"The full original game soundtrack for Cards of Heart, a narrative-focused cozy digital card game mixed with a fantasy top-down RPG about a young woman’s daily mental health struggles against her inner Shadows.

Whew, where to begin? Like many new projects I undertake, this soundtrack pushed the boundaries of what I was comfortable writing for, culminating in some rich, cathartic orchestral tracks to hybrid ‘gamelan trap’ beats. Cards of Heart’s music juxtaposes between the quiet, melancholic routines of day-to-day life against the debilitating, distressing struggles caught in our minds, our inner shadows.

Alongside director Marielle Brady’s narrative direction, my personal struggles with my mental health also informed a lot of the music’s emotional structure. I didn’t want to write music that represented mental health when it was ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ ‘black’ or ‘white’— our struggles with our mind, thoughts, and feelings fluctuate often and over periods of time, and it can result in incredibly nuanced experiences. I hope that Cards of Heart’s soundtrack reflects that complexity, and I hope you can resonate with the music in some shape or form.

Thanks again for checking out the soundtrack, and please remember to take care of yourself and to take it easy."


Music composed, produced, mixed, and mastered by Justin Shin

Album artwork by Jamie Lim

Featuring:
Starling Tan – English horn, alto recorder, and tin whistle
Justin Shin – Melodica, acoustic guitar, and vocals


07.
Starling Tan – English horn
Justin Shin – Melodica and acoustic guitar

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Starling Tan – English horn

10.
Starling Tan – English horn

12.
Justin Shin – Additional acoustic guitar

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Starling Tan – English horn

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Starling Tan – English horn
Justin Shin – Additional vocals

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Starling Tan – Alto recorder and tin whistle
Justin Shin – Additional vocals and melodica