Music of The Last of Us (video game)

Lore & Background

During initial development, creative director Neil Druckmann and game director Bruce Straley compiled inspirational musical tracks and realized that Gustavo Santaolalla composed many of them. Santaolalla agreed to work on the game's soundtrack when contacted by Sony, after being shown an early trailer and a full description of the plot. He had previously wanted to compose for video games but refused projects without a focus on story and characters. Santaolalla began work early in development, with few specific directions from Druckmann, and appreciated the freedom. He used a variety of unique instruments that were new to him, including a detuned guitar and a ronroco, and recorded in various rooms such as a bathroom and kitchen to produce unique sounds.

Reader's Guide

The soundtrack for The Last of Us was well received by critics, who felt the music connected appropriately with the gameplay and that its minimalist approach matched the game. The game's music was nominated for numerous awards, and several tracks became popular, inspiring cover versions and live performances. The orchestral portions were recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville by the Nashville Scoring Orchestra, while drums and percussion were recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood. The team aimed to make the soundtrack emotional rather than scary, and used music judiciously, inspired by the sparing use of music in the film No Country for Old Men. The music's significance lies in its integration with the game's narrative and its ability to evoke emotion through minimalist composition.

Did You Know?

• Santaolalla used a detuned guitar to produce deep noise for some tracks.
• The title track 'The Last of Us' was composed on a ronroco.
• The team created a program that moved stems of music depending on how long the player remained in an area to avoid repetition.
• Licensed tracks in the game include Hank Williams' 'Alone and Forsaken' and an Etta James cover of 'I Got You Babe'.