While I’m still an amateur at music production, I have specific goals that I want to achieve with the music direction as I learn more about music theory and how to influence players through sound and music.
For this game, I’m inspired by Bitpop, Electropop, Jazz, UK Bassline and Kawaii Future Bass.
I’ll be reviewing some songs that inspired me for this project.
Perfume – Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow
Produced by: Yasutaka Nakata (My favourite J Electro-pop producer)
Genre: Japanese Electro-Pop
I love the way the song starts calm and brings back the energy within 20 seconds. It’s a very upbeat electro-pop song, ideal for a party. While I don’t necessarily want “party music” in my game in terms of the themes, I like the pop and electronic elements of this song meshing together. You can see this in my Afternoon Theme 1 when the chord picks up, I was definitely inspired by this song. The part where the intro is referenced in the bridge (2:47), is really great to bring the listener energy down and get ready for the final chorus. All in all, this is a great song and it has helped me understand what makes the structure of electro-pop music so enticing to me and many others.
Humilau City – Pokemon Black & White 2
Produced by: Go Ichinose (One of my fav VGM composers!)
Genre: VGM
Pokemon Black & White 2 (PKMN BW2) is home to some of my favourite Pokemon osts. This town from PKMN BW2 is so delightful, emotional and even slightly romantic. The added vibrato to all of the instruments gives it such a bouncy feel. As the final city of these games, it has a slightly reminiscent and nostalgic feel to it, as if the player character is looking back on their journey. In this sense, this theme is like a “vacation” to the player (fits in with the water/beach theme of the city). The key and tone change at 0:33 is very hopeful as if it’s congratulating the player for everything they’ve done so far. There’s yet ANOTHER tone change at 1:05 which brings the whole song to a floaty crescendo. Again with Afternoon Theme 1 (and other osts), you might pick up some inspiration from this song as it’s one of my favourite vgms!
Dizzee Rascal – ‘I Luv U’
Produced by: Dizzee Rascal
Genre: Grime
‘I Luv U’ by Dizzee Rascal’s dirty, aggressive and grimy bass is so captivating and entrancing. This song (made in 2001!) is one of the founding fathers of the UK grime scene. The energy in this song feels so consistent and foreboding with blunt and bleak lyrics about Rascal’s life experiences. The beat changes at 2:30, which feels like it’s a VGM already for a night theme. I’d imagine it as a VGM for an inner-city nighttime/midnight London theme, or a mission where a player has to sneak into an area. As a game inspired by my own experiences growing up in London, I was to incorporate the music that came out of the London Scene into my OST.
Niko B – Why’s this dealer?
Produced by: KIPPO, SCruz
Genre: UK Bassline
Where do I start with this song? It’s SUPER Bouncy and energetic and reminiscent of that Old School UK sound. This is the type of vibe that 00s Britain had with media and music, something that would be playing on Capital Radio, or even an advert for a broadband company like Sky (very specific but watch the MV). The song has a consistent funky bassline that makes me want to bop my head around. It already sounds like a game OST! Specifically, this song reminds me of Animal Crossing – Population Growing. Mostly the later hours of the night 12 am – 2 am. With my game, I’d imagine this song being a late-night (evening – midnight) theme.
underscores – Stupid (Can’t run from the urge)
Produced by: underscores
Genre: Hyperpop / Future Bass
I first heard this song on Spotify’s Discover Weekly and was enticed by the name. Needless to say, it was one of my best mistakes of the year. This song is upbeat and energetic and sends a (good) shiver through my spine. It reminds me of Rocket League first-season title songs, specifically music made by Slushii. I love the Future Bass elements, it brings me back to the days when I would listen to Kawaii Future Bass YouTube mixes after school and how I was inspired to try and make music after hearing the amazing sounds of this genre. This vibe is something I’d imagine for a battle, something fun and engaging. This is the energy I want to bring to my game OSTs!