Q1: While listening to Sea of Stars' theme song, "Echoes of the Stars," I heard a melody that sounded incredibly familiar—was it a callback to the iconic theme music from the earlier Sea of Stars?
Music Design Team: Did you notice that familiar melody within the song? Did it stir something buried deep within your memory? You're absolutely right—that's the theme from Star Sea Dream! Five years later, we were once again honored to collaborate with the brilliant composer Liu Dong to create a new anthem for the Sea of Stars—"Echoes of the Stars." While the song preserves the melody that many of you hold dear, we wanted to explore new emotional depths within the world of the Sea of Stars. In the second half, we ventured into fresh territory with a bold "solo vs. chorus" arrangement. A brand-new melodic line was woven into the original theme, expanding its emotional resonance. The familiar melody makes a comeback—this time sung by a chorus that echoes Nikki's voice. And in the final moment, "they" join her in singing the very same lyrics, gently telling her: she's never truly alone.
We also reimagined Nikki's solo melody to be brighter and more uplifting, giving the entire song an emotional arc that rises from sorrow to hope, from uncertainty to unwavering resolve. Our hope is that you'll feel Nikki's transformation—her growth, her determination, and her quiet courage—woven into every note. Fun fact: the song in the opening CG is also an arrangement of the Sea of Stars theme, and it actually retains more of the original melody than Echoes of the Stars. Both songs are rooted in the same motif and are placed at the beginning and end of the "Dimensional Rift" level, creating a powerful sense of symmetry. And yet, they contrast in striking ways—evolving from tradition to innovation, from a solo voice to a unified chorus, from being alone to standing together.
Q2: The new login theme has been getting a lot of love from stylists! Could you share more about the inspiration and creative process behind its production?
Music Design Team: When it comes to the login theme, we can't not talk about destiny! It's like... falling for a certain pink-haired savior is fate itself! (Just kidding—kind of.) Ahem. The truth is, this piece was built around the theme of "a dream looping endlessly." The end of a world, the birth of a new one, Nikki's awakening, and the meeting of countless parallel universes—perhaps all of it is part of a fate that cannot be defied. The very first shot of the login sequence shows Nikki opening her eyes. The moment we saw that image, we knew what had to come first: a chime. We dashed to the sound team and borrowed a Starbell—and with that, the piece opens with a sound that's quite literally a wake-up call. It's as if thousands of Nikkis across the Sea of Stars are calling out to each other, awakening one another. And the Nikki on screen is just one of them. To express this cyclical theme, we used a looping musical structure, where each section represents a new turn in the cycle. Though the melody repeats, we build each iteration with new layers and instruments—so that stylists can feel the weight and pull of destiny with every return. The first cycle begins with a waltz that's dreamy, lonely, and achingly beautiful. A gentle triple rhythm dances over soft piano lines—everything feels peaceful. But beneath it all, a hazy synth pad clouds the soundscape, like a dream that's starting to blur. By the end of this passage, distortion creeps into the piano, and the once-beautiful dream begins to crack, revealing the fractured world beneath. The chime sounds again. In the second cycle, strings take center stage, arranged in rich counterpoint. The main and supporting melodies move independently but harmoniously—different voices, different worlds, woven into one unified music. Like distant stars shining across the same sky. Then comes the third cycle, where that fragile peace shatters completely. Reality crashes in, raw and unrelenting. The waltz is broken apart by urgent percussion, while harsh synths overwhelm the mix, squeezing out everything else. We used distorted acoustic instruments here to evoke the feeling of something once real and beautiful being lost, drowned in chaos. And hidden in each cycle is a musical Easter egg—our little nod to the concept of time. Listen closely, and you'll hear echoes of Liszt's La Campanella ("The Bells") woven into the strings. As it fades, the ticking of a clock pulls everything toward silence. The cycle ends. The world goes still. But then... the music begins again. Nikki awakens once more. And with each awakening comes a question: What kind of world will she face this time?
