Already giving fans a taste of what music to expect in its upcoming open world epic, Rockstar Games has, in partnership with Atlantic Records, announced Grand Theft Auto VI: The Albuma 34 song album of original music, more exactly recorded for the game. Six of the songs can be streamed now, giving fans an early preview of the sound that will love Vice City and Leonida come 19th November.
Many of the singles from early in the decade come from surprisingly varied artists. Yung Lean teams up with Future and Metro Boomin on the song “That’s It.” Travis Scott delivers the song “RHYNO, ” produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk. A collective effort entitled “Sexy Magic” involves CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso PinkPantheress Fred again.. And tienne de Crcy. Country music star Morgan Wallen offers the song “Last Thing You Need.” Rauw Alejandro presents the song “Macacoa 2000” with Latin musical influences. And Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones wraps up this first round of singles with the song “Bright Lights, Big City.”
It seems thought-out. For years, Rockstar has been curating a soundtrack to its otherwise isolated worldswhat it calls “cultural time capsules”mixing the hits you know with new music as a soundtrack to each game’s environment. This new album takes it a step further, into complete, standalone territory. It’s a compilation, the label says, “intended to reflect the lustrous, eclectic energy of the world of Grand Theft Auto V.” And so far, it proves to. In the first six songs alone, there’s a sense of-hip-hop electronica country, Latinand old school rock melting together seamlessly.
The full album will be released on the release date of GTAVI itself on all major streaming applications and physical editions. An album in its standard format with CD’s and vinyl versions (both with the choice of limited, liquid-filled vinyl and splattering versions, which are only exclusive to the Rockstar site. There is also an exclusive process for other color ways at retailers) will be present. Pre-save/pre-order sites are live.
Music has always played an integral part in the Grand Theft Auto experience. Hours can be spent traversing extremely detailed cities while listening to radio stations that act as the soundtrack to the entire game. Past games have introduced gamers to one-of-a-kind artists, and marginalized genres, that they might never have interacted with otherwise. With GTA VI set in a modern-day version of Florida, the game’s soundtrack will have a key role in establishing that era for the franchise, and to release original material instead of just popular music two shows how serious Rockstar is taking that task.
By teaming up with Atlantic, this project gains some of the muscle that comes from a major label. The label itself has put together a roster that includes all the hot names of today as well as some of the most respected old-school artists and up-and-coming international stars. By offering this range, looks like the album is meant to serve not only as an accompaniment for the game, but also on its own terms.