As it turns out, some of the game's compositions are already 20 years old.
The dark and melancholic atmosphere of Lies of P is largely shaped by its soundtrack. To create it, the composers used rare instruments, including the bandoneon, and also turned to an unexpected source — the music library of their own rhythm game, DJMax.
Studio Neowiz, the developer of Lies of P, is also the author of the DJMax series, which started in 2004 as an online PC game, later appeared on PlayStation, and returned to PC in 2020 as DJMax Respect V.
According to director Jiwon Choi, the idea to rework old DJMax tracks to fit the aesthetics of Lies of P came about naturally: "We were already working on DJMax Respect V and thought it would be interesting to adapt the music to the style of Lies of P. We are happy with the result."
Some compositions have been reinterpreted almost beyond recognition. For example, the track Feel DJ Mocha, originally based on dance rhythms and synthesizers, has been transformed into a slow jazz ballad with hints of rainy noir in Lies of P.
The track Memory of Beach by M2U, previously sounding like a light electronic pop composition, has become a chamber piano piece with subtle vocal harmonies.
At the same time, not all works have undergone drastic changes. The composition Why by the composer Nauts already featured soft piano passages and a melancholic intonation in the original — the adaptation only enhanced these qualities.
The developers also said that a rare instrument, the bandoneon, was used in the recording. According to Choi, its sound perfectly reflects the atmosphere of the beautiful but dying city of Krat. Finding a performer was not easy, but the team managed to record live sound, which added authenticity to the music.
Thus, some of the compositions that formed the basis of the Lies of P soundtrack were first heard 20 years ago.
