Level with Emily Reese

Composer Lennie Moore wrote such gorgeous music for Outcast - A New Beginning that it made me mad, no exaggeration. It's so pleasing harmonically with fantastic melodies and transitions, and outstanding musicianship from the soloists and performers. Live choir, live soloists, live orchestra - and you can tell. The music has breath and life. Come chat with us on Discord about game music, and see the video of my conversation with Lennie Moore on the Level with Emily YouTube channel. PLAYLIST by Lennie Moore for Outcast: A New Beginning unless noted otherwise 00:00 Outcast Main Titles 03:54 Tower of Humanity 06:08 Galenta 16:53 Bidaa 18:27 Outcast Main Titles 20:05 Okksanar 22:24 Daokas 29:25 Galenta 34:05 Okksanar 38:53 Outcast Theme (featuring Manu Delago) 40:20 Outcast Theme (featuring Manu Delago) 41:48 WFA Fortress 42:52 Pillars of Saar 44:51 Almayel's Prophecy 54:12 Desan 1:13:47 Plains of Sanon 1:15:26 Kizaar 1:21:03 Prokriana 1:25:08 Heights of Adoron 1:28:08 Sappa 1:37:56 Danger Ahead! 1:40:52 They're Everywhere! 1:41:20 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

We're so happy to have Zac Tiessen back on Level to talk about a new project he worked on with his fine artist brother, Josh Tiessen! Zac wrote music for a series of paintings called Vanitas + Viriditas. You can hear the music here (and elsewhere). It's really gorgeous music, with outstanding live performers like singer Julie Elven, the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and more. Come chat with us on Discord about game music, and see the video of my conversation with Zac on the Level with Emily YouTube channel. Find Level with Emily on Patreon. PLAYLIST by Zac Tiessen from Vanitas + Viriditas unless noted otherwise 00:00 Sophia 04:53 Harbinger from Streams in the Wasteland 06:26 Memento Mori 09:54 Sophia 10:48 Qohelet 12:58 Sophia 18:49 The Kairos Stones 19:58 All Creatures Praise 22:02 Auguries of Innocence 25:41 Vanitas + Viriditas 30:48 Vanitas + Viriditas 38:21 Qohelet 39:39 In This Birch Grove 41:29 In This Birch Grove 42:18 In This Birch Grove 46:11 The Kairos Stones 48:05 Memento Mori 51:53 Auguries of Innocence 54:30 Vanitas + Viriditas 55:08 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

We loved having bandleader and drummer/percussionist Dom Palombi back to talk about his new album, Dom Palombi's Game Night! Vol. 2. There are about twice as many musicians on this album than on Vol. 1, with what Dom describes as more personal track choices than before. The musicianship is just beyond measure, and it's a fun, adventurous, delightful, funky romp through some great tunes. The three originals are fantastic. ENJOY! Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube.  PLAYLIST from Dom Palombi's Game Night, Vol 2 00:00 Wings That Cross Time (from Chrono Trigger), feat. Andrew Sumabat, Josh Vasquez 7:48 Bad Guys - Kerning City (from Maplestory), feat. Super Guitar Bros, Charlie Rosen, MegaRan 9:29 Bad Guys - Kerning City (from Maplestory), feat. Super Guitar Bros, Charlie Rosen, MegaRan 10:34 Wings That Cross Time (from Chrono Trigger), feat. Andrew Sumabat, Josh Vasquez sans (from Undertale), feat. Skatune Network, Ryan Slatko 12:00 Monkey Target (from Super Monkey Ball 2), feat. Insaneintherainmusic, Patrick Bartley, Khrys Williams, The Consouls 12:38 Yugioh Anime Intro (from Yu-Gi-Oh!), feat. Dave Pollack, Jasper Dutz, Max Boiko, Ryan Slatko, Joe Etzine 16:47 Bad Guys - Kerning City (from Maplestory), feat. Super Guitar Bros, Charlie Rosen, MegaRan 17:46 Bad Guys - Kerning City (from Maplestory), feat. Super Guitar Bros, Charlie Rosen, MegaRan 21:03 Roll The Dice! feat. Zac Zinger, Adam Neely 24:02 Roll The Dice! feat. Zac Zinger, Adam Neely 25:34 Next Chapter, feat. Insaneintherainmusic, Videri String Quartet 27:12 Next Chapter, feat. Insaneintherainmusic, Videri String Quartet 21:18 Three Lives Left -Feat. Ryan Devlin, Tony Dickinson 31:04 Three Lives Left -Feat. Ryan Devlin, Tony Dickinson 32:52 Three Lives Left -Feat. Ryan Devlin, Tony Dickinson sans (from Undertale), feat. Skatune Network, Ryan Slatko 39:08 Monkey Target (from Super Monkey Ball 2), feat. Insaneintherainmusic, Patrick Bartley, Khrys Williams, The Consouls 41:57 Monkey Target (from Super Monkey Ball 2), feat. Insaneintherainmusic, Patrick Bartley, Khrys Williams, The Consouls 44:50 To Zanarkand (from Final Fantasy X), feat. Casey Lee Williams, Tournament Arc, Dave Pollack 47:07 Ain't Nothin' Like a Funky Beat (from Lethal League Blaze), feat. Patrick Bartley, Juna Serita 49:29 Ain't Nothin' Like a Funky Beat (from Lethal League Blaze) -Feat. Patrick Bartley, Juna Serita 52:45 Yugioh Anime Intro (from Yu-Gi-Oh!), feat. Dave Pollack, Jasper Dutz, Max Boiko, Ryan Slatko, Joe Etzine 53:39 Yugioh Anime Intro (from Yu-Gi-Oh!), feat. Dave Pollack, Jasper Dutz, Max Boiko, Ryan Slatko, Joe Etzine 1:06:08 Bad Guys - Kerning City (from Maplestory), feat. Super Guitar Bros, Charlie Rosen, MegaRan 1:06:40 Other Sprouts, by Sam Keenan

