In Zek Lu’s glowing review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, he proclaimed it features one of the most impressive soundtracks he’d ever heard in an RPG. As such, it is an honor to have the opportunity to interview Lorien Testard, the masterful composer behind this unforgettable journey. Patrick Gann shared this admiration in his brilliant soundtrack review. Itâs not often you get the chance to unpack the inspirations behind a work thatâs left such a strong impression.
Between sending our questions over and publication, the Clair Obscur soundtrack also topped the Billboard Classical Album charts, and made a splash on the Official Charts, debuting at #13 in the Official Soundtrack Albums Chart and #31 in the Official Album Downloads Chart. All of which is impressive, let alone for a game soundtrack to hit such highs.
Now then, without further ado, hereâs our conversation.
RPGFan: The track “Alicia” stood out immediately. Its use of a constructed language and ethereal vocals creates such a strong atmosphere, almost like a musical prayer or elegy. It’s reminiscent of how NieR used voice and invented language to convey emotion beyond lyrics. Did that stylized, emotionally driven vocal work influence “Alicia”? And could you talk a bit about the process of creating this vocal piece?
Lorien: The theme of “Alicia” came to me while I was watching a dance video. I found it by chanceâthere was a dancer in slow motion who looked like Alicia. Her movements really moved me. I kept the video open on the side of my screen while I wrote the music. The song just flowed from that moment. The next morning, I shared it with Alice, who captured the essence of the song with a surreal vocal line.
For the lyrics, I didnât want the main theme to be tied to any specific language. I hoped it could reach people on a more emotional and universal level with our invented language. It wasnât there to be understood word for word, but to let the feeling come through the song.
But for players who pay attention to the soundtrack⌠the lyrics might reveal more than they seem.
RPGFan: Another piece that left a strong impression was “Sirène.” Itâs absolutely beautiful, and like many of the game’s environmental themes, it fits the world so seamlessly. How closely did you work with the writers when shaping these themes? Were the compositions closely tied to specific story moments, or did you take a more interpretive approach in expressing the worldâs atmosphere?
Lorien: For “Sirène,” I worked very closely with the team at Sandfall, thanks to Nicholasâs concept art. I knew where Sirène would be located and how the level was designed in a circular way around the Colosseum.
The spatial voice design came naturally; I wanted the player to feel constantly enchanted by Sirèneâs presence and voice, no matter where they were in the level. The feeling I wanted to share with the music of Sirène was softness and tenderness. For that, in addition to the voice, I used an acoustic guitar played gently, and a low recorder, an instrument I really love for its warm and soft tone. It also represents the wind slipping and flowing through the walls of the area.
RPGFan: The variety of battle themes feel especially rich and diverse, even compared to many other RPGs. How did you approach composing battle music versus environmental themes? And to what extent did you want the identity of a location or region to influence the music during combat?
Lorien: It was really important that battle themes be guided by the environment, the enemies, and the story. I wanted them to feel like a natural part of the world.
It was also important that these themes evolve as the playerâs journey unfolds. We wanted them to be dynamic and connected to the progression and the new landscapes and enemies, so the player could feel they were moving forward, progressing toward the end of their road.
RPGFan: Every track feels so thoughtfully crafted, and itâs clear a lot of care and intention went into each one. Is there a particular track youâre most proud of? And if so, could you share what inspired it?
Lorien:Â Today, Iâd like to talk about âAux lendemains non ĂŠcrits.â Out of the entire soundtrack, itâs the first song my father mentioned to me after his first listen of the whole album. He loved the song and was moved by the lyrics.
Itâs a song performed by the guitar in the Gestral Village and further into the game with lyrics. Iâm really happy I had the chance to write this song and the lyricsâthey reflect how I personally feel about the special moment when the song is played in the game.
RPGFan: Speaking of inspiration, Clair Obscur appears to be resonating with fans of long-standing RPG series from Japan, even Final Fantasy. Do you enjoy listening to music composed for games? Are there any that hold special meaning to you?
Lorien: Yes, Iâve spent years of my life listening to video game soundtracks, itâs what made me want to start composing in the first place. Iâve listened to a lot to the music from Zelda, Xenoblade, Ori, and many others.
RPGFan: The full Clair Obscur soundtrack is out (congratulations!), and it must be exciting sharing all eight hours of this incredible project with fans! Are there any plans to print this music on vinyl or CD? And if so, will it be a shorter “selections,” or will fans get access to the full eight-hour experience in a large set?
Lorien: Weâre currently working on a vinyl edition of the soundtrack with Laced Records. Weâre at the beginning of the process, so thereâs nothing concrete I can share just yet, but itâs a dream project for me. It will be incredible for us to see the soundtrack as a physical object, with the gameâs artwork, and to be able to listen to the music on a record player!
RPGFan: Considering the well-produced videos made for the music and the heavy emphasis on vocal themes, are you hoping to see the Clair Obscur music performed at concerts in the coming year(s)? If so, what do you think would be the best songs in a Clair Obscur concert setlist?
Lorien: That would be wonderful and deeply moving for us. Seeing musicians cover songs from the game is an incredible gift. Iâm endlessly grateful for each one of those covers. Itâs something we dream about while creating the music, and what weâre living now surpasses anything we imagined. Thank you!
As for a concert setlist⌠thatâs what I love about video game covers: each player chooses the song that resonates most with them. I love how each player connects to the music in their own way, so for me the best concert setlist would be made up of the songs that the musicians are willing to play on stage!
RPGFan: Many creatives experience “impostor syndrome”âa fear of inadequacy that goes so deep that it makes one feel like they aren’t worthy of the position they find themselves in. Did you ever experience this while working on Clair Obscur‘s massive score? If so, how did you overcome that doubt and keep working on your art/craft?
Lorien: Yes, over the five years I spent composing the soundtrack, I went through many different emotions, from anxiety and stress to moments of pure joy. What helped me during those times was knowing that I wasnât alone for Clair Obscur.
I was surrounded by the Sandfall team, Alice, and all the incredible musicians involved in the project.
It can be a source of pressure and stress to know that there’s an entire world to create. But at the same time, it’s something exciting to carry. And knowing that I wasnât carrying it aloneâthat we were all moving together in the same directionâhelped me stay grounded and find perspective in the difficult moments.
Itâs important for me not to lose sight of the simple fact that this is a game. All the stress, the impostor syndrome, the anxiety Iâve experienced at times, it all feels much smaller and not worthy when you put it back in its place. Iâm pouring all my love into it, along with my friends, doing the best we can and we hoped that players would enjoy playing with us.
I create it seriously, but itâs not that serious; itâs a game.
Coming back to that thought helped me when I put too much pressure on myself.
RPGFan would like to thank Lorien Testard for his time, talent, and insight. Be sure to check out the full Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack, now available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and many more places. See the full list of places to buy and stream, and experience the music that has captured the hearts of RPG fans.
