Stray Kids, Twenty One Pilots, Stromae among 20 artists featured in Arcane season 2

Arcane fans have been waiting for this moment since Sting sang the last note of “What Could Have Been” in the final episode of the animated series’ first season. Riot Games has finally unveiled the Arcane season two soundtrack artists, showcasing an impressive and diverse lineup of globally known talent. 

Twenty One Pilots, Stray Kids, Woodkid, and Stromae are just some of the illustrious names featured on the list of the 19 new original songs designed to amplify the emotional moments of the Emmy-winning series. Over the past few days, artists around the globe have teased their participation in the second season of Arcane by sharing a black-and-gray picture of themselves with a quote from the show—and now it’s time to reveal who they are.

Based on what we know so far, the second season of Arcane promises exceptional animation and a deeply immersive musical experience that might surpass the one offered in the previous nine episodes. A few names from the first season, and even from previous Riot Music projects, are returning in Arcane season two.

Returnees like Woodkid, with “To Ashes And Blood,” and Riot’s trusted songwriter Alex Seaver—Mako—with “What Have They Done To Us,” are back, promising more heartbreaks for longtime fans. Among them, League of Legends fans might recognize Djerv, who sang Riot’s very first music project in 2013 with “Get Jinxed.” Over a decade later, the Norwegian band is back in Arcane season two with “Rebel Heart.”

Alongside those veterans, fresh faces like Marcus King with “Sucker,” Freya Ridings with “I Can’t Hear It Now,” and the legendary French singer Stromae with “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” join the ranks of featured artists in Arcane. Sheryl Lee Ralph, Stefflon Don, Raja Kumari, Jarina De Marco, d4vd, Royal & the Serpent, and more, including Mick Wingert, the voice actor for Heimerdinger in Arcane, will have songs featured in the second season of the hit show, too.

Stray Kids, the global sensation South Korean boy band—and League players—are joining hands with acclaimed guitarist Tom Morello and talented rapper Young Miko for the single “Come Play.” That alone would be a great achievement for any show, but Arcane has always aimed higher. In its soundtrack, the animated show will also feature Twenty One Pilots with “The Line.” From the musical duo, Tyler Joseph said the idea of “who can make up your family” from season one of Arcane inspired him and made him reflect on how music contributed to bringing that concept to life.

In a press release, Riot confirmed this is not the final list of featured artists, with “additional artists and tracks” to be announced in the coming weeks. This leaves room for even more exciting surprises on the already-stacked soundtrack. But some fans might feel somewhat disappointed to learn that the series’ opening theme will not change, with “Enemy” by Imagine Dragons featuring JID remaining as the show’s opening sequence theme. 

While we still don’t have an official date for the release of the second season of Arcane, with Riot’s commitment to representing global musical talent, the show’s soundtrack is poised to surpass its predecessor and captivate an even wider audience. As Riot’s global head of music Maria Egan said, music is “the heartbeat of the League community,” and this season’s soundtrack is set to elevate that connection to a higher plane.