Steven Universe, Vol. 1 (Original Soundtrack)

This soundtrack is for seasons 1-4 of Steven Universe and features every major song performed throughout the first four seasons. The performances are by the various voice actors in the show, with two exceptions- “Haven’t You Noticed (I’m a Star)”, performed by Olivia Olson, and “Love Like You”, performed by songwriter and show creator Rebecca Sugar.

Each of the songs was written by Rebecca Sugar in collaboration with Aivi Tran and Steven “Surasshu” Velema. Aivi and Surasshu are also the composers of the instrumental music of the show.

Steven Universe is well-known for its soundtrack and its use of musical numbers to progress the plot (they don’t call it the “singing and crying” show for nothing). Rebecca has touched on this during an interview with the LA Times:

There’s a quote from [Bob] Fosse — [he] talks about how if a character can’t express themselves enough through speaking then they should sing, and if that’s not enough then they should dance. That theory really stuck with me, there’s just so much more nuance to how they’re feeling when they’re expressing themselves in that way. And self-expression, that’s what it’s for. There are ways someone can say something, but when you sing it, there’s this depth. It only works with something that is heightened enough, or subtle enough, that you need to express it that way. Needing to do [sing or dance] already tells you so much about how they feel.