MichaelCollinsin Cyberpunk 2077
From the recording studio to the streets of Night City. Meet the musician behind Spirit Machines’ “Candy Shell”—a Growl FM winning track—and discover the lore that put his name inside the game.
SPIRIT MACHINES / 89.7 GROWL FM / NIGHT CITY
- WORLDWIDE CONTEST ENTRIES
- 7,800+
- TRACKS ANNOUNCED AS WINNERS
- 14
- GROWL FM · IN-GAME RADIO
- 89.7
01 / The breakthrough
Thousands of tracks.
One way into
Night City.
In 2022, CD Projekt Red invited musicians to help build the sound of 89.7 Growl FM for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. More than 7,800 entries came in from around the world.
Spirit Machines answered with “Candy Shell,” co-written by Michael Collins. In January 2023, CD Projekt Red announced the song among the contest’s 14 winning tracks.
A song made in the real world. A permanent connection to a fictional one.
Read CD Projekt Red’s winner announcement ↗
02 / The winning track
Candy
Shell
BY SPIRIT MACHINES
Hard rock with a Night City pulse. Written for the Growl FM contest, “Candy Shell” carries Spirit Machines’ sound into the world of Cyberpunk 2077.
Tune your in-game radio to 89.7 Growl FM, or hear the track right here in the real world.
Opens in a new tab. Your volume, your moment.
03 / Inside the game
The music got in.
So did the name.
The Growl FM Netsite gives Spirit Machines a place in Night City’s story—including this entry for Michael Collins.
“Michael Collins is a known quantity in the corpo world, taking on contracts and negotiating deals—his speciality apparently lies in hostile takeovers and rocky mergers. That might explain his nerves of steel and mind-bending improv skills—a virtuoso at everything he touches.”— GROWL FM NETSITE, CYBERPUNK 2077
Where to find Michael Collins in Cyberpunk 2077
- Open V’s computerUse the computer in V’s apartment and access the Net.
- Visit the Growl FM NetsiteOpen the station’s in-game website to explore its artists.
- Find Spirit MachinesRead the band’s lore entry and look for Michael Collins.
04 / The real person
Night City lore.
Real-world ambition.
Michael Collins is a composer and performing pianist specializing in Bach, Chopin, and original works. From the recording studio to the piano, he brings the same creative drive that helped carry “Candy Shell” into Night City.
Before Growl FM, the band’s “Zober” mash-up caught Tool’s attention. Their “School’s Out” cover was also shared by Nights with Alice Cooper. “Candy Shell” opened another door: a place inside Cyberpunk 2077.
The corpo biography belongs to Night City. The creativity, improvisation, and drive belong to Michael.
05 / Quick answers
The connection,
explained.
The artist, the song, and where to find them.
Is Michael Collins in Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes. Michael Collins co-wrote “Candy Shell” by Spirit Machines, a winning entry in CD Projekt Red’s Growl FM music contest. His name also appears in the band’s in-game lore on the Growl FM Netsite.
What song did Michael Collins co-write for Growl FM?
Michael co-wrote “Candy Shell,” performed by Spirit Machines. You can hear the song on Cyberpunk 2077’s 89.7 Growl FM radio station.
Where is Michael Collins’ in-game lore?
Open the Net on V’s computer, visit the Growl FM Netsite, and find Spirit Machines. The band’s entry includes Michael Collins and his fictional corpo-world biography.
Is Michael’s corpo biography real?
The corpo biography is part of Cyberpunk 2077’s fictional world. Michael Collins is a real composer and performing pianist specializing in Bach, Chopin, and original works. “Candy Shell” is a real Spirit Machines track featured in the game.