>> First of all, I just wanted to say that my friend Rekka Alexiel helped translate this into English!
After 10 long years, “Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition” was released for the Nintendo Switch on May 29, 2020. We at ACE worked on the new remastered soundtrack as well as four new tracks (“FogBeast Battle”, “Bionis Shoulder”, etc.) for the DLC story.
In order to start recording with our busy composers as soon as possible, we started discussing preparations, arrangements, and coordinating everything early on and had additional recording sessions in the spring of 2019. I put all my thoughts and memories about this amazing title from the past 10 years into this work.
I am so grateful to have worked on a project that has been loved by so many, and I also extend my sincerest thanks to Nintendo, Monolith Soft, the composers, musicians, engineers and coordinators, and also Dog Ear Records (DER) for initially reaching out to me for this project.
I still vividly remember the moment when I was given this project. Actually, this was the same day when we brought our demo tape to the DER producer and we listened to songs that were around 4-5 minutes long without stopping for about an hour! When we finished listening, we were given the project!
And after that, we started production right away! At that time, we would discuss things internally first, then request the approval from the DER producer. Once we got that go-ahead, we’d submit our work to Monolith. From then on, they’d either give us their OK or ask for us to make some additional retakes, but if I really think about it now, taking on such huge responsibility for this project and undergoing multiple tests... Those days, I took on everything literally with my whole body.
Even after we finished with the music production, I vividly remember calling up the composers late at night for last minute edits among other tasks. It makes me laugh to glance back at how desperate I must have seemed.
Back when we were in the middle of production, we intended on producing all synth-based tracks, but since Monolith Soft was hoping for more live performances, we were able to produce some amazing live recordings as a string quartet. And just like last time, I was able to record together with the majority of our composers for the remastered soundtrack. It was so entirely nostalgic; I had a great time recording!
As with the original “Xenoblade Chronicles”, we were able to use the same studio for recording the flute and oboe parts, among some others. Additionally, we could use the Yokohama Landmark Studio where we recorded “Xenoblade Chronicles 2” and “Torna ~ The Golden Country”, not to mention the Victor Recording Studio as well!
Even though the Monolith Soft staff member who was assisting us was also working on the development side of the game, it made me very happy that he made the effort to visit us and give us some snacks! (Actually, I also remember Shimomura Yoko giving me a bunch of snacks--my tired body appreciated it greatly!)
This soundtrack is the culmination of work by so many busy composers, I was stressed to the MAX to record this many tracks to the best of our ability while also keeping to the schedule-- I absolutely couldn’t sleep the night of our final day of recording. Nonetheless, I think we were able to create something amazing; I couldn’t possibly have imagined this 10 years ago. I am beyond happy!
I think the songs at the beginning of the original “Xenoblade Chronicles” carried such power, maybe people got a real kick out of it. It was like a war to devise and compose pieces as we originally imagined within the limits of the sound module, musical instruments, various kinds of music. (Even today, this hasn’t changed, and I think everyone else would agree). If I could give it a color, I think I wanted to create something vividly “Red” through a bit of trial and error. This time we switched over to recording more live performances that effectively captures the color, emotion, and air of each and every musician to give us a truly rich sound. So, at first glance, the sound might shine with a slightly
different color than the original, but I think if you listen closely, you might feel the music come alive more acutely than before; you can almost feel the breath of the musicians breathing life into the tracks.
Nonetheless, as instructed by the director, we created this soundtrack so that fans of the original game could still relate to these nostalgic themes and not destroy those fond memories of 10 years ago. But as for me, I feel like this is something different.
I was personally elated to find out that you’re able to switch between the original or remastered soundtrack!
Lastly, I’d like to introduce our wonderful musicians. First up are the strings:
From our very beginning quartet, to Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Torna, “Mabe Strings” worked with us on the remaster as well as the “Future Connected”.
Murobe Strings also performed for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Muroya Koichiro himself was one of the original quartet members!), plus Manabe Yu was the one who performed the solo in “Drifting Soul”.
From the moment they performed the Gaur Plains theme, it WAS the Gaur Plains--it was so beautiful. So many emotions flooded back; I was about in tears. In the end when we delivered the music to Director Takahashi and he gave us his approval, I can honestly say it made me cry a little!
This post is getting a little long, but I really hope you all enjoy the soundtrack, and if it can support the game even a little bit, I am very pleased.
（Yoko Shimomura, Natsumi Kameoka, (ACE)Tomori, Tsutomu Narita)
（Yu manabe, (ACE)CHiCO, Kenji Hiramatsu, Manami Kiyota)