Dren McDonald - Stay: Forever Home Vol. 2 Cozy (Original Game Soundtrack)
Dren McDonald returns to the world of Stay: Forever Home with Vol. 2: Cozy (Original Game Soundtrack), a nine-piece ambient collection that captures the quiet emotional core of Windup Minds’ charming Meta Quest pet simulator. Released via Appearing Records and featuring the ethereal vocal talents of Sophia James and Amelie Anna, this second installment shifts away from the high-energy tones of Vol. 1: Chaos and settles into something far more intimate. The result is a deeply atmospheric listening experience designed not just for gameplay, but for reflection, relaxation, and emotional grounding.
At its heart, Stay: Forever Home is about connection—specifically the evolving bond between the player and their magical companion, Ember. Vol. 2: Cozy mirrors the game’s softer moments: watching waterfalls in the Otherlands, resting in peaceful environments, and simply existing in calm companionship. McDonald leans fully into ambient textures, dreamlike sound design, and wordless vocal expression, creating what feels less like a traditional game score and more like a standalone meditation record.
The journey begins with “Otherlands Nightfall (feat. Sophia James & Amelie Anna)”, a gentle introduction that establishes the album’s tone. Soft pads and spacious reverb create a twilight atmosphere, while the layered vocals drift like distant lights on the horizon. There’s a sense of arrival here—stepping into a safe space where time slows and emotional weight lifts.
“A Home In Between (feat. Amelie Anna)” deepens that feeling of comfort. Amelie’s voice floats through minimal harmonic movement, acting more like an instrument than a lead element. The track embodies the idea of sanctuary, capturing the emotional pause between adventures where the player—and listener—can breathe and reset.
On “Night Time Explorations (feat. Sophia James)”, a subtle sense of curiosity enters the soundscape. Soft pulses and delicate melodic fragments suggest quiet wandering through moonlit spaces. Sophia’s airy vocal textures guide the listener forward without urgency, reinforcing the album’s theme of gentle discovery rather than action.
The instrumental centerpiece, “Back Home Sleepytime,” is perhaps the album’s purest moment of calm. Warm drones and slow harmonic shifts create a lullaby-like atmosphere, perfectly suited to the game’s restful interactions with Ember. It’s the kind of piece that dissolves into the background while simultaneously wrapping the listener in emotional warmth.
One of the most inventive moments arrives with “The Otherland’s Floating Music Spores (feat. Amelie Anna)”. Built from experimental vocal improvisations, the track blends short “bips and boops” with reversed sustained tones to create something unmistakably human yet otherworldly. The sound design reflects McDonald’s storytelling instincts, signaling magical spaces within the game while standing on its own as a fascinating ambient composition.
“Under The Mossling Bridge (feat. Sophia James)” brings a slightly deeper, more grounded texture. Earthy tonal layers and gentle harmonic movement evoke hidden natural spaces, while Sophia’s voice adds a sense of quiet wonder. The piece feels exploratory but never tense—more like discovering a secret sanctuary than venturing into the unknown.
Emotion rises subtly in “Ember’s Memory Pieces (feat. Sophia James)”, one of the album’s most heartfelt moments. Soft melodic motifs carry a nostalgic tone, reflecting the emotional bond at the center of the game. There’s a sense of remembrance and growth here, as if small shared moments are being preserved in sound.
“A Floating Portal In My Room (feat. Sophia James)” blends the everyday with the magical. Gentle ambient layers suggest the intrusion of the Otherlands into personal space, reinforcing the game’s theme of wonder appearing in quiet, unexpected ways. The track balances intimacy and imagination with remarkable subtlety.
The album closes with “Starfall To Nightfall (feat. Sophia James & Amelie Anna)”, a beautifully layered finale that brings both vocalists together once more. The piece slowly unfolds and fades, mirroring the arc of a peaceful day ending under a calm sky. It’s a fitting conclusion that leaves the listener suspended in warmth rather than resolution.
A major strength of Vol. 2: Cozy lies in its vocal approach. Both Sophia James—known for her American Idol Top 10 run, viral TikTok success, and collaborations with Disney creators—and Amelie Anna, whose work appears in major titles like Death Stranding 2 and Destiny 2, deliver performances built largely from improvisation. With minimal harmonic structure guiding them, their voices become textural elements that shape the emotional identity of each piece.
Behind it all is McDonald himself, an award-winning composer with decades of experience spanning indie rock, label management, and an extensive catalog of film, theme park, and game work. His credits include Counter-Strike 2, Stranger Things VR, Ghost Recon Commander, and the acclaimed indie title Gathering Sky. Outside of games, his collaborations with artists connected to Duran Duran, Wilco, Nine Inch Nails, and more highlight a career defined by versatility and experimentation.
Technically, the album also shines. Mixed in both stereo and Dolby Atmos for Apple Music and Tidal, Vol. 2: Cozy takes full advantage of spatial audio, allowing its immersive textures to surround the listener—particularly effective on headphones or AirPods.
More than just a companion piece to a game, Stay: Forever Home Vol. 2: Cozy stands as a high-aura ambient record in its own right. It’s music built for quiet moments, emotional grounding, and gentle inspiration—a next-level frequency that lingers long after the final note fades.