Composer Chase Bethea talks about his music for Stardander: School for Witches, a Harry potter-esque narrative turn-based battle adventure game where you learn spells and solve mysteries. The music is mysterious at times, with winding melodies and unexpected instrumentation. His mom sings too, which is great! You can support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord. Find this conversation on YouTube. PLAYLIST by Chase Bethea for Stardander School for Witches unless noted otherwise 00:00 The Conjurations of Touchstone 3:46 Daily Activities 6:20 Daily Activities 9:28 Daily Activities Choice Reminder 11:26 Investigations 13:18 Stardander School Song Anthem 14:47 Trouble and Mystery 17:02 Fall Festival 23:16 Clearing the Forest 25:10 Clearing the Forest 27:56 Fae Reign Supreme 31:48 Protector of Renar City 36:16 The Inventor's Imprudence 37:43 Cloaked in Rivalry 39:58 Cloaked in Rivalry 44:53 Twilight Patrol 45:48 Discovery Circle 46:18 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Composer Thomas Brunet talks about his absolutely stunning music for Chants of Sennaar in this episode. We love how spontaneous the music sounds, and the colorful, creative instrument palette. In addition to the wonderful music, Thomas and I talk about a new graduate program he's created for music and sound design in Bordeaux, France, as well as his love for and knowledge of French literature. Composer Thomas Brunet talks about his absolutely stunning music for Chants of Sennaar in this episode. We love how spontaneous the music sounds, and the colorful, creative instrument palette. In addition to the wonderful music, Thomas and I talk about a new graduate program he's created for music and sound design in Bordeaux, France, as well as his love for and knowledge of French literature. PLAYLIST by Thomas Brunet for Chants of Sennaar unless noted otherwise 00:00 Out Of The Cavern And Into The Light 06:11 The Cogs Of Science 14:06 Smell Of Rain 20:47 A Bit Of Fun 29:20 Envers 31:20 Envers 37:02 Envers 41:38 Out Of The Cavern And Into The Light 47:29 Forgotten Bonds 54:50 Temple Of Knowledge 59:23 The Call 1:01:00 Catch Me! 1:07:22 Gardens of Plenty 1:21:00 Bonds Reforged 1:21:32 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

A little more than two years ago, Erik Desiderio was on Level to talk about music he'd written for Last Epoch, which was in early access at the time. Erik is back to talk about all of the music he's written for the game since we spoke in 2022. Also, Last Epoch is about to get its official release, and the Game Music Ensemble of UCLA is going to play Erik's music from the game live, with Erik conducting. This gave us many reasons to chat! That concert, by the way, will apparently be streamed? Unsure, check here and here! The concert is on Saturday, February 24th at 7 PM PST (UTC-8). PLAYLIST by Erik Desiderio for Last Epoch unless noted otherwise 00:00 Last Epoch Theme 09:03 Keeper's Camp 14:28 The End of Ruin 17:48 The Surface 19:22 Burning Forest 28:36 What She Left to Remember 31:54 Shadow's Whisper 46:32 Eterra 48:30 The End of Ruin 50:32 Fires Before Dawn 57:40 The End of Time 59:58 The End of Time 1:06:04 Above the Black 1:08:20 Bastion of the Sun 1:09:17 In Preparation 1:09:54 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

This is such gorgeous music by Dale North for Astral Ascent. Fully orchestral (a mix of real and samples), lush and full - and sometimes it ascends! Like the game!    Definitely check out the conversation Sam and I had about it on Next Level.    Come chat with us on Discord about game music, and see the video of my conversation with Dale North on the Level with Emily YouTube channel.   PLAYLIST by Dale North for Astral Ascent unless noted otherwise 00:00 Opening Cinematic 01:00 Main Menu 05:44 Fragmented Plains - Exploration 12:16 Crimson Highlands - Combat 18:54 Main Menu 23:24 Fragmented Plains - Combat 29:38 The Master - Phase 2 (feat. Emi Evans) 32:34 Andromeda's Bar 35:19 Echoes Room 35:58 The Yalee Kingdom 38:37 The Garden 40:12 Short Intro 43:59 Choral Archipelago - Exploration 46:18 Red Barrens - Exploration 49:27 Event Horizon 50:22 The Void 51:40 Sun & Moon 52:54 The Master - Phase 1 (feat. Emi Evans) 53:24 Fight Theme 53:48 Other Sprouts - Sam Keenan

I loved talking with Terence and Janice so much about their wonderful music for such a fabulous game. The music for Tunic is a glorious blend of synths and acoustic piano, with waves of (often) consonant sound. Plus, you get to play as an adorable fox! Terence and Janice live in Taiwan so I got to learn a bit about that tropical island too, and got to meet some cats which always brings a smile! You get to see them in the YouTube video... PLAYLIST by Lifeformed and Janice Kwan for Tunic unless noted otherwise 00:00 Memories of Memories 07:19 Sunset Breakfast 14:32 Ghost Field 15:36 The Librarian - piano sketch 15:56 The Librarian 18:07 The Captain - piano sketch 18:24 The Captain 19:10 The Knight 20:52 Remember to Remember 22:21 Carbon Harvest 23:32 What They Kept From Us 25:02 Ghost Field 26:43 Ghost Field 28:19 Ocean Glaze 31:20 Ocean Glaze 32:01 To Far Shores 35:56 To Far Shores 45:51 Sageless 49:39 Flux is On 53:30 River, River (not for Tunic) 58:03 pull me in by Janice Kwan 1:01:16 The Cats Are Hungry 1:04:10 Hex Sequence 1:04:51 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan      

