Press release

Dying Light 2 Stay Human Interview: Composer Olivier Derivière Talks Main Theme and Custom Instrument Made Exclusively for Game

Hear inspiration behind the Dying Light 2 soundtrack in detailed interview

Wrocław, Poland — Oct. 7, 2021 — Dive deep into the world of Dying Light 2 Stay Human in the latest Dying 2 Know More episode, where renowned composer Olivier Derivière (Streets of Rage 4, Vampyr, A Plague Tale: Innocence) details a special custom-built instrument creating extraordinary in-game sounds and shares the inspiration behind Dying Light 2’s main theme, “Run, Jump, Fight”

 

Fashioned from an old bike wheel, a steel rod, several metal wires, and other refuse of the city, the Electric Psaltery evokes the scrappy ingenuity of Villedor’s survivors, as if pulled right from the game world itself. Designed by DIY instrumentalist and musician Nicolas Bras, the Electric Psaltery’s strings, which can be plucked or bowed, correspond with specific in-game characters. The “wheel of fate” that rests atop the psaltery makes a soft rattle when spun, which can be heard in-game when making major decisions that will affect the story, characters, or world.

 

To truly bring the ambitious Dying Light 2 Stay Human soundtrack to life, Olivier Derivière and Techland collaborated with one of the world’s best orchestras, the London Contemporary Orchestra. Together in Abbey Road Studios, Olivier and the Orchestra recorded the entire soundtrack, creating a musical experience players won’t forget. 

 

“It supports narrative by generating nostalgia in certain moments, encourages bravery in battles by adding to the adrenaline with the right tunes, and energizes the player, pushing them to try harder as they parkour through The City,” said Adrian “Pyza” Ciszewski, Creative Director of Dying Light 2 Stay Human. “This close collaboration between us has led to the sound developing in line with our artistic vision of what we’re going to see on the screen and blending in with it perfectly. It was an ambitious project, yes, but we had a lot of fun, and seeing the end result has definitely made it worth the effort.”

 

Revealing Dying Light 2’s main theme, “Run, Jump, Fight”, just before the latest Dying 2 Know episode, Olivier said, “It has been an amazing journey working with Techland on creating the unique soundscape of the game and pushing boundaries for open-world music design.” The track’s strings, brass, and drums evoke running, jumping, and fighting, respectively. Watch the latest Dying 2 Know More episode to learn how the soundtrack for Dying Light 2 Stay Human was created and recorded by icons of the music industry. 

 

Dying Light 2 Stay Human, published by Techland, launches February 4, 2022 on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch (Cloud Version). Pre-orders are now available via dyinglightgame.com/preorder. All pre-orders will come with an exclusive digital Reload Pack, featuring a unique outfit, weapon, and paraglider skin.

 

Band together with fellow survivors on Discord, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

Media and content creators are invited to join the Dying Light 2 Stay Human press center at dl2.dyinglightgame.com/press-center/
 

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About Olivier Derivière

 

Hailed by MTV as “Game music’s eclectic daredevil,” BAFTA nominated composer Olivier Derivière (‘Get Even’, ‘Remember Me’, ‘Assassin’s Creed IV - Freedom Cry’) has scored award-winning music for animation, films and video games and is widely acclaimed for both his sophisticated composition and innovative approaches to connecting music with gameplay. Derivière is driven by his passion to provide players with a unique musical experience that truly reflects each game, both musically and directly in sync with the gameplay itself. Classically trained Derivière often blends traditional musical elements with unorthodox sound techniques in pursuit of creating an authentic score that fully immerses the player in the gameplay and story through his neo-classical music styles. Recording with

the world’s top orchestras and A-list musicians, including the Philharmonia Orchestra at Abbey Road and Air Studios, GRAMMY® award-winning choir Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Boston Symphony Orchestra and The Children’s Choir of the National Opera of Paris, Derivière’s pioneering soundtracks have been nominated by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and honored by the International Film Music Critics Association.

 

About Dying Light 2 Stay Human

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is a story-driven open-world action role-playing game, a sequel to the critically acclaimed Dying Light published in 2015, which has been played by over twenty million people all over the world. This time players are visiting the City – mankind's last stronghold in the fight against the virus. Developed parkour mechanics enable players to explore the vast open world and master tactical combat. This lost civilization, a world set in the modern dark ages, requires creative approaches to finding items and crafting gear. Gameplay shifts during a day and night cycle, so players can dare to plunder abandoned lairs of infected at night and discover the dark secrets of those in power by day. Players must choose which side they want to take and write their own story.

About Techland

Founded in 1991 in Poland, Techland is a renowned independent game developer and distributor for all leading platforms, including PC, Sony PlayStation, and the Xbox family of devices. Techland is best known for the original Dead Island games, the Call of Juarez series, and the Dying Light franchise, a global phenomenon played by over 20 million unique players to date. To top that, Techland’s experienced teams allow the developer to work on two of its own AAA titles at the same time. Comprising over 400 professionals across three offices in Poland, the company is committed to delivering unforgettable experiences and using the latest technology for innovative entertainment, which includes the proprietary C-Engine. For more information about the company itself, visit the official website at: www.techland.net.

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Contact

pr@techland.pl