Contemporary and classic sounds combine in IO Interactive’s upcoming video game about James Bond’s origins
BY CHARLOTTE KROL
How do you breathe new life into one of the most beloved and iconic fictional characters of all time? Well, you go back to the beginning. IO Interactive has taken on the challenge of putting its own mark on the James Bond IP with its origin-story video game, 007 First Light.
In the upcoming title by the Danish independent game developer, fans will see a version of the British spy merely touched upon in Ian Fleming’s original novel series. 007 First Light is built around the concept of a young man finding his feet, making mistakes, and growing into the exceptional spy depicted in the Bond film franchise and beyond.
IO tapped up Joe Henson and Alexis Smith, of the musical duo The Flight, to score a soundtrack fit for reflecting Bond’s formative career while also honouring a key facet of the Bond IP: its dramatic, timeless music. This has, of course, been captured by artists including Dame Shirley Bassey and Adele over the years, while Lana Del Rey is the latest on the roll call, featuring on the game’s soundtrack with the song First Light.
Alexis Smith of The Flight provided Music Week with some insight into what fans can expect to hear while they’re playing the game.
“Throughout the soundtrack, we’ve been blending sweeping orchestral elegance with modern electronics and production to tell the story of a Bond who hasn’t yet become the iconic 007 – a project that feels made for The Flight,” he said. “It’s been exhilarating and deeply rewarding.”
Joe Henson added: “Composing the score for 007 First Light was a dream assignment for us: paying respect to six decades of sonic iconography while creating a bold, contemporary sound for a younger, more volatile James Bond.”
The audio and missions director of 007 First Light, Dominic Vega, felt that IO struck lucky working with The Flight, who have previously composed for titles in the Assassin’s Creed and Horizon games series.
“Working alongside The Flight has been a fantastic experience, they’re true partners in every sense,” Vega told Music Week. “We wanted the score to feel timeless but with a unique touch, reflecting a younger, more formative Bond. But no matter how far we pushed things, it was crucial to stay connected to the essence of Bond and that immediately recognisable musical signature. And through our partnership with Joe and Alexis, we have struck that perfect balance.”
