The Music of Becoming: Life Is Strange's Soundtrack, a Decade Later
A gloomy day in Arcadia Bay. Max gets on the school bus to go back home. She pops in her earphones. The sound fades and José González's Crosses starts playing. We witness the seaside calmness of Arcadia Bay's structure, including the lighthouse, from her seat window. The strumming of the acoustic and the weighty lyrics evoke a very personal feel to the listener. You cannot help but listen to what they're trying to say. It immediately gets you hooked.
It's not just this single instance. Life Is Strange's soundtrack as a whole had a very carefully crafted melancholic and relaxing vibe, almost as if they were trying to tell you to understand your struggles and fears. From Obstacles by Syd Matters to Santa Monica Dream by Angus & Julia Stone, it captured the essence of indie folk. A sense of hope and perseverance in the midst of all the darkness and uncertainty we are going through. It's all going to be alright, we need to just relax. It's been 10 years since we were introduced to this game and the soundtrack still feels as fresh and as relaxing as time goes by.
Notes of growth
As the game progresses, we delve into Max's life and all the things happening with her and her best friend, Chloe. The narrative elements and the artistic direction in the game are extremely captivating, no doubt about that, but the music brings it all together. Without the music, it's just a game, but with it, it's an experience. An experience of making choices when the end results don't seem too clear. But, you have to; a bit like real life.
Spanish Sahara by Foals plays in one of the alternate endings, which is the more tragic one. The choices you make to get that ending are not easy, and sometimes, you'll take them unknowingly. The song hits right at the moment when the player feels numb, a hollow feeling in the heart as to where it all went wrong. But, we all have to live with the choices we make, as does Max. And it gets clearer as the song grows in intensity and the lyrics become much more humane, telling us to ''forget the horror'' and move on.
More than just background music
Another great track from the game's soundtrack is the instrumental piece, The Sense of 'Me' by Mud Flow. A soothing piece where the guitars do the talking, and the vocals serve as echoes in a way. The only lyrics are- ''Try to try again; To hear yourself again from time to time.'' Narrative-wise, this starts playing when Max is driving through the rain at night witnessing all the chaos and destruction caused by an ''unnatural'' storm in Arcadia Bay. The sounds get melodic and harsher as the song goes on, but it also makes you feel something inside. It's up to the listener to interpret what the feeling is, but no doubt it's important.
The soundtrack of Life is Strange is what makes it so compelling and innovative, even a decade later. Playing the game feels more like a journey to discover your own feelings, struggles, and emotions. The songs just amplify them and bring them to the forefront and help you face them head-on. If you’re returning to its world after years away or discovering it for the first time, its melodies remain a quiet friend, humming in the background of life’s changes. It’s a reminder to pause, feel, and embrace the journey. Maybe that’s why it still resonates, because, in its own way, it was never just about the game. It was about us, and the lives we continue to live.