Ben Starr’s Debut Videogame Music Performance Was Recorded After “Far Too Many” Tequila Shots

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As of now, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is being hailed as one of the top-rated games for 2025, sharing the title with Blue Prince. From gameplay, storyline, and soundtrack aspects, it’s a remarkable journey to embark on. However, during my initial experience with this new RPG, it was the music that truly left an impact. Spanning over five years, the music of Clair Obscur has the possibility to be recognized as one of the greatest video game soundtracks ever created.

Among the 154 melodies that fill the game’s eight-hour score, there’s a captivating tune titled “Until Next Life.” This is none other than Ben Starr’s debut in creating music for video games. As Verso in the game, I was approached humorously by Testard to lend my voice to the soundtrack, an opportunity I gladly accepted!

He admits that his experience in this field is relatively new, so he hasn’t accomplished much compared to many of his talented colleagues. He’s finding himself stretched thin, trying to handle everything simultaneously. It feels as if he’s juggling a thousand tasks and wearing countless hats, he explains. He expresses a fear that this opportunity might not come again. During a time in Montpellier, Testard approached him, making him feel quite intimidated since it was their first encounter. Although he respected Testard’s work, he worried about making a poor impression. Then, Testard drew him aside and asked if he would be interested in singing for the soundtrack. Would he consider it?

Initially, I assumed I must have misunderstood what I heard, which is why I hesitated before agreeing outright. Intriguingly, the question left me feeling puzzled – “Why ask me of all people?” Yet, without a second thought, I found myself saying ‘yes,’ not fully considering the potential outcomes of my decision.

Testard had already written the song that Ben sings, approximately a year before asking him to participate. This tune holds significant meaning for Verso and the game itself. We later recorded it with an orchestra, making it a memorable track featuring both orchestral sounds and vocals. I shared my idea with Guillaume [Broche, CEO and creative director of Sandfall Interactive], suggesting that it would be fantastic if the actors could perform. A year later at Christmas, I met Ben, and the song was still on my mind. I asked him to listen to it, and he agreed to lend his voice to the recording, which we completed the following morning.

I was pleasantly surprised that the voice actor, who isn’t a singer by profession, handled the singing parts exceptionally well. To be honest, if I hadn’t liked the song, I wouldn’t have included it on the soundtrack. It could have been challenging to reject Ben’s work, but I’m glad I enjoyed the song and believe it significantly enhances our soundtrack.

Afterward, Starr details an incident where, during a visit to Montpellier with co-star Jennifer English prior to recording the song, he became quite energetic. “I believe I invited a significant number of my team members to tequila shots as the night was winding down,” he reminisces. “I think I bought around 20 bottles of tequila, and I turned out to be that bothersome individual at a gathering who kept shouting ‘Take your tequila shot!’

As they didn’t seem interested in keeping many of them, I found myself with an excess, so I thought, “Alright, let’s make the best of this situation with tequila shots.” The next day, I walked into the studio and saw Alice [Duport-Percier, vocalist]’s enchanting vocals on the track. Feeling a bit intimidated, I humbly asked, “Could you teach me how to sing this stunning song?” And there I was, attempting to harmonize with her beautiful voice, it was quite an overwhelming experience.

Starr handled her performance admirably, despite the tequila shots. To put it simply, I’m incredibly proud of how she managed this experience and the unique aspects it brought to the story. It wasn’t a gimmick; instead, it was a fascinating narrative twist that enriched our tale.

In a different perspective, while others believed that the simultaneous release of the Oblivion Remaster might lead to trouble for the indie game, Starr contends that Clair Obscur can coexist harmoniously with the behemoth.

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2025-04-23 22:39