Composer Jon Everist's music for The Lamplighters League is a great blend of noir and adventure. The soundtrack paints such a perfect picture of the vibe of the game (which is a turn-based tactics game). So many wonderful solos and soloists, with an orchestra recorded live at Abbey Road Studios, and they all sound fantastic! Also, I swear I know what a trombone sounds like. Or I used to think I did. PLAYLIST by Jon Everist for The Lamplighters League unless noted otherwise 00:00 The Lamplighters League (Main Theme) 02:38 Heist Prep 04:04 Nicastro Theme 07:51 The Lamplighters League (Main Theme) 12:38 Jungle Quiet 16:42 Nicastro Theme 20:43 Cloak and Dagger 21:35 The Lamplighters League (Main Theme) 23:00 Arctic Quiet 25:37 Arctic Quiet 28:18 Parisian Night 32:38 Spotted 35:58 The Undrawn Hand (Opening Cinematic) 38:09 Jungle Combat 41:06 The Tower 42:39 Marteau Theme 46:18 Light the Way (World Map Theme) 48:01 Heist Execution 48:42 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

It's always a joy catching up with composer Cris Velasco! This time around, we chat about his epic music for Lords of the Fallen, a souls-like action RPG with plenty of boss battles. He also clues me into another one of his recent scores, for a game called Fae Farm, He and I will talk more about that in a future episode, because it's delightful. Also couldn't be more different than his music for Lords. Come chat with us on Discord about game music, and see the video of my conversation with Cris on the Level with Emily YouTube channel. PLAYLIST by Cris Velasco for Lords of the Fallen unless noted otherwise 00:00 Aphotic Judgment 06:29 Warmaster 06:56 Orian Ascendance 08:22 Deathless Duty 11:01 Molten Heart 12:30 Archnemesis 16:39 Bloodletter 19:44 Call to War 20:05 Howl of Devastation 23:02 Archnemesis 26:05 Maw of Faith 27:23 Maw of Faith 33:02 Bloodletter 37:13 Fiery Malice 43:15 Welcome to Azoria 45:00 Warm Winds of Adventure 45:55 Maw of Faith 46:41 The Sun on Your Back 47:28 The Market Dance 53:53 Rotting Whispers 54:25 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Composer Tom Salta talks about his extremely frightening music for The Outlast Trials, the third installment of the Outlast series. It's always a joy to have Tom on, and I manage to learn something new every time we talk! 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 Tom Salta for The Outlast Trials unless noted otherwise 00:00 Let the Trials Begin 05:03 (in background: John Carpenter, Halloween Main Title) 06:00 Let the Trials Begin 07:24 Let the Trials Begin 08:16 Let the Trials Begin 08:42 Let the Trials Begin 10:00 Let the Trials Begin 14:37 Little Angels 15:49 The Root Canal 18:40 Motherless Children 23:18 The Weight of Memories 24:45 Come to the Fair 26:54 Brush Your Teeth 28:01 Brush Your Teeth 30:27 (recording of the Thomas Edison doll) 32:53 Can't Get it Out of Your Head 37:12 Burden of Skeletons 40:26 Killjoys Aren't Allowed Here 45:50 We're All Getting Better Together 53:29 Well Done 53:53 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

