Ilium Lyrics – All Songs from the Musical
Ilium Lyrics: Song List
- Oath Saga
- Things We Swear
- Duel Saga
- Choose Your Champion
- Rage Saga
- Shield of Blood
- Walls Saga
- Silent Knives
- Hector Saga
- Heart of Troy
- Horse Saga
- Wooden Victory
About the "Ilium" Stage Show
Release date: 2026
1. What Is “Ilium”?
“Ilium” is the working title of Jorge Rivera-Herran’s second large-scale concept-album-cum-stage project, announced on 24 June 2025 via his social channels. The composer described it as “the next music project after Epic,” confirming that it will dramatise the events of the Trojan War rather than the Odyssey.
Key Facts
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Creator | Jorge “Jay” Rivera-Herrans, Puerto-Rican composer–lyricist born 1998 |
| Format | Concept album first, with the option of a 2–2.5 h stage musical |
| Core Theme | Pride vs. Humility—how each helps or harms heroes |
| Announcement | Instagram “Back in business” post & TikTok teaser, 24 June 2025 |
2. From EPIC to ILIUM: Why the Hype?
Rivera-Herran’s first endeavour, Epic: The Musical, amassed millions of TikTok views and topped iTunes’ US show-tunes chart, proving that concept albums can incubate hit stage shows. Critics have hailed Epic as “an impressive adaptation” with charting cast-album singles, laying a commercial and artistic foundation for Ilium.
3. Narrative Scope & Dramaturgy
Ilium will not retell only Homer’s Iliad; Rivera-Herran's plans to weave in wider Epic Cycle material and pre-war myth to give characters like Hector and Cassandra fuller arcs. Early livestreams show the composer blocking out leitmotifs on piano, echoing his process from Epic.
“I want to explore when pride saves you, when it damns you, and where humility fits in.” —J. Rivera-Herrans, TikTok Q\&A, 16 June 2025
Musically, expect a hybrid of orchestral rock, Latin rhythms, and JRH’s signature anime-inspired “boss-battle” song structure.
4. Development Timeline
| Date | Milestone | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 2025 | Public TikTok brainstorming of Trojan-War themes | |
| 24 Jun 2025 | Official project reveal (“Back in business”) | |
| 25–28 Jun 2025 | Fan reaction spikes (#Ilium hits FYP on TikTok) | |
| Q4 2025 (est.) | First single drop (pattern mirrors Epic) | projection — based on Epic release pacing; no official date yet |
5. Community & Marketing
Rivera-Herran's crowdsourced performers and illustrators for Epic; the Guardian notes this TikTok-driven “participatory musical creation” as a new storytelling model. The same Discord and Reddit communities are already dissecting Ilium’s hints, producing animatics within days .
6. Why It Matters
- Cultural Relevance. Greek myth adaptations continue to dominate Gen-Z media; Ilium taps the Trojan War—the part Epic left untouched .
- Innovative Pipeline. Proof-of-concept via streaming before costly staging lowers financial barriers and invites global feedback in real time.
- Industry Signal. Success would cement social-media-first musicals as a viable production pathway, influencing how new works reach Broadway and the West End.
7. Next Steps for the Project
- Song previews: Expect short TikTok drops as hooks are refined.
- Casting calls: Open “duet-me” auditions likely, mirroring Epic’s viral casting challenges.
- Merch & Patreon: Early-access tiers will probably fund orchestrations.
- Stage workshops: Once 8–10 songs test well on streaming, look for a 29-hour reading in 2026 (educated projection).