From NME · · 1m 40s
How Wolverine's Dark Folk Soundtrack Came to Life
David Fleming crafts 'dark folk' soundtrack for Marvel's Wolverine game.
In brief
David Fleming crafts 'dark folk' soundtrack for Marvel's Wolverine game. Composer David Fleming created a dark folk soundtrack for Marvel's Wolverine game that blends Wolverine's violent and vulnerable sides. Originally reported by NME.
Wolverine's violent nature
Marvel's Wolverine is a violent game where players hack through henchmen, Sentinels, and cybernetic soldiers.
“I love the feral nature of Wolverine as much as everyone but I also understand that his rage comes from his pain.”
Wolverine's emotional depth
The game shows Wolverine's softer side through horror-infused side quests and romantic connections with Jean Grey.
“There's this conflict between his brutal animalistic side and something much more human and vulnerable.”
David Fleming's background
Composer David Fleming has worked on Widow's Bay, The Last of Us, James Gunn's Superman, and Blue Planet 2.
“He helped soundtrack HBO's The Last Of Us adaptation alongside game composer Gustavo Santaolalla.”
Wolverine's unique character
Wolverine is not a typical superhero; he has a conflict between his lone wolf nature and his desire to help people.
“He doesn't hide behind an alter ego, but there is this conflict between this lone wolf character and somebody who feels compelled to help people.”
Insomniac's vision
Game developers Insomniac wanted to capture Wolverine's full character, not just his 'badass' persona.
“They wanted to capture the full scope of his character, rather than just 'Wolverine The Badass'.”
Dark folk inspiration
Fleming created a whiskey-soaked soundtrack inspired by Johnny Cash and Clint Eastwood films.
“I wanted to capture this, sort of, dark folk sound.”
Joshua Tree recordings
Fleming recorded early sessions in Joshua Tree desert with acoustic guitar and whiskey.
“I needed the grit of a guitar.”
Jean Grey's role
Jean Grey, a mutant with telekinetic abilities, bonds with Wolverine through shared trauma and loneliness.
“There's a lot of loneliness to Jean, but there's also a lot of power too.”
Jean's music
Lara Somogyi's harp and Yvette Young's guitar create haunting electronic sounds for Jean Grey's sections.
“The sound just came from thinking about what her character's experience must be like every day.”
Wolverine's softer side
Songs like 'Twin Flame' blend dark folk and frantic electronics to explore Wolverine's melancholy.
“They're both reluctant superheroes. They've gone through so much loss, they've both learned to push people away.”
Gustavo Santaolalla's influence
A conversation with Gustavo Santaolalla about The Last of Us shaped Fleming's approach to scoring.
“We were talking about The Motorcycle Diaries and Brokeback Mountain.”
Wolverine's soundtrack release
The soundtrack is available to stream now after two years of development.
“It was a dream project.”
Here's the gist
Composer David Fleming created a dark folk soundtrack for Marvel's Wolverine game that blends Wolverine's violent and vulnerable sides.
