital and streaming outlets worldwide through Sumthing Else Music Works www.sumthing.com with a physical CD release on July 28 and vinyl release to follow.
“For a composer, a prequel album is an interesting challenge because, unlike a traditional soundtrack, it cannot lean on the listener’s memories and experiences from the game. It needs to stand alone and have its own independent emotional journey. At the same time, it must relate to Golem’s tone and world.
For example, one of the first environments that we built for the game was a rustic home, filled with hand-made furniture and colorful blankets. Inside was such a cozy bedroom, it made me think of a mother, singing her child back to sleep. I remembered a lullaby I wrote many years ago after the birth of my first daughter. I found a copy of the original and developed it for the announcement trailer. Although it’s a simple melody, it showed potential to evoke complex emotions, and eventually became the key theme for this suite of music.
The story of Golem is more intimate – it’s about a small family living on the outskirts of a fallen city so I chose to work with a somewhat lighter ensemble than I have in the past: a piano, chamber orchestra and harp. But I wrote them all at the piano and it was interesting how the emotional impact of a piece would evolve from the original piano solo to the fully orchestrated version. I decided to put both versions on the album, so that everyone can experience them and compare. I hope you enjoy listening. And I hope you’ll pick up a copy of Golem for PlayStation VR when it comes out later this year!”
– Marty O’ Donnell
Golem is the first title from Highwire, an independent developer founded by industry veterans in Seattle. It is built from the ground up for PlayStation VR and features original music from Marty O’Donnell – celebrated award-winning composer of Halo and Destiny – and innovative VR controls developed by Jaime Griesemer – Game Designer on Halo, Destiny and Infamous Second Son.
In Golem, you play as an adventurous kid who has been seriously injured. You are stuck at home in your bed, dreaming of exploring the outside world. You gradually develop the power to create and control stone creatures known as golems. You see through their eyes, direct their movements, and use them to explore beyond the confines of your room. At first, you can only build small doll-sized golems to send around your room…but eventually your powers will grow, until you can send enormous 15-foot tall giants to explore an ancient abandoned city.
