Singer-songwriter Labrinth recently shared his nostalgic connection to video games during an announcement about a unique Spotify Single featuring Sonic the Hedgehog. He expressed how influential Sonic was to his gaming childhood, stating, “Sonic was such a formative part of my gaming upbringing that making a Spotify Single with Sonic at the heart was an amazing opportunity.” He encouraged fellow Sonic enthusiasts to explore the collaboration, which also includes contributions from the bands Bilmuri and Evanescence alongside GUNSHIP.
Johnny Franck, the frontman of Bilmuri, echoed Labrinth’s sentiments, highlighting his childhood memories tied to music in gaming. “Gaming has always been a huge part of my life, and recording a track based on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was a super-cool experience,” he noted. His aim was to channel the energy from his gaming experiences into this new Spotify release.
Evanescence’s Amy Lee expressed excitement about collaborating with GUNSHIP for a darker rendition of their hit “Afterlife.” She remarked, “We’ve been looking for an excuse to work with GUNSHIP for too long and couldn’t be more excited about this dark new version… Being a part of the Devil May Cry series has been an honor and too much fun. See you at The Game Awards!”
This initiative highlights a shared commitment within the gaming and music communities. Spotify has partnered with The Game Awards to sponsor the Best Score and Music category, enhancing their ongoing collaborations with various gaming franchises including EA FC 26, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, and the upcoming Battlefield in 2025. Alex Freeman, Music and Marketing Partnerships Lead at Spotify, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “The Game Awards is such a big celebration of gaming culture, and we felt it was the perfect moment to celebrate the composers, artists, and soundtracks that make video games so immersive.”
Geoff Keighley, creator and host of The Game Awards, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Video game music is the heartbeat of our industry, and partnering with Spotify lets us celebrate it on the world’s biggest audio stage.” This partnership aims to elevate and enhance recognition of the year’s best video game music.
For those eager to listen to the new tracks and stay updated, follow @thegameawards and @spotify, and visit TheGameAwards.com. The collaboration signifies a promising fusion of gaming and music, celebrating their interwoven history and the vibrant culture they generate together.