Origins is a recurring series giving artists a space to break down everything that went into their latest release. Today, Tom Morello and the members of Stray Kids dig into “Come Play” with Young Miko, a new song written for Season 2 of Netflix’s Arcane.
For the second season of Arcane, Netflix’s expansive animated television show set in the world of League of Legends, an appropriately wide-ranging array of artists stepped up to take on the music for the original soundtrack. This includes the likes of Twenty One Pilots, Stromae, Marcus King, Ashnikko, and d4vd, but a star-studded collaboration between K-pop group Stray Kids, Tom Morello, and Puerto Rican rapper and singer Young Miko stands out from the tracklist.
The three acts, each offering a distinct musical style and perspective, joined forces for “Come Play,” a song that appeared in the episode that hit Netflix on November 23rd. The powerful, energetic track radiates the energy of high stakes and a long road to victory.
“Unlike the usual vocal recording process we’ve always done, we were requested to relax and relieve the tension while recording,” recalls Stray Kids’ Lee Know. “But at the same time, we were also requested to sing the track powerfully, so I remember myself trying to figure out how I should sing the track both powerfully yet in a relaxed way.”
“I personally loved the track very much, so the entire recording process was also very fun,” shares his bandmate, I.N. “It still stays with me as a fun memory.”
For Tom Morello, the influential member of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, working with Stray Kids felt deeply exciting. “I pride myself on being sort of fearless in who it is that I will collaborate with,” he tells Consequence. “I love the idea of going well outside of my comfortable, political hard rock safety zone. It’s something that has served me very well in the past in expanding my sonic boundaries, as well as learning from new audiences.”
Read exclusive insights into “Come Play” coming directly from Morello and Stray Kids below.