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Great conversations about music in games, as well as voice actors, musicians, developers, audio directors, and more
Episodes
Friday Jun 09, 2023
Friday Jun 09, 2023
Grant "Stemage" Henry is a composer, a session guitarist and a remixer. In 2003, Grant created Metroid Metal (you can still download all the tracks, just follow the link), and so began his lengthy career in the VGM remix community.
Grant and I don't talk too much about remixing, but we focus on a couple of original projects: his original soundtrack for Card of Darkness, a mobile game from the creator of Adventure Time and a solo project he released in 2016 called Narrowband.
I loved talking with Grant about (some of) his original music! We also briefly chat about his music for the League of Legends spinoff called Hextech Mayhem.
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
PLAYLIST by Grant “Stemage” Henry unless noted otherwise
00:00 Card of Darkness (Title Theme)
01:55 Slellin Realm from Card of Darkness
07:42 (underscore) Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses from Appetite for Destruction
11:57 One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx from Mirando las Nubes
13:02 Borateen by sElf from Subliminal Plastic Motives
13:46 Borateen by sElf from Subliminal Plastic Motives
20:30 Mercury from Narrowband
21:54 Best of Times
23:00 Astronaut from Narrowband
24:48 Red Ribbon from Narrowband
26:08 Barossa from Narrowband
28:10 Amulet from Narrowband
32:39 The Hushed Wall from Card of Darkness
35:16 The Baxlan Delves from Card of Darkness
36:14 Slellin Realm from Card of Darkness
37:14 Slellin Realm from Card of Darkness
38:41 Card of Darkness (Reprise)
40:29 Card of Darkness (Reprise) by Vince DiCola from Card of Darkness - The Remixes
41:23 Mount Lavalgrave from Card of Darkness
42:06 Mount Lavalgrave by Tee Lopes from Card of Darkness - The Remixes
45:37 Hextech Mayhem Theme by Riot Forge and Stemage from Hextech Mayhem
47:02 Extra Wardenary by Riot Forge and Stemage from Hextech Mayhem
48:52 Kraid by Metroid Metal
54:32 Main Theme from Tchia by John Robert Matz
55:48 Main Theme from Tchia by John Robert Matz
1:09:14 Singularity from Devolver Digital Cinematic Universe
1:10:50 Red Ribbon from Narrowband
1:11:40 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Mustin's remixes and albums lift my spirits, and I hope they do for you too!
Mustin has an ability to capture juuuuust the right sound to make a track pop and nail the nostalgia.
His latest album, Mario Mixtape, resulted from a challenge issued by his son: to create a Mario remix album within a matter of months (about 4 months). Mustin delivered, with the assistance and approval of his son, his daughter, and their "people," as he puts it.
Mustin also co-founded The OneUps about 20 years ago, the 2nd longest-running video game music remix band in the world. He's got an album out called 20 of the favorite remixes he made for the band.
And he did the same with his favorite remixes for another collective he's part of called Bad Dudes.
I loved chatting with Mustin - another one of those chats that flew by. Please buy and/or stream his music to help support this community we love!
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
PLAYLIST
by Mustin unless noted otherwise
14:08 Blue Bomber Forever (Mega Man 3)
15:37 Blue Bomber Forever from (Mega Man 3)
16:39 Not So Lonely Nova (Katamari Damacy) on Origins
18:23 I Got Soul (Animal Crossing)
20:25 B.A.M.F. (Chrono Trigger) on Bad Dude
24:44 Show Me What You Got (EarthBound) on Bad Dude
28:30 All You Need Is Love (Yellow Submarine) by The Beatles
28:58 Cross Over Time and Space (EarthBound) by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka
29:57 There is No Turning Back Now (EarthBound) on Bad Dude
31:09 There is No Turning Back Now (EarthBound) on Bad Dude
32:41 There is No Turning Back Now (EarthBound) on Bad Dude
33:33 There is No Turning Back Now (EarthBound) on Bad Dude
33:54 KR44441D (Metroid) on Bad Dude
35:39 KR44441D (Metroid) on Bad Dude
36:50 KR44441D (Metroid) on Bad Dude
44:07 Game Over (Super Mario World) on Mario Mixtape
48:41 Ground BGM (New Super Mario Bros.) on Mario Mixtape
50:13 Delfino Plaza (Super Mario Sunshine) on Mario Mixtape
50:52 Piranha Plant’s Lullaby (Super Mario 64) on Mario Mixtape
52:31 Dire, Dire Docs (Dr. Mario) on Mario Mixtape
56:31 Ground BGM (New Super Mario Bros.) on Mario Mixtape
57:54 Attack of the Airships (Super Mario Galaxy) on Mario Mixtape
59:15 Attack of the Airships (Super Mario Galaxy) on Mario Mixtape
1:02:13 Athletic Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3) on Mario Mixtape
1:12:53 Forest of Illusion (Super Mario World) on Mario Mixtape
1:13:32 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan
Friday May 26, 2023
Friday May 26, 2023
Joe Newman is a saxophonist who remixes and covers video game music. He's been a regular participant in Dwelling of Duels and recently released an album of some of his favorite submissions.
By day, Joe is a lawyer in the video game industry (in consumer protection, if memory serves, he explains it in the chat). We talk about his music, playing the EWI, his passion for games and more!
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
PLAYLIST
by Joe Newman unless noted otherwise
09:10 After the Rain (Chill EWI cover)
16:52 Beach Jukebox from DLC
19:27 Escape from Salsa City (Sonic Adventure 2)
20:55 ¡Dios Mio! (Sonic the Hedgehog 3) from Joe Newman Has Joined Your Party!
23:43 Calamari Inkantation - Squid Saxes (Splatoon) from Joe Newman Has Joined your Party!
25:19 The Adventures of Bayour Bari in Shred City (The Adventures of Bayou Billy) from Joe Newman Has Joined Your Party!
34:30 Nothin New (feat. Rhonda Sauce) from The Wonder Weeks
36:44 Olivia from The Wonder Weeks
41:03 Sister Sadie by Horace Silver from Blowin’ the Blues Away
51:30 Verticals (Drymouth) from Joe Newman Has Joined Your Party! (The Unlicensable Stuff!)
57:26 Funky Monkey Ballin' Buddies (Super Monkey Ball) from Joe Newman Has Joined Your Party! (The Unlicensable Stuff!)
58:00 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan
Friday May 19, 2023
Friday May 19, 2023
It's another delightful chat with composer Maclaine Diemer about Firmament from Cyan Worlds, the creators of Myst and Riven.
The score is entirely synth with the exception of two or three other instruments, including an esraj and a Fender IV (technically a Squire, which only matters to people who know the difference). It's atmospheric, ambient and round, but with industrial grit thrown in occasionally. Maclaine calls it "industrial ambient." Or maybe "ambient industrial," you'll have to listen to find out.
One of the best parts: Maclaine grew up playing and revering those early games and the music Robyn Miller wrote, which is similarly ambient and reverb-y, but with a lot of pizzicato (synth) strings.
It was fun to hear Maclaine talk about his fantastic score!
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
PLAYLIST
by Maclaine Diemer for Firmament unless noted otherwise
00:00 Ascent to Curievale 15:10 Atriums and Seed Vaults 16:42 Sun on St. Andrew 21:22 Batteries Casting Shadows 23:06 The Reservoir 26:26 Processing 27:48 Deep in the Mines 30:24 The Glacial Realm 31:04 The Glacial Realm 33:46 Sulfuric Pools 35:16 Robots in the Field 37:30 Echoes of Past Futures 40:01 Echoes of Past Futures 52:59 The Spire 55:08 Frozen Footsteps 56:45 Frozen Footsteps 1:02:48 Batteries Casting Shadows 1:04:12 Batteries Casting Shadows 1:13:42 Remnants of Margot 1:14:16 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan
Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
Composer Peter Chapman talks about his music for the Netflix comedy Workin' Moms, which just aired its 7th and final season in April. Peter worked with composer/singer Maylee Todd to create music for the series. The music has this energetically fresh, crisp and clean vibe, although there are many examples of grit and grime as well.
We chat about that, we talk about his work on Guacamelee and Guacamelee 2. He did the music for Wynonna Earp, and under his pseudonym Coins, created a viral album of Beastie Boys remixes using only Daft Punk samples called Daft Science.
I loved the chat and I love his music.
PLAYLIST by Peter Chapman for Workin’ Moms unless noted otherwise
00:00 Workin’ Moms Megamix 01:30 WM711m22 Credits V2 03:42 Baby Got Snack (with Maylee Todd) 08:43 Check Me Out 09:05 Porn Store 09:31 Humming 10:37 This One’s For The Brave 25:56 Russian Subway Dogs Theme from Russian Subway Dogs (Peter Chapman aka Coins) 28:07 WM711m22 Credits V2 37:56 Hands In The Air 41:14 The Lab from Mutant Blobs Attack 44:35 Guacamelee Menu Music 46:30 “La Tragedia De Salvador” from Guacamelee 2 by Mariachi Entertainment System 58:11 Pass the Mic (Daft Science Remix) by Coins 59:27 No Sleep Till Brooklyn (Daft Science Remix) by Coins 1:06:45 Workin Moms Megamix 1:07:24 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan
Friday May 05, 2023
Friday May 05, 2023
I stumbled across Logan "Biggoron" Tucker's music in early April ahead of VGM Con (which would be worth your time if you can attend next year!).
He regularly participates in the monthly video game music cover contest held at Dwelling of Duels. Cover artists submit their piece anonymously and winners are chosen by the community. For TWENTY years, Dwelling of Duels has held this competition, and all submissions are archived on their site.
It was great talking with Logan about his style and how he got into making game music covers. You can find many of his covers on Bandcamp (name your price!) and also on the Dwelling of Duels site.
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
PLAYLIST remixed/covered by Logon “Biggoron” Tucker unless noted otherwise
00:00 The Floor is Lava (from Mischief Makers) 06:02 Knight Moves (from Bomberman 64- The Second Attack!) 08:40 Flemoidian Funk (from Chex Quest) 20:33 The Wright Stuff (from SimCity 64), Biggoron + Luna Rabbit + Extrinzic 22:15 Verticals (Drymouth) by Joe Newman from Joe Newman Has Joined Your Party! (The Unlicensable Stuff!) 23:11 Verticals (Drymouth) by Joe Newman from Joe Newman Has Joined Your Party! (The Unlicensable Stuff!) 24:58 Khrono Kong (from Mario Party & Chrono Cross) by Biggoron + Joe Newman 26:50 Khrono Kong (from Mario Party & Chrono Cross) by Biggoron + Joe Newman 28:40 Obsidian Mile (from Blast Corps) 32:50 Obsidian Mile (from Blast Corps) 38:00 Toad's Turnpike (from Mario Kart 64) by Biggoron + Extrinzic 38:49 Ristar by Joe Newman with Biggoron 42:19 Toad's Turnpike (from Mario Kart 64) by Biggoron + Extrinzic 45:59 Stick Shift (from Out Run) 48:54 The Wright Stuff (from SimCity 64), Biggoron + Luna Rabbit + Extrinzic 55:48 Obsidian Mile (from Blast Corps) 56:26 Other Sprouts (by Sam Keenan)
Friday Apr 28, 2023
Friday Apr 28, 2023
Composer Lennie Moore talks about his newest passion project, a big band album called Mentors that pays tribute to his musical mentors, like record producer Arif Mardin, pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and drummer Peter Erskine (who plays on the album).
While we do briefly discuss the upcoming Outcast 2 (Lennie scored the first Outcast in 1999), most of the conversation centers around the album and the people who aided Lennie musically along the way.
This is long conversation but we make no apologies; you're going to learn a LOT about some legendary musicians and it's well worth it!
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
PLAYLIST
by Lennie Moore from Mentors unless noted otherwise
09:26 The Mardini Effect
14:53 The Mardini Effect
17:20 Planetary Misalignment
20:04 Two Peas In A Pod
21:13 Essence MIDI demo
21:24 Essence (album version)
30:11 Manic
34:31 Two Peas In A Pod
35:10 Intentionality
39:33 Intentionality
42:05 Two Peas In A Pod
43:35 Essence
44:27 “Saving Metroville” (ft. Wayne Bergeron, lead trumpet) from The Incredibles by Michael Giacchino
45:22 Essence
49:30 Essence
54:45 The Mardini Effect
56:14 The Mardini Effect
1:02:18 The Mardini Effect
1:03:53 The Mardini Effect
1:06:19 Smoke & Mirrors
1:08:25 Intentionality
1:10:38 Intentionality
1:15:06 Manic
1:17:41 Manic
1:22:13 Manic
1:23:46 Manic
1:29:44 The Kid
1:49:05 Main Title from Outcast by Lennie Moore, featuring the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
1:55:25 Planetary Misalignment
1:55:55 “Other Sprouts” by Sam Keenan
Friday Apr 14, 2023
Friday Apr 14, 2023
Wes Keltner is the CEO of Gun Interactive, creators of the upcoming game The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Ross Tregenza composed the music and worked on sound.
The game is in the canon of the original film from 1974. We talk about how they pieced together a handful of working chain saws to get the perfect sound from the machine, the same models used in the original film.
And Wes had an instrument made specifically for the soundtrack (pictured on Patreon). He had an Apprehension Engine created. Invented by composer Mark Korven, the instrument is able to create a wealth of creepy sounds.
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
I loved talking with these two creators about The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. And if you haven't seen the original, or if it's been a while, WATCH IT.
PLAYLIST by Ross Tregenza for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre unless noted otherwise
00:00 And What Will Be Left Of Them 27:56 The Old Slaughterhouse 30:02 Blunt Headed Hammer 1:17:32 (audio from the trailer) 1:17:47 The Massacre 1:18:10 Other Sprouts, by Sam Keenan
Friday Apr 07, 2023
Friday Apr 07, 2023
Composer Chris Rickwood gets to write in the style of some of the most famous franchises in games and other media like TV, anime and more for Brawlhalla, the free-to-play platform brawler from Blue Mammoth Games and Ubisoft.
In this episode, Chris and I talk about what it's like to take the Brawlhalla main theme and rework it in the style of other characters from places like Castlevania, Tomb Raider, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Street Fighter and so many more.
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
PLAYLIST by Chris Rickwood for Brawlhalla unless noted otherwise
00:00 Fifth Anniversary Theme 07:10 Assassin’s Creed Crossover 09:15 Castlevania Crossover 13:26 Kung Fu Panda Crossover 16:04 Kung Fu Panda Crossover 16:34 Valentines (Tango) 18:38 Valentines (Tango) 20:48 Jotunn Winter (Battle Pass 3) 24:34 Valhalla Quest (BP7) 25:52 Valhalla Quest (BP7) 26:23 Avatar The Last Airbender Crossover 28:58 Miami Dome 31:57 Synthwave (BP2) 33:00 Synthwave (BP2) 34:36 Halloween 35:20 The Walking Dead Crossover 38:47 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Crossover 58:28 Smite Theme from Smite 1:06:54 Galactic War 1:11:06 Lara Croft Crossover 1:11:43 Other Sprouts (by Sam Keenan)
Friday Mar 31, 2023
Friday Mar 31, 2023
** The soundtrack to The Red Lantern is getting a vinyl release. Anyone who is a patron of Level with Emily by midnight (12:00 AM CDT) on April 17, 2023, will be eligible to win one of 5 records. **
Hrishikesh Hirway is a composer, a recording artist, a podcaster (Song Exploder, Home Cooking, The West Wing Weekly) and all-around busy creator. He wrote the music for The Red Lantern, a narrative survival dog-sledding adventure, with warm, relaxing music to counter the cold landscape.
Hrishikesh describes his music as "secular Christmas," and that is such a fantastic description; his music is a weighted blanket with hot chocolate while you listen to a favorite album during a winter storm.
And if you like the soundtrack, you'll love his solo music. He used to record as The One AM Radio but now releases under his name. Much of his music is on Bandcamp, but you can find his music in the usual streaming spots too.
You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to exclusive merch, Discord events and special guest playlists.
PLAYLIST by Hrishikesh Hirway for The Red Lantern unless noted otherwise 00:00 Breathe In 05:29 “Everything Falls Apart” by The One AM Radio from Heaven Is Attached by a Slender Thread 09:41 “Promenade” by Rachel Grimes for Music for Egon Schiele 17:41 Cold Smoke 20:01 A Moment to Rest 22:48 A Warm Fire 25:29 Coming Home 30:35 Breathe In 32:29 Holiday Lights 48:49 Fresh Snow 50:54 I Think I See Something 53:50 There Are No Bad Dogs 56:09 “Cascade” by Hrishikesh Hirway 58:16 Always Have a Plan B 59:00 “Other Sprouts” by Sam Keenan