During our Next Level discussion about this very episode, our friend Sacha counted up how many times we've had Jason Graves on an episode of Level, and Level's friend, Top Score. Six times on Top Score, six times on Level, and this marks the 13th ep dedicated to his music. Best part is, we know there will be many more! This time, it's all about battle royale and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II DLC called Warzone. The Warzone maps are DLC for Modern Warfare II players, and Jason's released a soundtrack of the music from them. It's always great having him on the show - I always learn something about his approach and I can't wait our next conversation! Come chat with us on Discord about game music, and see the video of my conversation with Jason on the Level with Emily YouTube channel. PLAYLIST by Jason Graves for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Warzone unless noted otherwise 00:00 Welcome to Al Mazrah 5:10 Unearthed 10:54 Unearthed 14:06 Enemy Anthem 15:07 Welcome to Al Mazrah 15:35 Power Broker 21:22 Resurfacing 24:13 Perilous 27:10 Controlled Chaos 38:11 Welcome to Al Mazrah 38:42 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Composer Steve Pardo got to write music for one of the most musically famous franchises of all time in Cypher 007, the newest game from James Bond. And it's great! I love how the soundtrack fits seamlessly into the fabric of the stealthy Apple Arcade game. Steve and I talk about how neat that is, how great John Barry's original music is and a lot more in this week's chat. 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 Steve Pardo for Cypher 007 unless noted otherwise 00:00 The James Bond Theme (from Dr. No) by Monty Norman and John Barry, arranged by Steve Pardo 11:25 The James Bond Theme (from Dr. No) by Monty Norman and John Barry 15:34 The James Bond Theme (from Dr. No) by Monty Norman and John Barry, arranged by Steve Pardo 17:06 The John Dunbar Theme (from Dances with Wolves) by John Barry 17:30 (Main Title) I Had a Farm in Africa from Out of Africa by John Barry 21:07 Damp Echo 23:02 Decipher 29:02 Decipher 30:17 Back of the Neck 35:05 GoldenEye Watch Music by Grant Kirkhope 37:29 Bloody Martini 40:29 Broad Daylight 41:25 Escape 43:01 Escape 44:25 The Traitor 51:56 Ghost 53:17 cut chase scene music 55:55 Dark Hallways 59:28 The James Bond Theme (from Dr. No) by Monty Norman and John Barry, arranged by Steve Pardo 1:00:04 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Composer Ross Tregenza is back for a deep dive into the music and sound he created and composed for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. We also talk about his music for Deathloop, which earned him a BAFTA nomination, and his ubiquitous music in Cyberpunk 2077. I love every minute of all of it. And I loved talking with Ross about these projects, including his industrial band Goteki. Hot tip, all of their music is available as a FREE download on Bandcamp. 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 Ross Tregenza for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre unless noted otherwise 00:00 Who Will Survive (Overture) 10:53 Bizarre Crimes 14:15 Blunt-Headed Hammer 16:26 And What Will Be Left Of Them (Credits) 18:28 And What Will Be Left Of Them (Credits) 20:08 And What Will Be Left Of Them (Credits) 27:04 The Gas Station 33:20 Cyberpunk 2077 Ads 34:10 Cyberpunk 2077 Ads 35:06 Cyberpunk 2077 Ads 39:00 Wrong Side of the Mirror from Deathloop 39:46 Sun Goes Down from Deathloop 41:05 Sun Goes Down from Deathloop 42:03 Heartbreaker from Deathloop 42:45 Heartbreaker from Deathloop 43:44 The Dahlia's Lounge from Deathloop 45:29 Wolves by Goteki from Songs from the Void 49:35 Wolves by Goteki from Songs from the Void 50:45 Saucermen by Goteki from MMXX 52:38 Boneshaker by Goteki from Boneshaker 1:11:58 The Massacre (Main Theme) 1:12:47 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Voice actor Morla Gorrondona has created some iconic characters in games, from Eris Morn in Destiny 2 to Naafiri in League of Legends. It's such a pleasure to hear her talk about her process of creating a new person or creature for a game. You'll hear samples of her acting in the show. Yay!  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.

Composer Darren Korb's music for Hades properly beloved. It's a great blend of metal with acoustic Mediterranean instruments to take you through the deep story of the game. Darren adds his voice acting talents to the game as well, voicing the main character, Zagreus, and the training dummy, Skelly. Hades is one of my favorite rogue-lite dungeon crawlers, and the music is the best.  Darren and I had this conversation about his music and acting in November 2021. For a handful of reasons, none of which have anything to do with Darren, we are sharing it now, with sincere apologies for a nearly two-year delay! Come chat with us on Discord about game music, and subscribe to Level with Emily's YouTube channel. PLAYLIST by Darren Korb for Hades unless noted otherwise 00:00 No Escape 06:44 Scourge of the Furies 10:06 Out of Tartarus 10:54 Out of Tartarus 12:29 Through Asphodel 13:54 The King and the Bull 14:56 Mouth of Styx 15:50 God of the Dead 16:56 On the Coast 17:32 In the Blood (feat. Ashley Barrett) 23:14 Final Expense 26:22 In the Blood (feat. Ashley Barrett) 31:02 God of the Dead 33:24 God of the Dead 34:14 The Unseen Ones (feat. Daisuke Kurosawa and Masahiro Aoki) 49:27 In the Blood (feat. Ashley Barrett) 51:56 Good Riddance (feat. Ashley Barrett) 54:54 The Unseen Ones (feat. Daisuke Kurosawa and Masahiro Aoki) 57:48 From Olympus 58:40 Primordial Chaos 59:56 Primordial Chaos 1:01:34 The Bloodless 1:03:50 Field of Souls 1:04:46 Rage of the Myrmidons 1:05:38 The Painful Way 1:06:24 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

The original Xbox launched on November 15, 2001. The person largely responsible for how audio worked in that original Xbox and what the Xbox would “sound” like was Brian Schmidt. We've had Brian on the show in the past, most recently to talk about Game Sound Con, which he runs in LA every October. In the late 1990s, Brian was working for Microsoft and began working on the Xbox right away as he'll tell you, and achieved many technological breakthroughs in this work. One of the launch games for Xbox in that winter of 2001 was Halo: Combat Evolved, with music by Marty O'Donnell. And that was an audio achievement as well, as Marty will tell you. We are so honored Brian and Marty wanted to share these stories on Level! 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 00:00 Opening Suite from Halo: Combat Evolved by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori 1:37:12 Rock Anthem for Saving the World from Halo: Combat Evolved by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori 1:37:54 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

It's always a fascinating discussion with composer Maclaine Diemer. In this episode, we talk about Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, the newest expansion in the MMORPG. The last time he was on Level to talk about Guild Wars 2, we spoke of the End of Dragons expansion. Maclaine's music for End of Dragons was heavily influenced by Korean traditional music (called gugak) with synth undertones. The music for Secrets of the Obscure is quite different, as you'll hear Maclaine discuss, driven by a tight timeline. It's beautiful orchestral music - a very traditional Western orchestra - with few soloists, just beautiful sweeping melodies and mysterious turns, colored by polytonality and the influence of Debussy. 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 Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure unless noted otherwise 00:00 Secrets of the Obscure 07:46 Whispers of the Misplaced 08:59 A Future Carved in Jade from Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons 10:09 End of Dragons from Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons 19:38 Opening Titles from Jurassic Park by John Williams 20:50 Curious Allies 23:53 A Fractured Horizon 25:12 A Fractured Horizon 29:30 Memories Forgotten 38:04 The Beast Emerges by Maclaine Diemer and Michael Paraskevas 44:59 Amnytas in Peril 49:43 Curious Allies 53:41 The Wizards 1:03:57 Secrets of the Obscure 1:09:14 Malaise by Jaimee Jimin Park 1:10:17 Malaise by Jaimee Jimin Park 1:12:31 The Beast Emerges by Maclaine Diemer and Michael Paraskevas 1:14:36 Otherworldly Threats by Bobby Rose 15:44 Courage and Regret by Bryan Atkinson 18:15 These Ancient Halls 22:56 Memories Forgotten 23:24 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

