Long have the Grand Theft Auto games existed in their own musical stratosphere, so far beyond other games’ soundtracks that a comparison seems almost unfair. It’s no surprise to hear that GTA V will have a phenomenal soundtrack, given the tracklist info that’s already leaked. But now that Rockstar has begun to announce official info, it’s somehow sounding even better.
Rolling Stone has got the scoop straight from Rockstar on the radio stations and the celebrity DJs they’ll feature, along with a great interview with Rockstar soundtrack supervisor Ivan Pavlovich. If you’re into GTA music, go read it. They’ve also got music samplers from some of the stations, which I’ve linked to below.
Here are some salient points:
- GTA V will have 15 radio stations, two talk radio stations, 240 (!!) licensed songs, and what Pavlovich calls “20 movies’ worth of score.” That is officially a shitload of music.
- There’ve got some outstanding celebrity radio DJs, including Pam Grier for a soul station, Bootsy Collins hosting an 80s funk station, and Kenny Loggins hosting the classic rock station. Which hopefully will still be set to play every time you climb into a helicopter.
- The station “Vinewood Boulevard Radio” is a modern rock station hosted by Stephen Pope and Nate Williams from Wavves. Listen here.
- “East LOS FM” radio will feature a bunch of different types of Mexican music, hosted by Camilo Lara. Listen here.
- “West Coast Classics” will be hosted by DJ Pooh, who Pavlovich points out created the movie Friday, and who I’m pointing out helped write Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Listen here.
- “Rebel Radio” will feature what Pavlovich calls “outlaw country” music and will be hosted by Jesco White. Listen here.
- The original score — a first for a GTA game — is sounding incredibly ambitious. Pavlovich says that the score will combine the work of three composers, Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream; Woody Jackson, who scored Red Dead Redemption and L.A. Noire; and Alchemist and Oh No. Here’s Pavlovich on how the music will work in the game:
Although each of these composers is used to define a character or an environment, what’s been interesting about this process is that it’s been the first fully collaborative score that we’ve done. Even though you may be triggering one score with a particular character or within a particular area in the world, you’re always hearing elements from the other composers. The first time you come into the country you’re blown away by Woody Jackson’s rock score, but within that you’re still hearing elements of Tangerine Dream, and Alchemist and Oh No. So you’re never too far away from this core sound that we’ve established for the game.
That sounds amazing. Considering how well Rockstar has done recently with original scores for their games, I’m dying to hear what the GTA V score will sound like.
- Last, and perhaps coolest of all, is the fact that the (amazing) DJ Flying Lotus will be mixing music for another of the stations, called FlyLo FM. Pitchfork‘s got the whole track listing and a sampler:
- Flying Lotus will also be collaborating with rapper Tyler the Creator to do an original tune for GTA V. According to Pavlovich, Tyler has been a fan of GTA since San Andreas, and was happy to get on board with the new game.
There’s a bunch more over at Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. I don’t know about you, but combining those new stations with the ones that already leaked, as well as this talk of the original score... yeah, this is all sounding pretty damned good.
Comments
20 responses to “The GTA V Soundtrack Is Going To Be Amazing”
The soundtrack is always what cements GTA games as being a step above others. The banter on the radio stations make up some of my all time favourite gaming memories. Fingers crossed Lazlow Jones is hosting one of the talkbalk stations.
From what was leaked the other day, I’m kind of disappointed. Although, it wasn’t the whole list so I’ll still wait and see.
I agree, for what is the biggest game rockstar have put out to date I would have to say from what has been leaked, its not as amazing as I would of liked.
But im hopeful of some suprises that the trailers have hinted at, that would change my mind
I suppose I’ll have to take your word for it, and wait for the game to come out. I know none of these artists or DJs of which you speak… Might be sticking to classic rock, or my own (if that’s still an option for 360 owners).
Needs more metalz!!!
For sure, though I didn’t like the metal station in GTA IV until they changed it to include actual metal for the expansions.
The original had too much ‘core’.
I just like listening to the randomness in between songs. There’s nothing like listening to satirical anecdotes about a fake movie star or unrealistic problems that everyday citizens ring up about 🙂
score by Oh No…SOLD
Hard rock/metal station, please.
Cant wait! Dj Pooh is a great choice for the west coast classics station. Old school snoop and dre, warren g, tha dogg pound, kendrick….so pumped to cruise to these beats!
Ive never much cared for country music, but ever since I played GTA:SA I still sometimes catch myself humming that bed of roses song.
Yes getting better, Wavves’ station will hopefully have some good stuff on it. And Flying Lotus is way more relevant than Soulwax are right now. The Mexican station will be awesome.
I HOPE THEY BRING BACK A DNB RADIO STATION!!!
I second this!
That Moving Shadow station on GTA3 was decent.
I would like it to be all dark / tech step though….
Maybe MSX really was a hard act to follow (analogue, digital, stereo, mono, I don’t care)…
I wish I could give you all of the upvotes!
Like a lot of us, I really hope we get a hardcore and metal station.
I’m hoping Gardening with Maurice makes a come back, Maurice was so amazing in San Andreas.
FlyLo … so good.
The thumbnail for this article got my tail wagging in hope for a vinyl release of the soundtrack.
It’s all about Lazlow as far as I’m concerned.