Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

'Nightcall' is performed by French electronic artist Kavinsky, with vocals processed through a vocoder to create the track's distinctive retro-futuristic sound. The song became closely associated with the film's opening sequence and became a defining anthem of the synthwave genre after the film's 2011 release.

Cliff Martinez composed the film's original score, contributing atmospheric synth-based instrumental tracks that defined the movie's moody, neon-soaked atmosphere. Martinez is a former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer who has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after electronic film composers, also scoring Steven Soderbergh's 'Contagion' and 'Solaris.'

The soundtrack features retro-electronic tracks by Kavinsky ('Nightcall'), College featuring Electric Youth ('A Real Hero'), and Desire ('Under Your Spell') alongside Martinez's score. These licensed songs were as crucial to the film's 1980s-influenced identity as the instrumental score itself.

The Drive soundtrack is widely credited with bringing synthwave and retro-electronic music to mainstream attention following the film's 2011 release. Artists like Kavinsky and College saw significant increases in exposure, and the soundtrack's success helped fuel a broader 1980s-inspired electronic music revival.