Mae Stephens’ latest track “Out of the Shadows” is a haunting musical experience that perfectly complements the eerie universe of Until Dawn. Known for her sharp storytelling, Mae delivers a chilling yet powerful vocal performance that mirrors the game’s dark and suspenseful atmosphere. The track thrives on tension and builds layers of haunting sonics to evoke the uncertainty and danger faced by players in the game’s story.
The song speaks to the unpredictability of choices. Both in the game and in life. The track is about walking into darkness without knowing the consequences of the decisions made, which ties back to the gameplay mechanics where every choice alters the outcome.
Mae explains,
“‘Out of the Shadows’ is, in short, entering a decision in which you have no idea what the outcome may be. Walking into darkness and not knowing the choice you’ve made on the other side, just trying to play the game. Every decision you make can lead to fame or success, and one thing I’ve learnt from this game is that your choices affect the rest of the story. That’s why I think it is so powerful and related to real life in the how decisions you make can affect your future.”
The chilling production is laced with atmospheric tension that adds a cinematic quality to Mae’s already gripping vocal delivery. Mirroring the edge-of-your-seat experience the game provides, as the song progresses, one is drawn further into its shadowy mood, only for tension to peak in its closing moments.
