Composer Garry Schyman has been announced as the composer behind the score to the upcoming dystopian FPS, BioShock.
Schyman, who has written music for movies and television as well as videogames including Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers and Destroy All Humans!, was tapped for the job by Irrational Audio Director Emily Ridgway, who had previously worked with him on Destroy All Humans! at Pandemic Studios. “Garry Schyman’s work for us was incredible from the start in every possible aspect,” Ridgway said. “From his ability to produce and compose amazingly unique orchestral recordings, all the meanwhile perfectly accommodating the peaks and troughs of game development, Garry really deserves the praise he gets for the BioShock soundtrack and then some.”
Creative Director Ken Levine echoed Ridgway’s sentiment, saying, “It’s kind of hard to imagine BioShock without Garry’s music. It just wouldn’t be the same game.”
To deepen the player’s immersion in the crumbling world of Rapture, Schyman combined early 20th century writing, musique concrete, traditional tonal and late romantic styles. The music was recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood with a live orchestra, featuring solo violin, cello and piano works.
“BioShock is a composer’s dream project; I have never been offered such a unique palette to write for,” said Schyman. “I really pushed myself to create a score that truly complements the extraordinary experience of BioShock and Irrational Games supported me all the way. I even had the opportunity to write a solo piano work in the style of late Rachmaninoff!”
