May 17, 2022
Composer Jose Varon Blends Ancient Peruvian Instruments With Symphonic Orchestration For IMP OF THE SUN Game Soundtrack
Skill Tree Records today releases the Peruvian-inspired original soundtrack to Sunwolf Entertainment’s 2D action-platformer IMP OF THE SUN composed by Jose Varon (IMMORTAL: GATES OF PYRUS, ARAFINN: RETURN TO NANGRIM). Tapping into his musical heritage for IMP OF THE SUN, the Peruvian/French composer combined modern cinematic sounds and world-class orchestra players with ancient ethnic instruments (recorded at the National Museum of the Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru) in order to create the game’s unique soundscape and textures. Varon’s score is composed of around twenty different themes and motifs, ranging from Nin’s three-note motif to The Eclipse’s polychord and polyrhythmic textures. Choirs were recorded in three different languages (Quechua, Asháninka and Aymara), depending on the zone to create unique, evolving moods.
“We recorded a wide collection of Quenas Chinchas, wooden trumpets (from Wari and Moche cultures), whistling bottles and Wayla Kepas (seashell trumpets),” explains Varon. “There are really no written records of what the music sounded like during the Inca period, so I took the sonic palette and made something new. One of my favorite instruments is the Cupisnique whistle, which also happens to be the oldest instrument we recorded (about 6,000 years old).” Each environment features unique sound elements and instrumental soloists such as Bass Ocarina, Bass Quenacho, choirs in Quechua, and Cajónes ensemble for the desert; Basso Profundo, Recuay trumpets, synths, and Aztec death whistles for the underworld; Tijeras, Charango, Andean guitar, Roncadoras (percussion from Huaraz), Pan flutes, Antaras Nazca, and choirs in Aymara for the mountains; choirs in Asháninka, various wooden percussion instruments and the solo voice of Úyanga Bold for the jungles.
The game combines fast-paced combat and exploration set across a stunning Peruvian-inspired world, from the bright peaks of the Andean mountains to the dense Amazonian jungles and much more. In the game you play as Nin, an Imp created from the final spark of the Sun, who is sent on an adventure to defeat the Four Keepers and restore the Sun’s power, ending the Eternal Eclipse before the world is plunged into darkness.
The soundtrack is now available from these links. The game is available now on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and Nintendo Switch; for more information see Sunwolf.
Watch the behind the scenes video about the music of IMP OF THE SUN:
