Soundtrack

The fact that Unbroken is a written tale doesn't stop its writers from discussing the possibility of a soundtrack.

History

It is unknown when specifically the implementation of a soundtrack was first discussed, but the nature of the soundtrack is still a topic of debate.

Implementation

If a soundtrack were to be added, it's difficult to say how it would fit into the work of fiction as a whole. Bryan has suggested a downloadable .zip file containing multiple tracks.

On August 26, 2014, Layne suggested the following:

I have an idea for Unbroken's soundtrack: it could have an album released with the novel. The novel could also be an eBook. The eBook version would have play options for music at key moments. The music could be crafted to the scene. So, say Vespid is about to kill a corrupted Thisposa--there would be a small player to the side of the eBook page which would play the appropriate tragic cue or whatever that is appropriate to the scene. You would have to start it manually, but nonetheless it would work. I got inspiration from Two Steps from Hell's "Colin Frake on Fire Mountain"--it does the same thing. I think it's a viable option.

Layne, proposing an idea for distribution of the soundtrack.

Layne's idea, while clever, may or may not allow for listening to the soundtrack independently from the novel. Implementing both the ideas of Bryan and Layne may be for the best.

The latest Shadowed Revenant Google Docs draft features a version of Layne's implementation, with links to music to set the tone at the beginning of chapters, and links to scene-based soundscapes inserted into the text. Currently, no original music has been written for the story, so music from different artists and assorted intellectual properties is used. This version of the implementation does allow for listening of the music independent of reading the text itself, though functionality that allows the music to play within the text itself is not currently available.

Prototypes

While the soundtrack's existence is rather uncertain, at least one prototype song has been written by Layne as a test.

Song of Fallen Heroes

The first prototype song written by Layne is Song of Fallen Heroes. This test track, only 0:22 long, is, as the video name suggests, a simple test.

Completed Music

Dreaming of a Lost World

Only one complete piece of music, finished in 2015, has been written for the Unbroken universe. The piece is a 4:42 second orchestral composition, and features a variety of instruments and a wandering progression similar to that of a dream (hence the name). The song itself is a proof of concept for a proposed album called "Shattered Memories". The music can be downloaded from this link.

Sample Track Listings

On September 7th, 2014, Layne and Bryan proposed various names for future songs within the soundtrack.

Bryan's Track Listings

Faction, Species, and Misc Soundtrack

1. Legend of the Unbroken
2. From the Four Corners of the Cold Universe
3. Song of Fallen Heroes
4. Namine’s Chosen (Keilicaela Theme)
5. Rising from the Depths (Ashderian Theme)
6. Remorseless Hunter (Ilanian Theme)
7. Shadow on the Night (Vasacar Theme)
8. The Scourge (Corruption Theme)
9. Infinite Evil (Tyriit Theme)
10. Root of All (Singularity Theme)
11. Necrosis (Death Plague Theme)
12. Corrosive Splinter (Qualdron Alignment Theme)
13. The Planet Eater (Unicron Medley Remix)

Character Soundtrack

1. Breaking Point (Vespid's Theme)
2. Sanity (Thegalet's Theme)
3. Orphaned and Reborn (Thisposa's Theme)
4. Black Skies, Endless Boundaries, and Unending Grief (Scholiid's Theme)
5. Sin and Redemption (Cyonyx's Theme)
6. They Call Me Revolution (Cythrek's Theme)

Layne's Track Listings

1. Firefall (When the Corruption attack) 
2. Shoot to Kill, Flee to Die (Vespid surviving the Corruption attack.)
3. Thine Love's Corrupt (Death of Thisposa)
4. Genesis of Terreki (Terreki)
5. Civilization by Day, Embers by Night (Fall of Terreki)
6. Death and Rebirth w/ Variations (Resurrection of Namine)
7. The Sniper (The midsection of the Unbroken, where everything kicked off)
8. Shadows Beseech Thee (Derelict)
9. Heretic Society (Qualdron Alignment)
10. Annoyus Littleshitus (Name explains it)
11. Deceit Runs in the Family (Crysek)
12. Last of Her Kind (Aquilae theme)
13. Dancing with an Angel of Death (Scholiid rescuing Vespid from the Tyriit and reveaing his true form)
14. From the Four Corners of the Cold Universe
15. Song of Fallen Heroes
16. Legend of the Unbroken
17. TIIIIIIIIIIIIIITS! (Bonus track - just guess.)

Related Quotes

Quotes from Bryan

A soundtrack for Unbroken would be pretty cool. I personally would want the entire thing to be made of original compositions, with the occasional pre-written song in there. It'd probably be multi-genre too, with the Keilicaela-related tracks being something like heavy metal, the Ashderian tracks being traditional soundtrack or classical music, and...I think Wolf would want the Ilanians to have something like electronic, but that's hard to say. If we had to do one huge main theme for Unbroken, it'd probably be a long, epic, multi-genre masterpiece. Either way, Hazard knows more about writing music than any of us. Maybe he'd be up for it?

Bryan, discussing the soundtrack.

Quotes from Layne

I would love to. Plus, if it ever develops into a movie, then in my opinion it might be better for a member to write the soundtrack. A member would understand the atmosphere better than anyone hired ever could. I guess you could consider that member, me.

Layne, discussing the possibility of being the main composer.

The way the Ashderian soundtrack would play out is something inspired by Battlestar Galactica's (2004-2009) soundtrack. Bear McCreary incorporated many Middle Eastern instruments into the soundtrack, along with a few European instruments. He also kept the music original and brilliant for four fuckin' seasons. An incredibly hard feat. Seriously, it's movie quality soundtrack. Honestly, the Ashderians' soundtrack, when it comes down to it, needs to sound alien and mysterious.

Layne, discussing the Ashderian soundtrack.