
Spanish: 
♪ (The Last Of Us theme music) ♪
The Last Of Us is a videogame 
written by Neil Druckmann
considered by most people as the
best of the decade
because of its haunting story, for being
sensible in its mechanics and narrative
and for its soundtrack, created by 
Gustavo Santaolalla.
He also composed the score for the 
highly anticipated sequel of the game
with a new creative vision
and using different nuances.
In this interview, he is going to talk
about some of its details.
So the big question is:
How did Gustavo Santaolalla
manage to create the music
that would become the 
soundtrack of more
than one generation of gamers 
around the world?
These are 
'The 1001 worlds of Gustavo Santaolalla'
Chapter One:
The Last Of Us
When the videogame proposal came up
I had already been asked for
that kind of work in the past.
I knew it was a new area
that I got really interested in.

English: 
♪ (The Last Of Us theme music) ♪
The Last Of Us is a videogame 
written by Neil Druckmann
considered by most people as the
best of the decade
because of its haunting story, for being
sensible in its mechanics and narrative
and for its soundtrack, created by 
Gustavo Santaolalla.
He also composed the score for the 
highly anticipated sequel of the game
with a new creative vision
and using different nuances.
In this interview, he is going to talk
about some of its details.
So the big question is:
How did Gustavo Santaolalla
manage to create the music
that would become the 
soundtrack of more
than one generation of gamers 
around the world?
These are 
'The 1001 worlds of Gustavo Santaolalla'
Chapter One:
The Last Of Us
When the videogame proposal came up
I had already been asked for
that kind of work in the past.
I knew it was a new area
that I got really interested in.

English: 
Of course, it also caught my attention 
for a very long time
because my son was a gamer.
He still is a gamer but in that time he
used to play a lot with videogames...
So I waited and waited
in order to find something that would
vibrate with my personal search,
something that I could say 
'This is for me'.
And I also think my career
has grown that way,
with me being very selective when picking 
projects that I will later be working on.
So when I met Neil Druckmann,
who wrote the script for the game,
I knew that this project was the one
I was looking for.
Because it was a game
that shifted paradigms
and that is something
that caught my attention.
I've always tried to do that
in everything I create
And, first of all, this is a game that
merges different genres.
It has combat, survival,
different types of gaming genres 
that define them.
And this one combined them all
but also had a great story behind

Spanish: 
Of course, it also caught my attention 
for a very long time
because my son was a gamer.
He still is a gamer but in that time he
used to play a lot with videogames...
So I waited and waited
in order to find something that would
vibrate with my personal search,
something that I could say 
'This is for me'.
And I also think my career
has grown that way,
with me being very selective when picking 
projects that I will later be working on.
So when I met Neil Druckmann,
who wrote the script for the game,
I knew that this project was the one
I was looking for.
Because it was a game
that shifted paradigms
and that is something
that caught my attention.
I've always tried to do that
in everything I create
And, first of all, this is a game that
merges different genres.
It has combat, survival,
different types of gaming genres 
that define them.
And this one combined them all
but also had a great story behind

Spanish: 
with a huge emotion in it.
In fact, there are lots of people
who cry playing this game.
There some places, like in the 
beginning and in the end of the game...
You know, it's like when
you watch a movie
and there's always a scene that makes
people cry. It's just like that.
It's not that they cry the entire game but
there are certain specific moments
where people get really emotional.
That makes the whole game very interesting
And because my music is also
filled with something that has
a lot to do with emotions 
and feelings...
I think it was a match made in heaven.
So we are now working on Part II
- How is it going?
- I'm really excited about it
because I think it's going to be
a huge moment
when the game finally comes out...

