This morning, alongside a brand new trailer, Square Enix tweeted out a behind the scenes look at the making of Hollow, the official theme song for Final Fantasy VII Remake.
🎼 Composed by Nobuo Uematsu
🎙️ Vocals by Yosh (Survive Said The Prophet)
🖊️ Lyrics by Kazushige NojimaAdvertisement
Get a behind the scenes look of the recording of ‘Hollow’, the official theme song of #FinalFantasy VII Remake. #FF7R pic.twitter.com/2xkI7U90VN
— FINAL FANTASY VII (@finalfantasyvii) January 31, 2020
The nearly five minute video goes in depth on the writing and recording of this all new musical piece of the Final Fantasy VII saga.
It also brings together a legendary creative team, featuring some of Japan’s heaviest hitters.
A man who all Final Fantasy fans should know, the legendary Nobuo Uematsu composed Hollow. Uematsu has composed the score for every Final Fantasy game dating back to the original. He is the brains behind the original score for Final Fantasy VII, as well as the soundtrack for the CGI movie Final Fantasy VII Advent Children.
Another of Square’s heavy hitters, Kazushige Nojima, who served as a scenario writer for Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, and the entire Kingdom Hearts series, wrote the lyrics.
The vocals are performed by Yosh, from the band Survive Said The Prophet. When asked about why he chose to accept this project, he seemed very excited to be a part of it.
“Well, seeing as it’s Final Fantasy VII, the remake,” Yosh said, “to play a part in such an iconic project that represents Japan, I could hardly believe it at that point. It’s an honor, simply.”
Uematsu was very complimentary of Yosh when asked about the singer.
“The sound of his voice, without a doubt,” Uematsu said, commenting on what Yosh’s appeal is. “His voice, and his amazing vocal range. It makes you think, ‘Wow, how high can this guy go?’ And in his case, his appeal is completely different between the low, middle, and high ranges.”
The song is a haunting, slow moving, emotionally powerful ballad that hits with incredible vocals, provided by Yosh.
Square asked Uematsu where he got his inspiration for the song, and the composer’s answer paints a very clear picture that goes perfectly with the piece.
“There’s rain pouring over a barren, empty place,” he said. “That I’m visualizing in my head. And Cloud is standing there.”
The trailer released today also features Hollow, which made Square dub it the “Theme Song Trailer.” That nearly four minute trailer gave us our first look at a number of characters, including the iconic party member Red XIII.
We also got to see several Shinra executives, including Reeve, Palmer, Scarlet, and Hojo.
Final Fantasy VII Remake releases worldwide on the PlayStation 4 on April 10, 2020.
