Day 1 Teaser | Behind-the-Sound - Crafting a Persona 5 Instrumental Pop Album - Blog No. 82
"3 AM. The glow of my screen the only light. Endless tweaking. A virtual guitar tone stares back at me, daring me to get that riff just right."
If you've ever lost sleep chasing the perfect sound, battled with stubborn plugins, or fallen in love with a synth preset you'll never find again—pull up a chair. This is the story behind my fully digital Persona 5 instrumental pop cover album: a journey of late-night experiments, happy accidents, and chasing that elusive "just one more tweak" feeling.
Over the next four days, I'll be sharing intimate behind-the-screen stories—the frustrations, breakthroughs, and unexpected magic that shaped this project. Today? Let's talk about the spark, the struggle, and the sounds that almost broke me.
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The First Spark: Why Persona 5?
It began with a single chord.
During my (fourth) playthrough of Persona 5, "Last Surprise" kicked in—that infectious piano riff, the driving bassline, the sheer energy. My fingers hovered over my keyboard. What if I rebuilt this as a midnight jazz-club groove? What if "Beneath the Mask" became an even cozier coffeehouse ballad, with soft guitar and the quiet hum of a Rhodes piano?
That thought became an obsession.
But covering a masterpiece digitally isn't just about playing the notes—it's about dissecting, rebuilding, and praying your computer doesn't crash mid-take. For months, I lived inside the Persona 5 OST, analyzing every layer, every hidden harmony. My Spotify Wrapped was just the soundtrack on loop. My DAW's undo history became a graveyard of abandoned ideas.
The Digital Toolbox
Virtual Guitars with Personality
Stratocaster: Bright and snappy, perfect for "Life Will Change's" blazing anthem riffs
Semi-Hollow: Warm and jazzy, bringing "Price" to life with vintage casino swing
Peregrine Falcon: The secret weapon for "When Mother Was There's" ethereal swells
Keys & Synths
Rhodes Piano: The MVP behind "Tokyo Daylight's" sun-drenched lounge vibe
Hammond Organ: Cranked for "Life Will Change's" epic intensity (worth the CPU strain)
Synth: Dreamy textures that made "Confession / Secret" into a noir mystery
Rhythm Section
Electric Bass: That iconic "Layer Cake" groove wouldn't exist without it
Drum Kit: From "Phantom's" crisp jazz breaks to "Alleycat's" snappy backbeat
The Beautiful Chaos of Creation
1. The Great CPU Meltdown
There I was, deep into producing "Life Will Change," when my computer started wheezing like an asthmatic vacuum cleaner. The CPU meter was redlining. Then—total freeze.
Three perfect takes, gone.
Lesson learned: Save early, save often.
2. The Happy Accident
While making "Layer Cake," I completely botched a synth sequence. But on playback? That glitchy, funky energy somehow worked. It stayed. Sometimes the best moments are unplanned.
3. The Phantom Notes Mystery
Recording piano for "Beneath the Mask," my MIDI started playing notes I wasn't planning. After two hours of troubleshooting (and questioning my sanity), I discovered—a firmware bug. The fix? Turning it off and on again.
Why This Album Feels Like a Personal Journey
This wasn't just about recreating tracks—it was about reimagining them through my own lens. Every frustrated tweak, every late-night "aha!" moment, every time I almost gave up but pushed through—it's all in there.
And in four days, you'll hear it.
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Coming Tomorrow: The Full Album Release
Spoiler: Wait until you hear what we did with "Price's" vintage casino swing and "Phantom's" neon night drive...
Stay tuned, Phantom Thieves. The heist begins soon.
—[Yudha F Piano]
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