English: 
with a huge emotion in it.
In fact, there are lots of people
who cry playing this game.
There some places, like in the 
beginning and in the end of the game...
You know, it's like when
you watch a movie
and there's always a scene that makes
people cry. It's just like that.
It's not that they cry the entire game but
there are certain specific moments
where people get really emotional.
That makes the whole game very interesting
And because my music is also
filled with something that has
a lot to do with emotions 
and feelings...
I think it was a match made in heaven.
So we are now working on Part II
- How is it going?
- I'm really excited about it
because I think it's going to be
a huge moment
when the game finally comes out...

English: 
What happens is that
this game connected me
with a whole new audience,
with a different and younger generation,
who now discover that I sing, for example.
They say 'Wow I didn't know you sing. 
I know you because of the videogame'
And now I'm so thrilled beacuse
I know that Part II is another genius act
by Neil Druckmann.
So I think it's going to make
a huge impact
- Does it take place in the same universe?
With new characters that
bring up different music?
- Do you revisit previous...
- I really can't say anything about that.
The only thing I can say about it is that
I'm using a very american instrument,
that is banjo.
Played in my own personal way,
that is not the traditional one.
- Video game music has its own
history and development.

Spanish: 
What happens is that
this game connected me
with a whole new audience,
with a different and younger generation,
who now discover that I sing, for example.
They say 'Wow I didn't know you sing. 
I know you because of the videogame'
And now I'm so thrilled beacuse
I know that Part II is another genius act
by Neil Druckmann.
So I think it's going to make
a huge impact
- Does it take place in the same universe?
With new characters that
bring up different music?
- Do you revisit previous...
- I really can't say anything about that.
The only thing I can say about it is that
I'm using a very american instrument,
that is banjo.
Played in my own personal way,
that is not the traditional one.
- Video game music has its own
history and development.

Spanish: 
From being cartridges, 
where there was so little music in it...
- Yes, music was sort of pixelated
like the game itself.
- Regarding The Last Of Us, first of all,
its music and elements
are linked to the identity
of a specific place in the world,
and the fact that it got everywhere
is really impressive.
- It's amazing.
And regarding identity,
which is a subject I've always been
interested in,
not only to sing in our language
but also to play in our language...
The cinema industry gave me the chance
to connect with a lot more people.
Because I always sing in Spanish,
although I had a band called 'Wet Picnic',
when I was living in Los Angeles...
But making music for movies was really

English: 
From being cartridges, 
where there was so little music in it...
- Yes, music was sort of pixelated
like the game itself.
- Regarding The Last Of Us, first of all,
its music and elements
are linked to the identity
of a specific place in the world,
and the fact that it got everywhere
is really impressive.
- It's amazing.
And regarding identity,
which is a subject I've always been
interested in,
not only to sing in our language
but also to play in our language...
The cinema industry gave me the chance
to connect with a lot more people.
Because I always sing in Spanish,
although I had a band called 'Wet Picnic',
when I was living in Los Angeles...
But making music for movies was really

Spanish: 
the thing that opened most doors for me.
I'm used to travelling around the world
and meeting people who saw 'Babel',
'Brokeback Mountain',
'The Motorcycle Diaries' 
or 'The Book of Life'...
And I meet them all around the globe.
But what happens with this videogame
is even bigger!
I feel The Last Of Us has broaden 
the map for me even more,
not only geographically
but also generationally.
And the 'ronroco' became a very important
part of my life.
If I had to choose now, I'd say my
instruments are the guitar and the ronroco.
In fact, the theme from The Last Of Us
was created with this instrument.
It's in a 6/8 time signature, 
that is really ours (from Argentina)
- Like chacarera
- Exactly
- It's in E minor, right?

English: 
the thing that opened most doors for me.
I'm used to travelling around the world
and meeting people who saw 'Babel',
'Brokeback Mountain',
'The Motorcycle Diaries' 
or 'The Book of Life'...
And I meet them all around the globe.
But what happens with this videogame
is even bigger!
I feel The Last Of Us has broaden 
the map for me even more,
not only geographically
but also generationally.
And the 'ronroco' became a very important
part of my life.
If I had to choose now, I'd say my
instruments are the guitar and the ronroco.
In fact, the theme from The Last Of Us
was created with this instrument.
It's in a 6/8 time signature, 
that is really ours (from Argentina)
- Like chacarera
- Exactly
- It's in E minor, right?

