French electronic music duo Justice is responsible for composing the soundtrack to Grand Theft Auto VI, a title generating significant anticipation. Members Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay acknowledge the immense hype surrounding the game and the long wait players have endured.
"Yeah, we are aware of the hype of the game, of course, and the fact that people have been waiting for such a long time," Augé stated in an interview with BBC Radio 1. He elaborated that while they are aware of the colossal anticipation, they maintain a degree of separation to avoid letting it influence their creative process. "On the other hand, we are aware, and we see this colossus approaching, and at the same time we see it a bit from the outside. So it was a good way for us also not to let these thoughts come into our minds and not intrude on our minds."
Justice has drawn from various influences to create a unique sonic palette for GTA 6, built around multiple instruments. While an '80s aesthetic is present in some of the revealed audio, the duo emphasizes that the score incorporates more than just retro elements. "We never really put words on it. 'Oh, we need to make an '80s track,'" Augé explained. "We knew what we needed to do, and it happened to have this kind of flavor. But at the same time, the sounds are futuristic. Like the guitar, it's not even a guitar; it's a synth, because no guitar could have this type of sound that is very phasey and a bit futuristic."
Fans can get a taste of the game's score through its first single, "Flower in a Hurricane." This track features contributions from artists such as Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The single has garnered substantial attention, reaching 2.8 million plays on YouTube in under a week. Justice described their collaboration with these performers as a dream come true.
"These are people we've always wanted to work with," said de Rosnay. "We didn't think from the beginning that they would necessarily match together, but it came very naturally, and things happened gradually, and all of a sudden we had made a record with all of them."
In addition to Justice's original soundtrack, Grand Theft Auto VI will feature an expanded in-game radio experience with multiple stations and podcasts. The official GTA 6 album is set to include 34 songs created specifically for the game, with new music from notable artists like Keith Richards and Travis Scott. The game is scheduled to launch on November 19.