Somehow, Kernel Hearts was not on my radar prior to its release. Now, the game’s OST is in the running for my top pick of 2026. How did that happen?
The name that got my attention was Emi Evans. The renowned vocalist who has been featured on so many games—the one who first captured all our hearts with her work developing Chaos language for the NieR franchise—is a featured vocalist on this soundtrack. I wanted to hear Emi’s work on an indie title. Apparently I wasn’t the only one. In multiple interviews, lead designers have noted NieR‘s influence on this project. So pulling in Emi Evans was a great move. She appears on exactly one track, the song “Lumière.”
Instrumentally, “Lumière” feels like something from Emi’s original work with her musical partner Hiroyuki Muneta (if you’ve never listened to freesscape, do yourself a favor and check them out!). We have an incredible piano line running against a chill drum loop, then incredible violin work from one Davis West. Once the musical stage is set here with a simple but somewhat unconventional chord progression (is that a minor two?), Emi comes in, and the result is absolutely divine.
I long for days, for lives
Forgive my sins, my pride
I’ll flee, the grief, the binds
And free, the souls I left behindI see, the light that you can’t hide
I breathe, the air beneath my sighs
I’ll be as human as allowed
My knee won’t bend to unjust skies
These two stanzas make up the entirety of the song. But this piece feels so much bigger, and these words carry gravity that speaks to the themes of humanity, divinity, and something artificial that wants to become real (automata, anybody?).
This single is already blowing my mind. Here comes the wild part, though; I don’t think this is the best track on the soundtrack. Across these 20 tracks, spanning just one hour (perfectly sized against the bloated OSTs of the current generation), there are some absolute gems. And wait a second: exactly who is the mastermind behind this project?
The artist goes by the name Pretty Patterns, or “Patterns” for short. This French composer has been writing original music and submitting vocal tracks (often via contest) for popular live-service titles like Honkai: Star Rail (and other HoYoverse titles). To my knowledge, this is his first full soundtrack. But he has plenty of experience releasing awesome singles, and you can check them out at his Bandcamp page. All of the vocalists on this project, including Emi, have recorded with him before. Thanks to the Kernel Hearts OST, I have been familiarizing myself with Patterns’ past work. I’d recommend everyone reading this article do the same.
How can I describe this music? A larger genre label might just be “synth-pop.” The swelling strings give it more of a future electronic vibe. With the inclusion of choir vocals and the themes found in the lyrics, I actually came across the term “sacred electropop.” If there’s one thing I love and hate about music classification, it’s the insanity of micro-genre labeling in the electronic music world.
Across this OST, especially on the instrumental tracks, Patterns’ focus seems to be on the three fundamentals: piano, string ensemble, and percussion (typically a drum machine kind of sound). The upbeat tempos set against big, bold melodies and clever harmonies bring a rapturous light and life to the music, in a way that I don’t think even MONACA (NieR, etc.) composers have done. I find it all to be both accessible and revelatory. Great examples in this regard include “What remains,” “Everness,” and “Mirage.”
I’d like to call attention to the other vocalists on this project, all of whom are credited as vocal arrangers on their respective tracks. While the instrumental pieces are fantastic, the vocal tracks are the big-ticket items, for sure. The end-credits theme, “As above,” has burrowed its way past my ears, through my mind, and into my heart. Vocalist vally.exe is the perfect match for this piece of music: the lyrics, the backing music, the tight rhythm of the drum machine. I cannot get enough of this song!
You hear it, don’t you? That mix of electronic pop and something sacred? The layered choir vocals underneath vally.exe are represented visually with angelic lettering juxtaposed against the English lyrics. This is perfect. And then, in those final lines in the outro, vally.exe breaks out of that midrange alto with an octave up to sing a variation on lyrics from the original refrain.
Ashen skies will make me cry
Make me sigh
Heaven’s tower bathed in lies
Tell me why
Y’all … I’m not crying. You’re crying.
Other Kernel Hearts vocal tracks include the wildly catchy “Cataract” (with an uncredited ‘anon’ vocalist), Pernelle’s French and Persona-funky “Cendres,” and an ethereal/spiritual ballad from RINO called “Flos.” All of these are strong in their own way, and I think “Cataract” led the way in terms of promotion since it was released last year for early trailers showcasing Kernel Hearts‘ art and gameplay. These are great songs to encounter in the context of the game, but I’d argue they’re equally enjoyable stumbling into the music the way that I have.
In my mind, Kernel Hearts original soundtrack is a clear triumph. It’s the perfect length for an indie game soundtrack; it has a great blend of vocal and instrumental tracks, and the musical style is catchy and unforgettable. I want more music like this, and I definitely want it in more RPGs. Let’s hope this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Pretty Patterns!
This soundtrack is free to stream virtually anywhere (YouTube and Spotify among others), and presently you can purchase it in lossless format via the artist’s Bandcamp page. Unfortunately, the purchased soundtrack excludes four songs that are included in most of the streaming playlists: “Carbon Wings” & “Break for me” by unit.0; “Hegelian Dialectics” & “The Pink Wink Cupid” by polarnyne. At the time of review, these artists have not made these great singles available for digital purchase. But who can argue with free streaming? The catchy J-Rock style of “Carbon Wings” is especially powerful!