It's been far too long since we had composer David Housden on the show. Last time, we talked about Thomas Was Alone and Volume. David's music for Disney Illusion Island is quite different from those scores, as you'd expect. Complete with cartoon humor and sweeping melodies, it fits perfectly. The game is a multiplayer platformer/Metroidvania and it is SO. FUN!! I highly recommend it, as much as I recommend the fantastic music. 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 - timings coming soon! by David Housden for Disney Illusion Island unless noted otherwise Illusion Island The Sky Below The Post Officer MOPS Crater's Bay Downtown Gizmopolis Crescent Hamlet Forgotten Farmlands Forgotten Farmlands Forgotten Farmlands Grayzar's Workshop Shallows Future Town Illusion Island The Library Illusion Island Head of the Highness The Library Grayzar Service Tunnels Downtown Gizmopolis Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

This is Part Two of my chat with scntfc / Andy Rohrmann about his music for Oxenfree and Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. And it's another episode packed with music and back stories. We can't wait to have Andy on the show to talk about more music in the future! 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 / PART TWO by scntfc for Oxenfree (I) or Oxenfree II: Lost Signals (II) unless noted otherwise 00:00 Epiphany (I) 05:09 Lost (I) 06:36 music from the ARG for the cult Parentage 06:48 Lost (I) 11:14 The Beach, 7AM (Magnetophone) (I) 11:48 The Beach, 7AM (Magnetophone) (I) 13:38 The Beach, 7AM (Magnetophone) (I) 16:12 A Block A Rock A Grave a Cave (II) 17:42 A Block A Rock A Grave a Cave (II) 18:51 A Block A Rock A Grave a Cave (II) 20:15 Cleanslate (I) 23:27 Cleaned Slate (II) 24:48 Kanaloa (I) 33:03 Catbird Station (I) 34:48 Towhee Grove (I) 35:34 Epiphany Fields (I) 37:52 Epiphany Fields (I) 38:36 Baby Carrots (II) 39:30 Epiphany Fields (I) 41:26 Against The Rocks (I) 42:08 Against The Waves (I) 44:37 To The Summit (I) 47:49 Cold Comfort (I) 48:58 Cold Comfort (I) 50:48 Found (II) 53:35 Beacon Beach (I) 54:38 ***Changed Beacon Beach*** courtesy scntfc 58:08 Beyond the Space Gates by Morgan Kuhli from Infinite Psychic Translations 58:55 ***audio of Morgan Kuhli on the radio*** 1:00:17 Can You Hear The Quiet Flames by Morgan Kuhli from Infinite Psychic Translations 1:01:19 The Hanford Reach by Burn A Pale Fire (scntfc + Morgan Kuhli) from Undone 1:06:07 Arcadia Station (II) 1:07:07 Catchpole Station (I) 1:10:29 Best Friends from Virtual Virtual Reality + AR + 2 1:15:45 Towhee Grove (I) 1:16:42 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Oxenfree and Oxenfree II: Lost Signals are fantastic games with phenomenal music. The games are scored by scntfc, a.k.a. Andy Rohrmann. And I can't ever get enough of Andy's music. I love these games so very much, from the art and story to the music. If you haven't spent time listening to these scores, treat yourself. 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 / PART ONE by scntfc for Oxenfree (I) or Oxenfree II: Lost Signals (II) unless noted otherwise 00:00 To The Valley (II) 06:40 Beacon Beach (I) 09:58 Nightfall, Camena (II) 12:22 Berenson Creek (II) 14:15 Atwater Station (II) 16:28 Arcadia Station (II) 17:41 To The Island (II) 19:06 Atalanta Third (II) 23:33 20 Days Past (I) 27:20 Baby Carrots (II but not on OST) 29:22 Baby Carrots (II but not on OST) 31:14 Journey of a Bird by Morgan Kuhli from Infinite Psychic Translations 35:00 Blacklake (II) 37:37 Cleaned Slate (II) 38:27 Change the Station (II) 42:15 Garland (II) 43:36 Lift (II) 44:40 Lift (II) 46:52 Lift (II) 48:31 Epiphany Fields (I) 49:08 The Beach, 7AM (I) 50:01 To The Valley (II) 51:49 To The Island (II) 54:31 To The Valley (II) 55:22 The Stars Are On Their Side (II) 56:32 Ghosts Of The Pacific Northwest (II) 57:22 Ghosts Of The Pacific Northwest (II) 58:06 To The Valley (II) 59:07 Blacklake (II) 1:00:21 Garland (II) 1:04:20 Garland (II) 1:05:46 Transmissions (II) 1:08:20 Transmissions (II) 1:11:19 Exit (II) 1:12:33 Copper Creek (II) 1:14:35 The Caves (II) 1:16:28 Atalanta Third (II) 1:18:43 Galvanic (II) 1:19:22 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan    

