007 First Light composers reveal their inspirations for the game’s soundtrack — ‘Our mission we set ourselves was to give the franchise a gentle nudge into the modern day, without completely reinventing it’

007 First Light composers Joe Henson and Alexis Smith have shared insights into their creative process for the game's soundtrack. They aimed to modernize the Bond franchise while preserving its iconic essence, according to an interview with TechRadar Gaming. Henson and Smith emphasized that their main objective was to provide the franchise with a subtle push into the contemporary era without deviating too far from its roots.

They drew inspiration from a vast array of sources, including the original Ian Fleming novels, the film series, and other creative works outside the Bond universe. Henson expressed his admiration for Fleming's novels, often re-reading them during his commute to work. Smith, too, reveled in the original texts. The composers acknowledged the significance of the Bond franchise's ability to stay current and adapt to modern times, stating that the possibility of exploring new musical directions always existed.

Although they avoided excessive reference to previous Bond games, they did watch the film series to gain fresh perspectives on the scores. The composers highlighted the remarkable range of compositional styles employed by various Bond filmmakers, from John Barry to Eric Serra, Michael Kamen to Hans Zimmer. This diversity made it easier for Henson and Smith to forge their own unique musical path.

Their soundtrack for 007 First Light has been nominated for the Best Original Video Game Score category at the Ivors Composer Awards, which will be held at Grosvenor House in London on November 17, 2026.