English: 
♪ The Last Of Us theme playing ♪
- I want to go step by step because
that part you just played
means a lot for a lot of people...
When making the soundtrack for
The Last Of Us...
Was this the first thing you came up with?
Yes. This is the first music
I came up with.
- You already had that idea in mind?
- No, no...
I really don't know why I picked up the
ronroco in the first place...
I really don't. But it just happened.
- Yesterday, I uploaded a fragment of this
soundtrack on Instagram
and I asked people what were their feelings
when listening to this music.
- Can I read some of the answers to you?
- Please, go on.
'It sounds really apocalyptic but also
encouraging...

Spanish: 
♪ The Last Of Us theme playing ♪
- I want to go step by step because
that part you just played
means a lot for a lot of people...
When making the soundtrack for
The Last Of Us...
Was this the first thing you came up with?
Yes. This is the first music
I came up with.
- You already had that idea in mind?
- No, no...
I really don't know why I picked up the
ronroco in the first place...
I really don't. But it just happened.
- Yesterday, I uploaded a fragment of this
soundtrack on Instagram
and I asked people what were their feelings
when listening to this music.
- Can I read some of the answers to you?
- Please, go on.
'It sounds really apocalyptic but also
encouraging...

Spanish: 
As if everything had light after all'
'It breaks my heart but it also gives me
hope and comfort at the same time'
- How does this make you feel?
- Wow. I love it!
This one cracked me out:
'I imagine Alberto Fernández playing it'
(laughs)
'I get goosebumps. I think about
apocalypse and caos non-stop'
'Santaolalla is amazing! His composition,
guitar sounds and rests.'
'It gives me anxiety and intrigue'
Well, there are a lot of messages...
I'm really happy with this
videogame's music!
In fact, I would like to make even more
music and also to find new games
with different characteristics and
features...
But I haven't found it yet.
The Last Of Us has given me a tremendous
satisfaction and joy. Truly unbelievable.
And they gave me lots of freedom to do this,
although Neil Druckmann knows the way
and knows what he wants...
I made so much music for this game...

English: 
As if everything had light after all'
'It breaks my heart but it also gives me
hope and comfort at the same time'
- How does this make you feel?
- Wow. I love it!
This one cracked me out:
'I imagine Alberto Fernández playing it'
(laughs)
'I get goosebumps. I think about
apocalypse and caos non-stop'
'Santaolalla is amazing! His composition,
guitar sounds and rests.'
'It gives me anxiety and intrigue'
Well, there are a lot of messages...
I'm really happy with this
videogame's music!
In fact, I would like to make even more
music and also to find new games
with different characteristics and
features...
But I haven't found it yet.
The Last Of Us has given me a tremendous
satisfaction and joy. Truly unbelievable.
And they gave me lots of freedom to do this,
although Neil Druckmann knows the way
and knows what he wants...
I made so much music for this game...

Spanish: 
I've been working in Part II
for 3 years now...
This was a review of the creative process
involving the music of 
The Last Of Us I & II
in the voice of its composer,
Gustavo Santaolalla.
This is part of an exclusive set of videos
for Gustavo Santaolalla's channel.
Subscribe to watch all new episodes.
These are 'The 1001 Worlds of
Gustavo Santaolalla'

English: 
I've been working in Part II
for 3 years now...
This was a review of the creative process
involving the music of 
The Last Of Us I & II
in the voice of its composer,
Gustavo Santaolalla.
This is part of an exclusive set of videos
for Gustavo Santaolalla's channel.
Subscribe to watch all new episodes.
These are 'The 1001 Worlds of
Gustavo Santaolalla'
