Austin Wintory

Events, Game Music, Indie Music

AUSTIN WINTORY Launches A Light in the Void Concert on Kickstarter!

March 15, 2018 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on AUSTIN WINTORY Launches A Light in the Void Concert on Kickstarter! Share this

On March 14, 2018, composer Austin Wintory (Journey, The Banner Saga Trilogy, and Abzu), revealed at last the Kickstarter project he has been teasing on Twitter for some time. The project is called A Light in the Void and is described as the first-of-its-kind. A live concert experience meant to inspire and sustain a life-long love affair with science through the emotional power of music and storytelling. You can view the video detailing the project below:

A Light in the Void tells the story of science itself through sweeping cinematic music, real-life scientists speaking on-stage (accompanied by the orchestra!), and wildly entertaining theatrics, video packages, and animations… all performed LIVE and broadcast globally for the entire world to experience. To put it simply: amazing scientists tell unforgettable stories in an audio/visual spectacular! Our goal is singular: elicit the profound, life-affirming joy of scientific discovery. This isn’t a show about teaching nifty science trivia … it’s about enriching life itself.

Austin Wintory will compose the music for the event which will feature three acts delivered live on-stage (with full orchestral score) by three of the world’s greatest living scientists.

You can read more and back the project over on its Kickstarter page. Check it out, for music and science’s sake!
Game Music

Grab Banner Saga 1 & 2 Soundtracks Free in Celebration of Upcoming Banner Saga 3

January 24, 2018 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Grab Banner Saga 1 & 2 Soundtracks Free in Celebration of Upcoming Banner Saga 3 Share this

In anticipation of the upcoming release of The Banner Saga 3, Stoic Studio and composer Austin Wintory have gone and made the soundtracks to the two previous installments of The Banner Saga series completely free to download on Bandcamp. The soundtracks to both The Banner Saga and The Banner Saga 2 feature over 25 tracks of subtle, atmospheric music that has garnered Wintory much acclaim for his composing ability.

The amazing, talented @awintory will record the #BannerSaga 3 score this coming Friday, and plans to live stream from the studio. As a thank you to the fans, OST from 1 & 2 are FREE on Bandcamp now:https://t.co/YhhsKU9Ftm #indiegame #gameaudio #soundtrack #indiedev #free #ost pic.twitter.com/ve1tjqHXwl

— The Banner Saga (@BannerSaga) January 22, 2018

Fans of the tactical role playing game can nab both the soundtracks leading up to Wintory’s live stream of his composing the music for The Banner Saga 3, coming up this Friday. The Banner Saga 3 was crowdfunded via Kickstarter early last year with a currently unreleased date.
Game Music, Indie Music

Varèse Sarabande Records releases Austin Wintory’s OST to Tooth and Tail

November 4, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Varèse Sarabande Records releases Austin Wintory’s OST to Tooth and Tail Share this

Legendary music producer label Varèse Sarabande has released the official soundtrack to the strategy game Tooth and Tail, composed by Austin Wintory of Journey and Banner Saga fame.

From the creators of the IGF-winning, best-selling game Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine, Tooth and Tail is set in a world of animal revolution. The Commonfolk, the Civilized, the Longcoats and the KSR are factions at war over who will eat and who will be eaten. Featuring music by Grammy nominated composer Austin Wintory. The music features themes for each faction which ranges from fast upbeat tarantellas, organ/violin tangos, Germanic waltz music and Eastern European folk dances.

Incredibly honored to have TOOTH AND TAIL on the legendary @VareseSarabande records https://t.co/GGxfvDXDoG

— Austin Wintory (@awintory) November 3, 2017

The Tooth and Tail soundtrack features 23 tracks and is now available as an audio CD on the Varèse Sarabande website as well as on Amazon with Varèse Sarabande stating a vinyl release of the soundtrack will be forthcoming soon.
Featured, Game Music, Indie Music, Reviews

An Immersive Oceanic Ballet: ABZU Original Soundtrack (Review)

September 15, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | 1 Comment Share this

Austin Wintory has done it again. That’s it, review over. That’s all you need to hear right? Well at this point when it comes to video games scores you know that Austin Wintory is going to provide an exceptional score. Abzu is 505 games next game following the critically acclaimed Journey, which Austin Wintory also scored.

I took time to listen to the soundtrack to Abzu and was swept away by it’s beautiful melody and reoccurring theme. So come read about my thoughts on the album and why thoughts of ballet sprung to my mind with this soundtrack.

