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How do you write music as in Atomic Heart? (Atomic Heart Phonk Beat)

Posted on: March 06, 2023

4 minute read

Last updated on: March 6, 2023

Table of Contents:

Let’s sort out what style of music did Mundfish (Atomic Heart dev team) choose for its novelty?
What makes the music in Atomic Heart so unique and distinctive?
What does it take to write phonk music?
What sounds are used in phonk?
How to write an atomic heart style phonk beat?

You write Phonk music but it doesn’t sound as professional as that of artists like DVRST, Kordhell, HAARPER and others?
Phonk music is becoming more and more popular every day, Atomic Heart is one of the first AAA game projects to use this music style in their game.
EA Games, Blizzard, Embark, etc. will also use Phonk music.
In this article we’ll take a closer look at how to write Phonk music and how to create the same atmosphere as in Atomic Heart, and which type of sounds & phonk sample packs you need to produce better Phonk then the other producers!

Let’s sort out what style of music did Mundfish (Atomic Heart dev team) choose for its novelty?

Obviously, to convey the atmosphere of the Soviet Union, you need to use the hits of the Soviet Union, but here the authors of the game have a question, how to make them sound retro-futuristic style and what style is generally suitable for such a style?
Concrete, Metal, Armature, Robots, Neural Networks and endless amounts of red.

And the studio came to the conclusion that the perfect style for such a combination would be Phonk.

Yes, exactly Phonk, not dubstep, drum’n’bass, doom metal, but the style, which can absorb all subtleties of each modern music style and create something new!

What makes the music in Atomic Heart so unique and distinctive?

The music in Atomic Heart is distinctive because it blends several genres, including electronic, orchestral, and Soviet-era music, to create a unique and immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack features an eclectic mix of instruments and sounds, such as theremin, balalaika, and electronic distortion, which gives the music a distinct and futuristic feel. Additionally, the music is designed to dynamically change based on the player’s actions, creating a personalized and immersive gaming experience.

What does it take to write phonk music?

First and most important is a phonk drum kit!

We’ve selected 2 of the best phonk drum kits to make it easier for you:
1) Ultimate Phonk Sample Pack by Monosounds
https://monosounds.studio/ultimate-phonk-sample-pack
2) Gamma – Atomic Heart inspired Phonk Sample Pack
https://monosounds.studio/gamma-atomic-heart-phonk-sample-pack

In these packs you will find sounds from 808 and 909 drum machines, processed and fully production ready.

What sounds are used in phonk?

The two most important sounds for phonk writing are 808 cowbell and 808 Kick.
808 Cowbell is the secret sound everyone is trying to find and create, you can find it in this Ultimate Phonk Sample Pack:
https://monosounds.studio/ultimate-phonk-sample-pack

You can also find 808 Kick in the above Ultimate Phonk Sample pack, which will make your track sound low and rocking!

How to write an atomic heart style phonk beat?

To write a phonk beat that’s heavy, rocking, and bassy, start with the drum part.
Something simple and uncomplicated, a combination:
[kick – kick+snare – kick – kick+snare]
at 100-120 tempo and something similar to Trap beat if you want to write a phonk beat at 140-160BPM.