Jun Senoue and Yuunosuke Discuss Sonic’s Musical DNA in 35th Anniversary Interview

A newly translated interview has offered a deeper look at the music behind Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th anniversary, with Sonic series sound director Jun Senoue and creator Yuunosuke discussing the past, present, and future of Sonic music.

The interview, translated by Windii, was originally published ahead of SONIC LIVE!, the orchestra and band event set to take place on June 28, 2026 at Hitomi Memorial Hall at Showa Women’s University in Tokyo.

At the center of the discussion is “Speed Is My Life,” Sonic’s new 35th anniversary song. The track was composed by Senoue, with lyrics by Tee Lopes and vocals by Nathan Sharp, also known as NateWantsToBattle. According to Senoue, the song was created as a kind of culmination of Sonic’s 35-year musical history, weaving phrases from several past Sonic tracks into one new anniversary piece.

Senoue explained that “Speed Is My Life” includes references to “Seaside Hill” from Sonic Heroes, “Discovery – Title Screen” from Sonic Mania, “Rooftop Run” from Sonic World Adventure/Sonic Unleashed, the speed-up jingle from Sonic Adventure 2, and “Azure Blue World” from Sonic Adventure’s Emerald Coast. The goal was to create a song that longtime fans could recognize through those musical callbacks, while still giving newer fans a bright, energetic introduction to Sonic music.

The interview also looks back at Senoue’s long history with the franchise. He joined SEGA in 1993 and worked on Sonic the Hedgehog 3, after joining the company as a fan of Sonic himself. He later became sound director for Sonic Adventure, helping shape what would become the sound of Modern Sonic.

Senoue described Sonic Adventure as a major turning point, with Sonic moving into full 3D, characters receiving full voice acting, and English vocal tracks becoming a central part of the series’ direction for global audiences. He also reflected on how rock and guitar sounds became one of his main tools for defining Sonic’s modern identity.

One key idea throughout the interview is Sonic’s “musical DNA.” Senoue pointed to the catchy, singable melodies of Masato Nakamura’s music for the first two Mega Drive games as a major part of that identity. While later Sonic titles explored vocal tracks through dance, house, and other styles, Senoue said his own background in rock led him to build Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 around guitar-driven energy, while also giving different characters distinct genres.

Senoue also highlighted “Escape From The City” from Sonic Adventure 2 as one of his most memorable vocal tracks. He recalled writing it after arriving in San Francisco for development, drawing inspiration from driving through the city and imagining the speed and atmosphere of racing downhill. He also named Shadow’s “Radical Highway” as an important instrumental track, designed around repetition and minimal melodic development to reflect Shadow’s quiet and restrained personality.

The second half of the interview focuses on Yuunosuke, who arranged the Japanese version of the 35th anniversary song, “Faster Than the Speed of Sound,” featuring Hatsune Miku. Yuunosuke described Sonic as a franchise he has loved since childhood, beginning with the Mega Drive version of Sonic at a friend’s house before later playing titles such as Sonic Advance and Shadow the Hedgehog.

As a music creator, Yuunosuke said Sonic Mania had a major impact on him, especially Tee Lopes’ ability to create stylish, groovy, and emotionally rich arrangements. He described the Sonic Mania soundtrack as one of the most influential works in his life and said he continues to listen to it regularly.

Yuunosuke also discussed “Jet Black,” the Shadow and Hatsune Miku track created for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. He said the combination of Shadow, Hatsune Miku, and his own musical style felt like a perfect match, making the project feel like a dream come true. For the song, he chose drum and bass to capture the forward momentum of a racing game while using rhythm shifts to bring out Shadow’s sleek and cool image.

For “Faster Than the Speed of Sound,” Yuunosuke said his challenge was to combine Hatsune Miku and electronic sounds with Senoue’s powerful original composition without weakening its energy. He deliberately used more sound layers than usual, including vocal samples and club music elements, to create a vibrant pop arrangement that could stand alongside Senoue’s rock-driven track.

The interview also touches on the music video for “Faster Than the Speed of Sound,” produced by FUKUDA. (THINGS.), with Yuunosuke supervising details such as Miku’s blue accents and posing. Yuunosuke said he was moved by the final video, praising its use of Chaos Emerald imagery and its close connection to the song’s lyrics.

Alongside “Speed Is My Life” and “Faster Than the Speed of Sound,” the Chinese version, “Here We Go ~ Run to the Future,” has also been released. That version features lyrics and vocals by virtual artist Yousa Ling, with arrangement by Masatomi Waki.

All three 35th anniversary songs have been added to Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds through the game’s Jukebox, with some available to use as race background music. Yuunosuke’s “Jet Black” is also already included in the game.

With Senoue representing Sonic’s modern musical foundation and Yuunosuke representing a newer generation of creators who grew up with the series, the interview offers a strong reminder of how Sonic music continues to evolve while carrying its core identity forward.

You can check out the fully translated interview below, courtesy of Windii: