Grant Kirkhope

Game Music

Tangledeep Original Soundtrack Now Available

February 2, 2018 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Tangledeep Original Soundtrack Now Available Share this

The soundtrack to the retro-styled RPG by Impact Gameworks, Tangledeep, now features it’s soundtrack live and available for purchase. The game features compositions from several big-name composers such as Hiroki Kituta (Secret of Mana), Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear Solid), Granbt Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie) and Andrew Aversa.

“Just as the game’s visual aesthetic is modeled after SNES RPGs such as Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, and Lufia 2, my influences for this soundtrack include those fantastic games as well. I was honored to invite composers Grant Kirkhope, Hiroki Kikuta, and Norihiko Hibino to each contribute and put their signature mark on the world of Tangledeep.” – Andrew “Zircon” Aversa, Composer & Project Developer

The Tangledeep Original Soundtrack features 30 tracks of music inspired by RPGs of the 16-bit era, with a variety of styles that all fit a central theme denoting a fantasy adventure setting.

<a href="http://zirconstudios.bandcamp.com/album/tangledeep-original-soundtrack">Tangledeep Original Soundtrack by zircon</a>

The soundtrack to Tangledeep is currently available for digital download on Bandcamp for $9USD. You can also purchase the game and sondtrack bundle together on Steam, which is currently discounted at 21% off for the combo.
Game Music

Scores of Scores! iam8bit to Release Several Vinyl OSTs from Rare for Black Friday!

November 21, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Scores of Scores! iam8bit to Release Several Vinyl OSTs from Rare for Black Friday! Share this

Black Friday will see a slew of soundtracks from games publisher Rare being released to vinyl LP thanks to iam8bit. The original game soundtracks for Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Viva Piñata and David Wise’s soundtrack for Battletoads In Battlemaniacs will all be getting record releases.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day was composed by Robin Beanland (Killer Instinct, Jet Force Gemini) for the 2001 N64 release of the crude and crass game that, while having questionable taste, had a surprisingly good soundtrack. The OST will be release on 2xLP black classic vinyl at $35USD with digital soundtrack included and new artwork by Joey Spiotto. (And yes, “The Great Mighty Poo Song” shall also be included on the release.)

Viva Piñata was composed by Rare veteran Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark) for the 2006 release on the Xbox 360, with all the charm and whimsy you can imagine associated with such a game. The 2xLP will be release in pink and green “sweet & sour” colors for $35USD, with previously unreleased tracks and include the digital soundtrack as well and new artwork by Ashton Dame.

Lastly, the soundtrack Battletoads in Battlemaniacs, composed by fellow Rare master musician David Wise (Donkey Kong Country, Marble Madness), will be released to a single LP in “starburst toad” color for $28USD. The soundtrack to the SNES beat ’em up that features the rad toads duking it out to thrash chiptune jams will include the digital soundtrack and new artwork by Dima Drjuchin

All of the soundtracks have been remastered for their respective vinyl releases, and will all go on sale this Friday, November 24th at 12:01am PST. You can nab these soundtrack and a bunch of others on the iam8bit online store.
Doujin, Game Music

GameLark Releases “Rarities” Tribute to Rare Composers

April 26, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on GameLark Releases “Rarities” Tribute to Rare Composers Share this

The video game music label GameLark has released a brand new album dedicated to the tribute of the music composers of the games released over the years by video game developer Rare.

Rarities is an album dedicated to the iconic composers of Rare that shaped an entire generation of gamers. Featuring tracks from classic games like Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie, Donkey Kong Country, as well as Yooka-Laylee, Rarities is sure to scratch that nostalgic itch. Rarities is fully licensed and available on iTunes and other digital retailers.

Featuring arrangements of the music from legendary composers Grant Kirkhope and Davis Wise (We’ll say Robin Beanland and Graeme Norgate too, since both composed Killer Instinct and worked with either Wise or Kirkhope on several other Rare titles featured on this album), Rarities is a 14-track dedication to years of game music memories.

