Visual imagery mixed with an unabating score 

Netflix’s animated series, ARCANE, has a cult following, and that’s putting it lightly. There’s no denying that its coveted soundtrack is undoubtedly part of its appeal, the music as alluring as the show’s storyline and dynamic visuals. Since the first season premiered on November 6, 2021, fans have eagerly awaited Season 2. On November 9, 2024, nearly three years since the show made its Netflix grand premiere, fans were rewarded with a second installment. Even more sought after than the original is ARCANE’s sophomore season, largely in part to the series’ overall $250M budget. No corners were cut, music included. 

Despite incredible artwork that alone commands and demands attention (and for good reason), the show’s jaw-dropping soundtrack has devotees in a tailspin, featuring indie and seasoned artists alike. The score ebbs and flows from frenzied and chaotic to slow and poignant, each track the perfect culmination of ARCANE’s ethos. Take, for example, Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong’s “Heavy Is The Crown.” The track is filled with an outstanding amount of emotion and depth, perfectly mirroring the show’s overall pensive quality. As the music stirs and builds from its inception, the beautiful combination of dueling vocals lends itself flawlessly to the tracks’s powerful melody while also summing up so much of what ARCANE represents. 

While the show depicts the rivalry between two sisters who are also League of Legends champions, their feuding makes the music that much more touching, and Freya Ridings’ “I Can’t Hear It Now” is a lament; a poignant reminder of the show’s magnitude and multifaceted dimensions, the song used to conjure and evoke the most arcane emotions — literally and figuratively. It’s raw and guttural like the storyline it depicts, lending itself to the intricacies between each character, Ridings’ vocals ebbing and flowing with a graceful poignancy.

Christian Linke, ARCANE’s showrunner, carefully constructed both seasons’ scores, looking for songs that captured the true essence of pivotal scenes from each episode. Aside from each featured artist’s talent, there’s the shared camaraderie of each musician on the Season 2 soundtrack, and that’s the love of ARCANE. Passion projects are just that — passionate compositions with grit and heart. They’re about capturing an ethos instead of downloads which, in turn, creates some of the most infectious — and evocative — art imaginable. Yet not every track embodies a pensive quality in the traditional sense. “Sucker,” by Marcus King, features dynamic yet evocative vocals, the lyrics demanding as much attention as the often delicate but intentional instrumentals. As the song refuses to agree to any one genre but instead a culmination of relentless beats and lyrics that shine front and center, the lyrics demand attention and pack a powerful punch that works with the show’s otherwise relentless storyline. King effortlessly secures poignancy without coming across as contrived. 

As the soundtrack continues, listeners catch a glimpse into the more fast-paced punch that sets ARCANE’s score apart from others. “Renegade (We Never Run)” by Raja Kumari, Stefflon Don, and Jarina De Marco is in perfect sync with ARCANE’s often relentless appeal, shadowing the characters’ trials and tribulations with musical detail. But the album is still just revving its metaphorical engine, Ashnikko’s “Paint The Town Blue” delivering a powerful performance with even more high-octane music, the song an undeniable testament to ARCANE’s dominant, action-filled adventure. 

“Cocktail Molotov” keeps with the soundtrack’s high octane appeal, ZAND offering something akin to Be Your Own Pet spliced with Spinnerette, the vocals and guitar equally gritty, raspy, and unapologetic, an exemplary reflection of what ARCANE represents. There’s no shortage of screaming throughout this track and its deliberate sound is unabating throughout. 

As listens continue to explore and enjoy all that ARCANE’s latest soundtrack has to offer, “Rebel Heart” by Djerve offers another rapid, influential track that’s once again heavy but also melodic enough to grab the attention of even the most timid listener. The vocals are dynamic, and the lyrics are intentional. 

Slowing things down is Twenty One Pilots, but this track is well deserved and expertly placed in ARCANE. “The Line” sets the stage with a gauzy balancing act that toggles between being a power ballad and something fiercer, throwing in the occasionally persistent percussion while keeping listeners on their collective toes. The delicate keys offer a sense of poignancy, once again enmeshing heart and grit. 

Imagine Dragons’ “Enemy With JID”  is another track that perfectly sums up ARCANE’s ethos. The band’s quiet-loud, quiet-loud signature sound is on full display as it ultimately mirrors the ups and downs of the show’s storyline. The track’s overall feel seamlessly blends organized chaos that entangles a varied assortment of instrumentals, the sound working in unparalleled tandem with the show’s energy. 

Suffice it to say that every artist involved with this fantastic score shares a love for ARCANE, either as a Riot Game collaborator, an avid League of Legends player, or just a devoted ARCANE enthusiast. How many times have casual players wished they could jump into their favorite game, and control the score? The collaborators on ARCANE’s Season 2 soundtrack did exactly that and with unprecedented precision, infusing wildly imagery from the show with the perfect blend of music.