Composer Doyle Donehoo wrote a fantastic score for the newest game in the Alien franchise, called Aliens: Dark Descent. His music shares several hallmarks but is uniquely his music, and his fandom for this franchise runs so deep it comes off as a gorgeous, if not appropriately creepy, love letter. Doyle saw the first film, Alien, in the theater in 1979. I've told many friends about the story of his experience that night - hilarious. And much later in our conversation, we chat about how he was one of the first in the world (yup) to see Star Wars, an equally engaging tale. If you've played Warhammer, you've likely heard Doyle's music. This score is just as epic yet in the most delicate way possible - the dynamic range alone can put you in that terrifying universe. 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 Doyle Donehoo for Aliens: Dark Descent unless noted otherwise 00:00 Aliens: Dark Descent Main Theme 07:18 They Keep Coming 08:26 Main Theme 13:00 That's Just Creepy 16:52 Desperate Escape 26:20 Running Battle 28:31 Industrial Disaster Aftermath 31:37 Alien First Encounter 35:37 The Queen Must Die 40:08 Check Those Corners 50:25 Revelations in the Dark 54:48 Desperate Escape 1:05:48 Running Battle 1:06:20 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Composer Wilson Brown is part of an audio studio called Antfood, and the studio is responsible for the delightfully chill soundtrack for the Minecraft-esque roguelite, Let's! Revolution! One of my favorite parts of the soundtrack is the percussion - a lot of organic sounds, like body percussion, Latin, South American and other world instruments, mixed with synthetic samples. It's a cold drink on a warm day or a warm drink on a cold one, take your pick. It's pleasing! PLAYLIST by Antfood for Let's! Revolution! unless noted otherwise 00:00 What An Adventure 07:26 Crowns & Loafers 11:21 The King's Clutch 12:25 The King's Clutch 14:51 The Woodlords 19:58 Aquila 26:44 The Woodlords 37:19 Bearded Dragon 41:01 Crowns & Loafers 48:48 The Friend 55:54 What An Adventure 59:20 Salty Wounds 1:00:24 Salty Wounds 1:05:03 The Gym For Tiny Critters 1:10:37 Civil Oaks 1:11:14 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

It's always a delight having Oleksa Lozowchuk on Level. This time, we're talking about his music for Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores. I love hearing him dig into his process for composing. We talk about the important soloists on the soundtrack: singers Julie Elven and Melissa Kaplan, along with cellist Blair Lofgren. Quick ask: we're getting close to monetization on YouTube, so send some friends over to our channel and watch our videos, including this one with Oleksa! And thank you, as always! PLAYLIST by Oleksa Lozowchuk for Horizon: Forbidden West Burning Shores unless noted otherwise 00:00 To the Burning Shores 04:22 To the Burning Shores 06:02 Coldest Time of Year from Dead Rising 4 09:24 Titan's Wake 11:22 To the Burning Shores 14:47 Steel Snare 17:16 Steel Snare 23:09 To the Burning Shores 25:08 For His Amusement 28:16 For His Amusement 30:17 The Idea of Home 35:25 Above and Below 36:18 Above and Below 39:56 Above and Below 42:10 Above and Below 44:18 Someone I Once Knew 46:10 Someone I Once Knew 48:02 Someone I Once Knew 49:28 Titan's Wake 54:32 Titan's Wake 1:00:18 The Idea of Home 1:02:52 The Idea of Home 1:04:18  Ruin's Rise 1:07:01 Ruin's Rise 1:08:14 Steel Snare 1:12:32 For His Amusement 1:13:10 Above and Below 1:13:30 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Composer Vinicius Barbosa Pippa has held many jobs as a musician working in media. In addition to his work in games and film, he garnered an Emmy nomination for his work as a music editor on an animated show called Go! Go! Cory Carson. And he was the music supervisor on a different animated show that aims to introduce Star Wars to kids called Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures (definitely check this out if you haven't, they're fabulous shorts!). I loved chatting with Vinicius about his music, his projects, Portuguese 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 Vinicius Barbosa Pippa unless noted otherwise 00:00 Night Life 16:20 Lemon Tea 23:32 Clues 29:49 One Last Time 32:37 The Intercept 33:52 Blood Vow 43:58 Graveyard End Credits (From the film Graveyard) 48:16 Idee Fixe II 50:05 Dream Come True 50:31 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Composer Brent Meyer talks about his music for Katoa, a mobile game where you build and manage an underwater ecosystem. A portion of the money spent through microtransactions goes toward charities that support the climate. The main theme Brent wrote is a sweeping, melodic orchestral romp. Once you begin gameplay, the texture simplifies and the music becomes more ambient to support the visuals. I loved the gentleness of the more ambient tracks, and thoroughly enjoyed talking with Brent about his music, and our shared geography :) 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 Brent Meyer for Katoa unless noted otherwise 00:00 Beings of Light (Katoa Main Theme) 03:21 A New World 11:53 Beings of Light (Katoa Main Theme) 15:17 Gaia 18:30 Beings of Light (Katoa Main Theme) 27:31 A Reef in Trouble 34:32 A New World 41:41 Ocean Lullaby 48:34 A Reef in Trouble 49:13 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

