Masayoshi Soken Shared How He Composes FFXIV Songs for Situations

Square Enix released an official The Primals FFXIV interview with the MMORPG composer Masayoshi Soken, and in it he discussed how he creates songs for different storylines and expansions. The interview also touched on how the band decides who sings certain songs, during which he mentioned how the group used rock-paper-scissors to determine who’d be stuck performing vocals for the King of Faeries Titania theme song. First, Soken explained that he doesn’t get to actually see or view FFXIV updates and expansions when composing new songs for the MMORPG. He noted that instead he’s often told by the team what to expect and important details. He also noted that environmental items, like FFXIV Heavensward’s churches or references to other installments like FFIII or FFIV can shape the soundtrack. Here’s what composer Masayoshi Soken had to say about composing songs for FFXIV expansions and patches: “Most of the time, the quest and story cutscenes aren't ready when I start composing. Of course, I'm given the overall synopsis and progression of how the story goes at the beginning of development. The planners and writers go into minute detail when we discuss where the emotional beats are going to be. For fights, I talk to the team in charge of battle content. I aim to provide a suitable accompaniment to the game content. Each expansion has its own distinct setting. For example, Heavensward featured many cathedral-like buildings, so I incorporated pipe organ and harpsicord instrumentals. I didn't necessarily take the same approach to the whole expansion, but I tried to maintain that same essence to the music throughout. Another important aspect of FFXIV's music is the inclusion of arrangements of integral musical themes from other FF titles in the story. To give an example, the sections of FFXIV inspired by FFIII have the original game’s obbligato melody, the main theme, in the music. These kinds of musical references are used not only because the melodies were great, but also because they fit with the setting. You could say there are a lot of easter eggs for Final Fantasy fans hidden in FFXIV's background music.” As for assigning vocals, Soken shared a story about how The Primals determined who would sing the King of Faeries Titania FFXIV song “What Angel Wakes Me.” Paula Kaye Gerhold is the original vocalist. This meant their take on the track involved a key adjustment and different adaptation. Here’s what FFXIV composer and The Primals member Masayoshi Soken had to say about the “What Angel Wakes Me” performance. “When it comes to band arrangements, songs with female vocals are always hard to adapt for an all-male group like The Primals. We have to adjust the key, which isn't too difficult, but getting the right nuance across is something I struggle with for every arrangement. “What Angel Wakes Me” was a doozy... We were recording the backing instrumentals when someone asked, "So who's going to sing this?" We ended up playing rock-paper-scissors to decide and GUNN lost, so he had to sing. One of us had to do it, after all.” Here is The Primals version of “What Angel Wakes Me.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNoD-MofeQ4&ab_channel=SQUAREENIXMUSICChannel Masayoshi Soken also recently worked on the Kenny Omega Wrestle Dynasty song that the wrestler used in January 2025. Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The post Masayoshi Soken Shared How He Composes FFXIV Songs for Situations appeared first on Siliconera.

Feb 21, 2025 - 23:07

Masayoshi Soken Shared How He Composes FFXIV Songs for Situations

Square Enix released an official The Primals FFXIV interview with the MMORPG composer Masayoshi Soken, and in it he discussed how he creates songs for different storylines and expansions. The interview also touched on how the band decides who sings certain songs, during which he mentioned how the group used rock-paper-scissors to determine who’d be stuck performing vocals for the King of Faeries Titania theme song.

First, Soken explained that he doesn’t get to actually see or view FFXIV updates and expansions when composing new songs for the MMORPG. He noted that instead he’s often told by the team what to expect and important details. He also noted that environmental items, like FFXIV Heavensward’s churches or references to other installments like FFIII or FFIV can shape the soundtrack.

Here’s what composer Masayoshi Soken had to say about composing songs for FFXIV expansions and patches:

“Most of the time, the quest and story cutscenes aren't ready when I start composing. Of course, I'm given the overall synopsis and progression of how the story goes at the beginning of development. The planners and writers go into minute detail when we discuss where the emotional beats are going to be. For fights, I talk to the team in charge of battle content. I aim to provide a suitable accompaniment to the game content.

Each expansion has its own distinct setting. For example, Heavensward featured many cathedral-like buildings, so I incorporated pipe organ and harpsicord instrumentals. I didn't necessarily take the same approach to the whole expansion, but I tried to maintain that same essence to the music throughout.

Another important aspect of FFXIV's music is the inclusion of arrangements of integral musical themes from other FF titles in the story. To give an example, the sections of FFXIV inspired by FFIII have the original game’s obbligato melody, the main theme, in the music. These kinds of musical references are used not only because the melodies were great, but also because they fit with the setting. You could say there are a lot of easter eggs for Final Fantasy fans hidden in FFXIV's background music.”

As for assigning vocals, Soken shared a story about how The Primals determined who would sing the King of Faeries Titania FFXIV song “What Angel Wakes Me.” Paula Kaye Gerhold is the original vocalist. This meant their take on the track involved a key adjustment and different adaptation.

Here’s what FFXIV composer and The Primals member Masayoshi Soken had to say about the “What Angel Wakes Me” performance.

“When it comes to band arrangements, songs with female vocals are always hard to adapt for an all-male group like The Primals. We have to adjust the key, which isn't too difficult, but getting the right nuance across is something I struggle with for every arrangement.

“What Angel Wakes Me” was a doozy... We were recording the backing instrumentals when someone asked, "So who's going to sing this?" We ended up playing rock-paper-scissors to decide and GUNN lost, so he had to sing. One of us had to do it, after all.”

Here is The Primals version of “What Angel Wakes Me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNoD-MofeQ4&ab_channel=SQUAREENIXMUSICChannel

Masayoshi Soken also recently worked on the Kenny Omega Wrestle Dynasty song that the wrestler used in January 2025.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post Masayoshi Soken Shared How He Composes FFXIV Songs for Situations appeared first on Siliconera.