Every time I am commissioned to compose a game soundtrack, I ask myself four questions before I begin writing:
What is expected of me?
Oftentimes, clients will give a general guideline of what they want their soundtrack, or specific songs, to sound like. They could mention specific genres of music they like, or other video game soundtracks they want to capture the feeling of, or send reference material such as placeholder music they have been using. As well, they will send gameplay footage, images, or even sometimes a playable demo or beta of the game. All of these factor into the kind of songs I write for the soundtrack.
How can I go beyond expectations?
After establishing expectations, the next step is to find ways to surprise while still being acceptable to the client. While the client's expectations are a great guideline, I can't write a memorable soundtrack if everything I write is exactly as expected. As such, I begin to experiment, seeing how I can stretch the rules provided to me. This is when I start sending music demos, and seeing how my client reacts to them.
What rules will I impose on myself?
Once the demos have gotten their approval, I can begin to write the music. However, I need to make sure I understand what they like about the demo, rather than just assuming. When sending a demo for the first time, I usually explain what I'm trying to go for, such as the genre, instrumentation, and experimental parts. Upon receiving approval, I give myself rules to follow to make sure my songs follow these new expectations. For example, I may choose to focus on specific instruments throughout the soundtrack, or try to keep songs within a certain length of time, or other similar rules.
How will I challenge myself?
I always strive to learn new things while writing soundtracks, and to do this, I set challenges for myself alongside the established rules. For example, I may try to improve upon my mixing and mastering skills using new plugins, or bring in elements of music from different cultures. As such, I am always improving and expanding my options when it comes to writing future soundtracks.
These four questions provide guidance and structure to the process of writing soundtracks, while also allowing for flexibility in my approach. By understanding client expectations, attempting to exceed them, setting personal rules and limits, and continuously challenging myself, I ensure that each soundtrack is made for each game's needs while enhancing my abilities for future projects. Because of this, I am able to deliver memorable soundtracks that resonate with players everywhere.
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