It's always a great time having John Robert Matz on to talk about his music. This time, we discuss Tchia, an open-world adventure of a young girl on tropical islands inspired by the real location, New Caledonia. The music is such a joy. John Robert captured a colorful, simple and memorable island vibe with his soundtrack. The game is fantastic too. This isn't some hundred hour open world sprawl either; it's digestible and easy to take breaks. Music is woven into the gameplay is unique ways, and you can play chromatic triads on your ukulele using the controller. 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 John Robert Matz for Tchia unless noted otherwise 00:00 Main Theme 12:32 The Pilou 15:04 Weliwele Town 30:41 Underwater Reef 35:10 The World 37:22 An Audience with Meavora 42:03 Aemoon City 43:36 Weliwele Town 44:49 Song I - Ö ngo eka 48:03 Song I - Ö ngo eka 49:54 Song II- -Lapa ië 54:25 Song IV- -Chez nous à Weliwele 58:53 Sailing 1:00:57 Main Theme 1:01:38 Song II- -Lapa ië 1:02:43 The Maano 1:04:16 Hunahmi Arrival - Hunahmi Village - Meeting the Chief 1:05:51 Into the Banyan Tree - Echoes of the Past from Tchia: The Beach Sides 1:07:48 Gutu Island from Tchia: The Beach Sides 1:09:12 Madra Noj Lake 1:09:52 Tingeting Village 1:12:17 Tingeting Village 1:18:46 Forests from Tchia: The Beach Sides 1:20:14 A Day with Tre from Tchia: The Beach Sides 1:31:34 The Sea Race 1:32:46 The World 1:33:28 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

I love these games! And Sander van Zanten's music does a fantastic job capturing the wonder, loneliness and splendor of being in space. If you haven't played Deliver Us the Moon, I highly recommend it. And then play Deliver Us Mars! The gameplay is so engaging and Sander's music is a great part of it all. 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 Sander van Zanten for Deliver Us the Moon (Moon) or Deliver Us Mars (Mars) unless noted otherwise 00:00 Prelude (Moon) 07:08 First Light (Moon) 12:06 Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Moon) 12:56 Uprising (Moon) 16:46 Renaissance (Moon) 20:42 Warnings And Alarms (Moon) 22:40 Prelude (Moon) 24:37 Spirit (Mars) 30:10 Spirit (Mars) 35:54 Home (Mars) 37:52 Home (Mars) 34:50 Sarah's Song (feat. Nola Klop) (Moon) 48:30 Sanctuary (Mars) 50:01 Sarah's Song (Moon) 53:40 A Spark Of Life (Moon) 57:40 Autumn Falls (Mars) 59:20 Hummus On Flatbread (Mars) 1:03:56 Odysseus (Mars) 1:06:02 Rupture (Mars) 1:17:42 The Great Escape (Mars) 1:18:20 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

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

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 00:00 Ground BGM (New Super Mario Bros.) on Mario Mixtape 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

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 00:00 Bizarre Bazaar (Animal Crossing) from Joe Newman Has Joined Your Party! 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

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

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

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)

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. You can hear Sam (Level's producer) and I discuss it in Next Level on YouTube. 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 00:00 Manic 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

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

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)

** 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

We've had composer Rob Kovacs on Level in the past to talk about his alter ego, 88bit. This time, he's here to discuss his Prophet 5 modern 80s soundtrack for the VR game Straylight, and I love every minute of it. The music is fantastic, and Rob sits at his piano during our chat to demonstrate some of the musical choices he made. It was so much fun! You can support Rob in many ways, whether on his Patreon, on Twitch, Bandcamp and many other places! 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 Rob Kovacs for Straylight unless noted otherwise 00:00 Straylight 09:31 Straylight 10:26 Straylight 13:00 Petrushka, Tableau IV “La foire du mardi gras”: Danse des cochers et des palefreniers (1947 version) by Igor Stravinsky, conductor Riccardo Muti, Philadelphia Orchestra 14:12 Straylight 16:40 Straylight 19:40 Star Forge 21:37 Star Forge 23:26 Star Forge 24:40 The Last Campfire 27:12 The Last Campfire 30:02 The Last Campfire 31:56 Void Compass 34:08Void Compass 34:56 Void Compass 35:58 Void Compass 37:40 Devil Star 38:06 Devil Star 40:26 Devil Star 41:18 Devil Star 42:24 Devil Star 44:26 Devil Star 49:20 Devil Star 51:42 Marble Madness “Practice Race” - performed by 88bit/Rob Kovacs 54:18 File Select from Super Mario 64 - 88bit, Save Point Video Game LoFi - Super Mario 64 55:10 Cave Dungeon from Super Mario 64 - 88bit, Save Point Video Game LoFi - Super Mario 64 59:30 The Railgun Run 1:02:28 The Railgun Run 1:03:32 Ascent of the Juggernaut 1:07:40 Ascent of the Juggernaut 1:08:50 Ascent of the Juggernaut 1:09:24 Ascent of the Juggernaut 1:12:32 Ouroboros 1:13:16 Ouroboros 1:15:20 The End 1:16:16 The End 1:17:55 The End 1:20:26 Platform 1:24:42 The Last Campfire 1:28:04 Star Forge 1:29:10 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Greg Nicolett's music for Potionomics is as colorful as the game, weaving in and out of various styles and palettes depending on characters and locations. The game is a 3D deck builder/management sim, where you (as Sylvia) brew and sell potions out of your own shop. And go on dates :) Much of the score was recorded with live orchestra, and there are a lot of soloists that stand out, like past Level guest Kristin Naigus and Greg Nicolett himself playing a fabulous trombone solo in Muktuk's Slumber. 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 Greg Nicolett for Potionomics unless noted otherwise 00:00 Potionomics Main Theme/Uncle Oswald's Bequest 04:14 Muktuk's Calling 04:58 Busy Being Luna 07:52 Mint's Quest for Adventure 08:34 Xid's Theme 11:00 Boss Finn 11:54 Sylvia vs. Boss Finn 12:48 Sylvia vs. Roxanne 16:56 Potionomics Main Theme 19:42 Roxanne's Invitation 22:53 Muktuk's Slumber 30:02 A Binding Agreement 30:52 A Binding Agreement 32:50 Main Title Terminator 2 Theme from Terminator 2: Judgment Day by Brian Fiedel 34:38 Agushev Cocek by Mucca Pazza 36:08 The Cat Pirates 37:42 The Cat Pirates 38:25 The Cat Pirates 40:34 Sylvia vs. Roxanne 43:41 Date Night 52:02 Potions Don't Sell Themselves 56:50 Owl's Suspicions 58:54 Anubia Arrives 59:30 Other Sprouts by Sam Keenan

