Play soundtrack
Listening For A Song That Doesn't Exist's itch.io pageRate this soundtrack
In order to rate this submission you must be logged into itch.io and have submitted your own entry. Anyone with an account can leave a comment.
Description
"Listening For A Song That Doesn't Exist" is mostly a horror-esque soundtrack, primarily ambient with the outlier of the orchestra focused second track "The King's Masquerade".
This soundtrack is more of a linear short story rather than a game; maybe a small narrative indie title at most. "Listening For A Song That Doesn't Exist" is inspired by The King in Yellow and related works.
"Cassilda's Poem" serves as an opener to the soundtrack, reciting Cassilda's Song from the prologue of the book. It sets the mood of the mysterious nature of Carcosa and foreboding danger. It also hints the "song" at the end.
"The King's Masquerade" is essentially the embodiment of the King in Yellow. The over the top orchestra performing a twisted waltz for a masquerade ball; it is decadence that hides terribleness and horrid truths, much akin to the King. The second half the piece is the King in Yellow presenting itself and giving chase to our unseen protagonist. I was inspired by the recent Odyssey film with the track "Troy" and its use of risset rhythms, to give this unnerving illusion of constant accelerating motion.
"Carcosa" is the finale to this soundtrack; a both beautiful haunting track that precariously balances between tranquil ambience and uneasy cacophony. Here is also when we finally get the true song, presented with a live singer. The lyrics are in (mostly) Enochian, a translation of one of the few lines spoken from the King in Yellow himself in the story; "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The "song" is akin to the hourly chime of a church bell, but the constant half steps, the incomprehensible language and the surrounding blur of tones remove the sense of normalcy and plunge into confusion and madness: the fate of all who encounter the King in Yellow.
This was all created within Digital Performer, utlizing Serum 2, Eastwest and Native Instruments.
Message from the artist
I've been playing this idea every since I went down the KIY rabbit hole, and I'm really happy how it came out! Big thanks to Peter Schumacher for providing vocals. Credit to Laura Mazza for the artwork, her artstation: https://laura_mazza2001.artstation.com/
Theme
How does it fit the theme?
In the King in Yellow mythos, Carcosa is presented as his domain; either a realm of eldritch truth or a Heaven that has come to ruination. So for a theme of "Songs of a Forgotten World", I imagined a song of Carcosa, hidden away and almost dangerous to seek out. This short soundtrack was the small journey of seeking out this forbidden song. "Cassilda's Poem" serves as an introduction of Carcosa, with a hint of the Carcosa theme appearing at the end. "The King's Masquerade", while mostly centered around the King in Yellow's waltz theme, the risset rhythm section once again hints the Carcosa theme, now a race to find it as the King draws ever closer. Finally, for "Carcosa", I wanted to create a song that embodied what Carosa was; a paradise that withered away, now residency for a being that drove people into madness with knowledge. When you get to the track "Carcosa", the true song is both hauntingly beautiful yet seemingly impossible to understand. The lyrics being Enochian make it a mystery for those unaware of the true translation, while the swirling pads and uneasy choirs give the impression that merely hearing this song is bestowing madness upon the listener. Perhaps, some things are best left forgotten, even songs.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
Youtube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRl__68b68nU&si=NoYb7rf_CE6Z7x3f
Number of tracks3
Genre
Soundtrack use permission
Leave a comment
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
Comments
The poem was a brilliant way of starting the OST, it captured my attention immediately. I liked how you slowly eased into the atmosphere you were going for with the poem, then developed the world's atmosphere gradually through the other two tracks. It really made me feel like I was being pulled into another world. The haunting beauty and eeriness were also wonderfully executed, great job! Thanks for sharing!
UNSKIPPABLE NAME OF THE SUBMISSION.
Cassilda's Poem - hands down, FIRE WRITING. The ambient in the background brings an even more ominous feel to the words, though it's not what I'd normally call a song, it's PEAK. The quiet choir in the end singing a slow dissonant melody is a cherry on top.
The King's Masquerade - sounds like a grandiose show, a play with slight underlying unsettleness in the sound, mainly from "duplicating" echo. And its melody is so good too!!!! And holy crap the sudden drop in ominous silence in the middle that's followed by a screeching gradually speeding up string sound... DUDE I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT.
Carcosa - the unfathomable lyrics give it a feel of something beyond your comprehension, while the quiet major melody makes it feel like remnants of something majestic and even divine. Honestly, I can't even imagine how you made it feel that wayy. As you said, pads swirling around make it feel like you're going insane just by listening to it.
Overall - I'm speechless. The only criticism I could possibly give is an AI art, but I can't even say that it mattered to me now, the music is just TOO GOOD. I'd tell you how you could improve, but you're too far beyond me in your skills for me to give ANY advice.
Forgotten King is his dead citadel awaits on the Throne to be a dead, nor forgotten. Good OST, i liked it very much
Poem wasn’t on my bingo list tbh, but it’s awesome! Other two track sounds good too. And I like distant piano sound in the end of the Carcosa
This track is unique, it have really cool melodies and has a incredibly ominous feel to it. I love it.
Big fan of the dark and ominous vibe through out all three tracks. It creeps me out and relaxes me at the same time which is a strange and unique combination of emotions and i love it. Also not sure if the title is a reference to the Wifies video but you absolutely nailed the vibe.
very unique submission!!! big fan of carcosa sounding so ethereal and ambient with this strange, unnerving dark undertone beneath it which is incredibly fitting for the tone of KIY (the vocal work here is very cool too!), also my favorite out of the entire ost as well. i loved this, awesome job!!!!