When the concept trailer for Goodbye, Lara first emerged, the soundtrack immediately established a distinct sonic identity—nostalgic, fantastical, and emotionally resonant. At the heart of this auditory experience is composer yuma yamaguchi, whose background bridging classical, jazz, and electronic textures helped shape the unique atmosphere of studio Kinema Citrus's original anime project.
Crafting a Living World Through Sound
Unlike conventional anime scoring where tracks are assigned generic labels like 'Fantasy Song 00X', yamaguchi's collaborative process with director Takushi Koide involved deep discussions about character motivation, narrative pacing, and emotional resonance. Rather than being added as mere background decoration at the end of production, the music served as a foundational building block for the series itself.
“With Goodbye, Lara, I first wrote around five pieces, and Koide-san and I listened to them together and gradually figured out the direction of the music,” yamaguchi explained. “The visuals inspired the music, the music then changed the visuals, and that led me to change the music again. I honestly can't draw a clear line between where the anime influenced the music and where the music influenced the anime.”
Global Collaboration and Granular Textures
The soundtrack relies heavily on the evocative, wordless vocals of Brazilian artist Tatiana Parra, whose unique vocal textures function almost as an additional instrument rather than traditional lyrics. Yamaguchi utilized granular synthesis and customized spatial panning, transforming recordings of real orchestral instruments into immersive soundscapes that surround the listener.
The complete original soundtrack, featuring collaborations with artists such as Kaori Sakakibara, is available now across major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