“Rarities is an exciting cornucopia of some of the best platforming games, filled with electronic, rock, metal, and jazz interpretations of the goofiest soundtracks. From start to finish, every song will have you humming along and imagining the googly eyes and talking animals that brought these worlds to life.” – Ro Panuganti, album manager

You can check out Rarities on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Music and streaming on Spotify.
Events, Game Music, Indie Music

‘An Evening of Videogame Music’ highlights UK Indie Games

March 26, 2017 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on ‘An Evening of Videogame Music’ highlights UK Indie Games Share this

Orchestral game music concerts are popping up in ever-increasing numbers these days and to set themselves apart each one seems to be trying something new. One of the latest performances is ‘An Evening of Videogame Music’ from the Leeds International Festival Orchestra that’s happening on April 25th at the University of Leeds in England.

Putting a focus on local and UK developed indie titles, the night will see the first live performances of David Wise’s compositions for Snake Pass and Barrington Pheloung’s music from the classic adventure series, Broken Sword. Revolution Software co-founder, Charles Cecil, will be on hand to introduce the Broken Sword performance.

‘An Evening of Videogame Music’ will also feature a piece from The Chinese Room’s Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture written by Jessica Curry, and exclusive music from the upcoming Yooka-Laylee from renowned games composer Grant Kirkhope. Music from Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls and Fallout will also be performed during the two-hour show. Tickets are available now from Luna Tickets for £22.00 and as always, let us know with a comment if you attend the show.
Game Music

Yooka-Laylee Game Soundtrack Now Available for Pre-Order

February 21, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Yooka-Laylee Game Soundtrack Now Available for Pre-Order Share this

Ahead of it’s April 11th release date, the original game soundtrack for Yooka-Laylee is now available for pre-order. The spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, composed by Grant Kirkhope and David Wise, has been an anticipated release since it’s Kickstarter wrapped up funding in 2015, with it’s colorful cast and fun gameplay reminiscent of it’s Rare predecessor.

With the game’s release right around the corner, Laced Records has thrown up the game’s soundtrack for pre-order in multiple formats, including digital, CD and double LP releases.

‘Tis a beautiful thing!https://t.co/q33ar1kba6 pic.twitter.com/yVPO2uUAsy

— Grant Kirkhope (@grantkirkhope) February 21, 2017

The Yooka-Laylee soundtrack will release ahead of the game itself on April 7th, which you can head over to Laced Records now to pre-order for yourself and get ahead of the crowd.
Events, Game Music

MAGFest 2016 Announces Guests Including Grant Kirkhope and Gavin Blair

November 3, 2015 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on MAGFest 2016 Announces Guests Including Grant Kirkhope and Gavin Blair Share this

The organizers of the Music and Gaming Festival, better known as MAGFest, have begun announcing their guest list for next year’s event, set to take place on February 18-24 of 2016 in National Harbor, Maryland. The first guests being announced are none other than Golden Eye 64 and Banjo-Kazooie composer Grant Kirkhope and ReBoot creator Gavin Blair.

MAGFest will continue to reveal special guests and performers starting next week. A new batch of guests will be announced every Tuesday, and more MAGFest performers will be announced every Wednesday. To check out more info on tickets, hotels, guests, performers, and events for MAGFest 2016, be sure to head over to the MAGFest website.
Events, Game Music, Music Production

Maestros of Video Games Panelists Announced for PAX Prime

August 27, 2015 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on Maestros of Video Games Panelists Announced for PAX Prime Share this

Those attending PAX Prime this weekend will have another chance to sit in and listen to five video game composers regale them with their experiences and stories. Held at the Sphinx Theatre, Sheraton at 5:30pm, the 60-minute ‘Maestros of Video Games’ panel marks its return in 2015 with Gareth Coker (Ori & the Blind Forest, Ark), Sarah Schachner (Assassin’s Creed series), Jason Graves (Until Dawn, The Order: 1886), Cris Velasco (Bloodborne, God of War) and Grant Kirkhope (Yooka-Laylee, just about every Rare game).

From 7-9pm at the Westin join the composers for a meet & greet and autograph signing session. Don’t forget to bring your transforming cleavers, plush Banjo dolls, commemorative wrist blades, and dying tree spirits. Pens will probably be provided.