Pentiment is a 2D narrative adventure murder mystery set in the early part of the 16th century. Director/desinger Josh Sawyer dreamed of making a historically accurate game set pre-Renaissance, and he asked Alkemie Early Music Ensemble to create a faithful musical score for the game. "Early music" at its simplest definition consists of music before the year 1600, when tonality wasn't how we westerners understand it today, and instruments were ancestors of what's common to find in an orchestra now (these instrumental developments continued well beyond the year 1600). And Alkemie's soundtrack is fabulous.   **And they've provided Level listeners with a coupon code to watch their most recent concert at any time!! YOU CAN WATCH their most recent concert online FREE, anytime, HERE by using the coupon code "Level"**   I spoke with co-founders and performers Sian Ricketts and Tracy Cowart, who are both professional early music scholars and professors; they're multi-instrumentalists and singers too. And I'm so grateful for them both, their bandmates and their music!   You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

The music Amos Roddy wrote for Citizen Sleeper is too good for words. I love the music, I loved our conversation about it, and I've loved the game (not finished yet). I'm not alone - players raved about the entire package of gameplay, narrative, music, visuals and all the things that make it Citizen Sleeper. To list my favorite tracks would comprise the entirety of the album, which is a fun thing to discover as you listen through a soundtrack. Each passing track sounds like the joy of discovery. You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

Composer Jason Graves has a new score out, and it's flipping scary. The fourth installment of The Dark Pictures Anthology, The Devil In Me follows a film crew trapped within a replica of H.H. Holmes's infamous Murder Castle, where he tortured and murdered more than two dozen unsuspecting tourists in town for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The antagonist in The Devil In Me slowly herds his victims into traps, and Jason's music reflects this slow terror walk. It's fantastic. You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

Composer Trevor Gureckis scored about two hours of new music (not all of which is on the soundtrack) for the Dead Space remake. EA kept Jason Graves's original score intact, and Trevor scored the new cutscenes, battles and other content added to the game to fill out the story. And it's great. It's very Dead Space, and is unique to Trevor's style. At the time of recording, I was provided 3 tracks, and they were all quite different. I loved doing a deep dive on all 3 with Trevor, and we hope you enjoy the conversation! You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find this conversation on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

French composer Nicolas de Ferran talks about his groovy music for Scrap Riders, a point-and-click adventure/beat-em-up about a biker gang in the 80s. The last time we had Nicolas on Level, he went by the nickname of Nicolas Diteriks, and we spoke about an orchestral score he composed for the game We Are Billions. The Scrap Riders score is very different stylistically, with a lot of 80s vibes and grooves playing off each other. And he gave us this fantastic audio from this voice memo he recorded one day as he was out on the street - you'll hear it. It's so good!! You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find us on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.  

We always love having composer Garry Schyman on the show. His music is so darn great. This time, we talk about his gorgeous orchestral score for Forspoken, the new RPG from Luminous and Square Enix. Recorded live in Nashville, the music is full of energy slathered in soaring melodies that take you somewhere with each new phrase. It's so fantastic. You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find us on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

Composer Jonah Senzel talks about his music for Inscryption. He wrote in a handful of different styles, from music heavy with sound effects to the simplest, slow chip-tune chords. The game also is a bit of a mash-up of styles - a deckbuilder with escape room elements and a bit of horror. It was great chatting with Jonah about his music! You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find us on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

Composer Ego Plum writes such fantastic music for The Cuphead Show (on Netflix). The show itself is an absolute delight and it's almost inexcusable if you don't watch it (the episodes are brief enough that you could binge all 3 seasons in a day). And with comedic animation like this, the music is intertwined with the visuals that you really need to just watch it. It's SO worth it. That's my endorsement. As for Ego's music - he fumbled through the restrictions of the pandemic like any composer, finding musicians capable of recording themselves as far away as Greece. It sounds so good and the energy he still managed to capture is electric. You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find us on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

I met video essayist Jacob Geller during my occasional appearances on The MinnMax Show to discuss the best game music of a given year. Meeting him led me on a journey through his videos, and I absolutely adore his videos. We talk about why in this conversation! In addition to YouTube, you can find Jacob on Patreon. You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find us on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

Composer Thomas Cipollone writes 8-bit scores for games that release on NES cartridges. He has to adhere to all the rules composers followed in the 80s, constricted heavily by the size of his audio files and the voicings he can compose. And he does so brilliantly, with creative textures, great grooves and fulfilling melodies. We spoke about four of his scores, some of which have been released, some of which are still in the process of getting released: Garbage Pail Kids: Mad Mike and the Quest for Stale Gum, Full Quiet, Unicorn and Beyond the Pins. You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find us on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.

Composer Curtis Schweitzer talks about his hypnotic, largely orchestral music for the indie 2D space explorer, Starbound. I loved how many of the tracks stretch out almost indefinitely, giving the listener time in that musical place. And there's quite a bit of music too - more than 6 hours of it. It's worth your time, I promise. You can find a playlist and support Level with Emily on Patreon. Join us on Discord for free. Find us on YouTube and Twitter. Patrons have access to special Discord events and special guest playlists.