“In 2021, my staff was still working from home because of the pandemic, so I was the only one coming to the office. I would listen to that album while working.”
From CHVRCHES's album Screen Violence (2021), Kojima said he has a favorite, "Nightmares," which he played at the closing. He heard a sample before it was released that had been sent to him as a quiz asking whose singing voice it was; he answered Robert Smith and they asked how he knew, and he said of course he knew. He said he was impressed that they collaborated with The Cure, and that this happened during the pandemic; he also mentioned John Carpenter and called getting a collaboration with him incredible. Kojima said everything connects, that he loves Carpenter’s films and there is a connection with The Cure. He noted the album art for Screen Violence is a hand, which reminded him of Death Stranding. He described the pandemic scene in 2021 when his staff were still working from home so he was the only one coming to the office, and he would listen to that album while working.
“They sent me the sample with a quiz asking, whose singing voice is on this track? And I answered Robert Smith and they were like, how did you know? So I said, of course I know! […] Also John Carpenter. Pulling off a collaboration with him, that's really amazing. Everything connects, you know? […] Also, the album art for Scream Violence is a hand, which reminded me of Death Stranding.”