(more…)
Events, Game Music

PAX WEST 2016: MAESTROS OF VIDEO GAMES COMPOSER PANEL ANNOUNCED

August 17, 2016 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on PAX WEST 2016: MAESTROS OF VIDEO GAMES COMPOSER PANEL ANNOUNCED Share this

Seattle, WA (August 15, 2016) – What does it take to write music for games? Hear from six of the industry’s leading composers as they share their experiences and discuss the craft of scoring music for video games.

The 2016 PAX West composer panel “Maestros of Video Games” will feature the following music star lineup:

Sarah Schachner
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Assassin’s Creed Unity, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (additional music).

Inon Zur
Fallout 3 & 4, Syberia 2 & 3, Dragon Age 1 & 2, Prince of Persia, Eagle Flight.

Jack Wall
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 & 3, Mass Effect 1 & 2, Lost Planet 3, Into The Stars.

Sascha Dikiciyan (aka Sonic Mayhem)
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Mass Effect 3, Tron Evolution, Borderlands.

Austin Wintory
Abzû, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, The Banner Saga 1 & 2, Journey.

David Housden
Thomas Was Alone, Volume, The Hit Squad (movie), Volume VR.

Moderated by Emily Reese, award-winning radio host and producer of “LEVEL with Emily Reese” podcast.

Following the panel join the composers for a meet & greet / autograph session at the Westin (2nd Floor) from 11:30am-1:30pm. For more information and interview requests contact: [email protected].

For information on PAX West visit: http://west.paxsite.com/.

Source: Top Dollar PR
Game Music

ABZÛ Original Soundtrack Releases August 2, 2016, Pre-Order Now

July 28, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on ABZÛ Original Soundtrack Releases August 2, 2016, Pre-Order Now Share this

On August 2, 2016, Austin Wintory will be releasing the Original Soundtrack to ABZÛ. On the album’s bandcamp page Austin Wintory provides some insight into the soundtrack’s creation.

On the heels of JOURNEY’s release in 2012, thatgamecompany’s Art Director Matt Nava showed me some concept art he’d been making for a new game he was dreaming up: Gorgeous underwater landscapes that straddled the line between being realism and fantasy. Not long after, the studio Giant Squid was founded and he invited me to join him in the creation of ABZÛ.

The overall progression was not unlike our prior collaboration on JOURNEY. I started with a theme (“To Know, Water”) very early in the process and then spent the next 3 years developing that material in tandem with the game. Both game and music went through many iterations and conceptual shapes before arriving in what you hear and see now. As always, that process of discovery was challenging and often filled with self-doubt.

The resulting score is one I can definitely say pushed me into territory I’d never been. The odd combination of large harp ensemble, semi-traditional orchestra and chamber choir, led by a slew of delicate oboe solos by Kristin Naigus, gave me ingredients for experimentation that were simultaneously great fun and deeply intimidating. All the performers brought incredible magic and I’m eternally grateful for their artistry.

Austin Wintory, Composer

<a href="http://austinwintory.bandcamp.com/album/abz">ABZÛ by Austin Wintory</a>

You can listen to the first official track “To Know, Water” which you will receive early if you pre-order the album. This track has been available previously and was used for the original E3 trailer in 2014, which we previously reported on following E3 2016. Although there have not been any announcements about a physical release yet I’m hoping to see a CD and Vinyl release. Stay tuned to Original Sound Version for a full soundtrack review and details on physical releases ‘if’ they are announced. You can pre-order the digital version for $7 on Austin Wintory’s Bandcamp page.

Will you be pre-ordering the ABZÛ Original Soundtrack? What do you think of the first track?
Game Music

Listen to a splash of Austin Wintory’s score to ABZÛ

June 23, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | 1 Comment Share this

I didn’t get to attend E3 2016 this year, but I have been following all the coverage and saw a few posts about 505 Games upcoming underwater game ABZÛ. After being blown away by the stunning visuals I checked out the official game site to learn that Austin Wintory would be handling the music. Austin Wintory composed the music for Journey also released by the same studio. Details of the ABZÛ soundtrack have not been announced yet but you can listen to some of it below.

This first piece “To Know, Water” was used in the trailer for the game at E3 2014. And the most recent trailer below also features some wonderful music.

ABZÛ will be released on Steam and PS4 on August 2, 2016. OSV will be sure to post the full details of the soundtrack once they become available. Is ABZÛ a game you’re looking forward to?