*A chat log from the Music Design Team
Sender: At first, I composed the piece with the original concept of a lonely, delicate beauty in mind. But just swapping instruments in a loop didn't really create enough variation or keep it interesting—it felt kind of flat. So I decided to blend in some electronic elements inspired by the beginner level. Honestly, by the time I reached the third section, I had this burst of inspiration imagining the vastness of the Sea of Stars—this cosmic, infinite space mixed with the feeling of worlds collapsing. I think the emotional arc came together really well: it starts off dreamy and beautiful, then the second section introduces a sense of fate and unease. The third section takes us deep into the cosmos, where time seems to fold over itself. The world shatters, but like a dazzling supernova explosion—both destructive and breathtaking. Finally, the music quiets down completely and loops back to the start. It's like that chaotic scene was just a dream—one smooth, seamless flow of emotions!
Sender: [Video file attached]
Sender: Here's a clip.
Sender: Honestly, it turned out even better than I expected.
Sender: It really has this powerful sense of destiny.
Reply 1: ?
Reply 2: Amazing! (๑ `▽´๑)۶!!!
Reply 3: Ohhhh! ?????
Q3: In the "Dimensional Rift" story level, when traveling through the time stream aboard the Silvermoon Boat, there's a grand, cosmic occurrence resembling a black hole. How did you use music to establish the mood of that scene?
Music Design Team: Music and visuals exist in a beautiful dialogue, each enhancing the other. In the "Dimensional Rift" story level, the scene depicts water and light weaving together into a boundless, infinite landscape. Layered arpeggios ripple gently like waves spreading across a vast ocean, with no clear beginning or end. The notes rise and fall delicately, capturing the fleeting moment when light pierces through the water's surface. As the whale breaches, we are drawn into the black hole's gravitational pull—the sound warps and twists, then swiftly dissolves into a profound silence. For this moment, we drew inspiration from Maurice Ravel's iconic Une barque sur l'océan ("A Boat on the Ocean"), a tribute to the painter Paul Sordes. Its impressionistic textures perfectly mirror the drifting Silvermoon Boat under the shimmering moonlight of the Sea of Stars. Our hope is that as the music softly fades, stylists will be carried away into the vast, infinite expanse—immersed in an atmosphere both pure and ethereal, leaving behind a lingering sense of presence that feels as though it never was, yet is everywhere at once.
Q4: After playing through the first part of the story, stylists arrive at a brand-new area called the Sea of Stars. The map and music here represent a distinct shift from anything players have experienced before. Could you share the inspiration behind the design of this area?
Music Design Team: The moment we first saw the concept art for The Sea of Stars, we were completely captivated by its dreamy, otherworldly beauty. Immediately, we wondered: what kind of instrumental tones could perfectly complement such breathtaking visuals? After exploring many possibilities, we chose to craft the ambient music for the Sea of Stars in two distinct layers. The first layer centers around a warm, embracing piano that forms the foundation of the soundscape. We added delicate electric guitar flourishes and designed an open-chord pad to provide depth and texture—without overpowering the melody or mood. Our goal was to create a spacious, airy atmosphere that feels both soothing and expansive. The second layer brings in rich cello tones and subtle electronic textures, deepening the sense of immersion. Within this layer, faint echoes of the main theme gently surface, as if softly welcoming you to the Sea of Stars itself.
As stylists journey through this celestial realm, they'll often spot shooting stars streaking across the sky. Perhaps some have noticed that when you pause and quietly watch them, the music shifts ever so subtly? To capture this delicate and moving moment, we composed a special musical motif just for the shooting stars. When you stand still, gazing upward, this melody gently weaves into the existing ambiance, adding a nuanced, textured layer that enriches the listening experience. We hope this subtle touch offers stylists an unexpected moment of wonder and a deeper sense of immersion in their voyage through the stars.
Our vision was to craft the Sea of Stars as a magical realm that feels like stepping into a living fairytale. Here, stylists can lose themselves in the boundless beauty of the starry skies while connecting with fellow stylists from around the globe—sharing a wondrous and unforgettable adventure through this celestial world.
Q5: Within the Sea of Stars, each area features its own unique musical theme. Could you share how you captured the characteristics of each zone and tailored the compositions to reflect their individual moods and atmospheres?
Music Design Team: As the social hub for players, the Sea of Stars embraces an immersive and dreamlike atmosphere. Building on this foundation, we aimed to infuse a sense of joy and playfulness. Once stylists unlock social features, they can visit the Dream Star Isles! For this enchanting archipelago, we created an upbeat and cheerful BGM to encourage everyone to explore and connect hand in hand. In the Animal Playtime game area, stylists will enjoy a laid-back track adapted from the beloved \\\Nikki Nikki/// theme melody. Meanwhile, during the journey aboard the paperplane or Silvermoon Boat to the Unbound Tower, stylists are accompanied by a special travel-themed composition that signifies the beginning of a new adventure.
Sound Effects Team: Beyond the music, we carefully crafted sound effects to enhance emotional engagement. In Bubble Dreamland, every plunge and bubble formation triggers a distinctive sound built on warm, bassoon-like tones blended with synth layers—creating a cozy, mellow, and richly textured auditory experience. Altogether, the musical transitions throughout the Sea of Stars flow seamlessly. We hope this allows everyone to deeply immerse themselves in the joy and wonder of exploration and connection within this magical realm!
Q6: Speaking of sound effects, the sound of the Starbell is quite distinct. Could you tell us how it was created?
Sound Effects Team: The ringing of the Starbell is an essential gameplay action in Infinity Nikki, so it needed a sound that truly reflects its significance. Therefore, we went all out—sampling over 10 different bells with great care and precision. During production, we carefully pieced together and blended these bell sounds to form the foundational audio for the various bell-ringing actions in the game. From there, we layered and customized each base sound to give every interaction its own unique character and richness.
For example, after recording the basic bell sound, we layered additional tones to make it richer and fuller. We also adjusted the pitch to match the tonal atmosphere of the "Sea of Stars" BGM, so that when stylists ring the Starbell, it feels like they're interacting with and contributing to the background music. All these efforts aim to give the Starbell a unique, signature sound that enhances the stylists' interactive experience.
Q7: You've given us a lot of insight into the design aspects. Could you now tell us a little about your creative journey and share your personal experiences and thoughts throughout the production process?
From the "Dimensional Rift" level to the vast expanse of the "Sea of Stars," from the Land with No Name to the boundless open world, our focus has always remained on Nikki's perspective—her emotions, her inner journey, and the feelings that accompany her every step.
This voyage through the Sea of Stars stirred memories from our earliest work during the Whim Playtest, especially the emotions evoked by the Old Florawish Memorial. What must Nikki have felt leaving home and stepping into an unfamiliar world? And upon awakening once more, reflecting on fragments of that past world—where does this story truly begin? That's why, when Nikki awakens in the Sea of Stars, the background music "The Forgotten Dream of a Star," heard as the Seer recounts her experiences, carries the legacy of "Step into Miraland"—the original login theme from the Whim Playtest. This melody bridges three years of creation, linking our earliest inspiration with the present, creating a profound and subtle connection across time.
Nikki's journey is far from over. Composing music that embodies her evolving emotions feels like a natural expression of her story. Perhaps you've noticed familiar motifs quietly woven into the music reflecting Nikki's experiences—fleeting and delicate, yet resonating with a shared rhythm. These hidden melodies reveal the emotional thread that runs through Nikki's journey: a theme of gentle strength, imbued with warmth and heartfelt wishes that accompany her every step.
We hope that these familiar melodies will bring back memories of your adventures with Nikki in Miraland—moments of joy, warmth, laughter, or even quiet sorrow. Each note carries a story, a feeling, a fragment of time that belongs to you and Nikki alone—a shared journey that is uniquely yours.
