If you've spent some time playing Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart , you might feel like you're playing a blockbuster family-friendly action movie — and that's not just because of the game's many perfectly timed set pieces. Rift Apart is also backed by a sweeping score composed by the legendary musician Mark Mothersbaugh.
You might recognize Mothersbaugh as the co-founder of the band Devo or as the composer of Nickelodeon's Rugrats . But I suggest you also scroll through his IMDb page . He's been a jaw-droppingly prolific composer with work stretching back to the 1980s, and he has credits on films ( The Lego Movie , Thor: Ragnarok ), TV series ( What We Do in the Shadows, Dawson's Creek ), and even other video games ( Skate 3 , The Sims 2 ).
I recently had a chance to talk to him about his involvement with Rift Apart and what it's like for him to compose a video game. One key aspect, he says, is that music in a game has to be "something you want to listen to for God knows how many hours."
That makes sense — you might hear a song over and over again as you're exploring a level or world, and games can often last dozens of hours. "It has to be something that, if you go away and you hear it in your head, you enjoy that, and it's not something that's irritating," he says. "Because if a piece of music is inferior or not great, and you listen to it long enough, you can get really pissed off at everything, including the game that you were hearing it in."
I'm only a few hours into Rift Apart , but so far, I'd say Mothersbaugh succeeded in making the music enjoyable to listen to over and over again. Take the game's main theme : the expansive orchestral anthem wouldn't feel out of place in the latest Marvel epic, and I haven't tired of hearing it yet.
The decision to use a full orchestra for the score was intentional, Mothersbaugh says, as it acted as a "glue" to keep the game's universe feeling cohesive. Throughout the soundtrack, though, he and the audio team added electronic elements and certain melodies to give different areas and planets unique identities.
I'm currently working through a mining-themed world, for example, and there's a lot of heavy percussion to evoke the sounds of an active mine. But when I hop into one of the game's special "pocket dimensions," which are optional puzzle platformer rooms (kind of like the FLUDD-less levels in Super Mario Sunshine ), the music takes on a more ethereal tone as I jump on disappearing platforms.
Mothersbaugh's music doesn't just add color to a world the player is exploring, though. He says the way music builds in a video game can reflect how it takes shape in his own head. "When you start level one — boom — the game starts, and you're hearing the very first pass on a piece of music," he says. As the characters advance through the levels and improve their abilities, the sounds get more layered and complex. This is meant to mirror a composer discovering and improving on their music. "It's kind of like an insight into your world," Mothersbaugh says.
OKC's Canterbury Voices plans post-pandemic season of joyful music
Canterbury Voices is planning a soaring lineup of joyous music to be accompanied by a blessed return to normalcy for its newly announced 2021-22 season.
In May, the nonprofit choral music organization finished out a 2020-21 season that was dramatically altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Canterbury Voices pared down its numbers to between 60 and 75 singers in its flagship adult chorus, compared with 160 the previous season; performed shorter concerts without intermissions; and had its singers socially distanced on stage and wearing specially designed singer masks.
"Canterbury's staff worked so hard this past year to keep our 230 singers — ages 7 to 80 — safe during rehearsals each week," Mowry said. "The Civic Center Music Hall staff was outstanding in their protocols to keep our in-person concert patrons safe. The focus on safety measures was constant, extreme, and worth every effort, as no virus spread occurred. It was a heavy load to bear, but the mental health of our singers was important to us."
Canterbury Voices will launch its 2021-22 season Oct. 10 with "Jubilate Deo: The Music of Dan Forrest." The centerpiece of the concert will be "Jubilate Deo," a new choral work by the contemporary American composer. The piece highlights the Psalm 100 text "O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands," by setting it in seven different languages, including African dialects, Latin, Mandarin and English.
Joined by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the choral ensemble also will perform a selection of Forrest's other works.
"We are excited for Canterbury Voices' new season this year, and are privileged to have friends from the Oklahoma City Philharmonic joining us for each concert," Ellefson said.
"'Messiah' is always a wonderful way to enter into the Christmas season," Ellefson said. "Little needs to be said about the piece that is probably one of the most famous pieces the world over."
The season will conclude March 27, 2022, with "Duo Lumina," or "Two Lights." The concert will feature contemporary British composer John Rutter's most recent major work, "Mass of the Children," which will be be presented for the first time in OKC, as well as the choral classic "Dona nobis pacem" by 20th-century English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
"We need (audiences) to actually come out and attend our performances, as much as always. Don't be afraid. We've been keeping people safe this whole time, and it's time to come back out and support the arts."
In Pandemic Isolation, Father And Son DJs Spun Music Into A Community | WYPR
But, as Chad told his dad in an interview with StoryCorps last month, it didn't start out that way.
"I used to see you doing it all the time and the equipment was always around but it's like, that's my dad's thing. I'm not doing that," Chad said.
Even so, he began messing around with his dad's turntables as soon as he could. Jo remembered when his son was about 5 years old.
"I came into the room one day and I saw you putting the record on a needle and scratching," Jo said. "I was like, 'Oh, no, you can't be scratching up my stuff.' "
Chad started DJing as a hobby in high school. Around 2012, in his early 20s, he began to pursue it seriously.
But when the pandemic hit, clubs and music venues shut down across the city, and they both lost gig opportunities.
Vivendi Sells 10% Stake in Universal Music Group to Pershing Square – Deadline
French media giant Vivendi has reached a deal to sell a 10% stake in Universal Music Group to hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square in a deal that values the music company at more than $42 billion.
Universal operates labels responsible for artists including Ariana Grande, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Nirvana.
Earlier this month, Vivendi confirmed talks to sell the 10% stake in Universal Music Group to Pershing Square Tontine Holdings in a deal that values the music company at €35 billion ($42B).
The transaction comes ahead of Vivendi’s plans to list Universal Music Group in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in late September, when 60% of Universal’s shares will be distributed to Vivendi investors.
In a statement Sunday, Vivendi said, “After the 20% equity stake acquired by the Consortium led by the Tencent group, the arrival of major American investors provides further evidence of UMG’s global success and attractiveness,” Vivendi said in a statement. “As announced, the transaction is based on an enterprise value of 35 billion euros for 100% of UMG’s share capital.”
Fans celebrate at Boots in the Park music festival, the first since COVID-19 mandates lifted
As they began entering the gates of Boots in the Park at SilverLakes Equestrian and Sports Park in Norco around noon, they rushed to set up lawn chairs and blankets in the grassy seating area and hurried to one of the multiple bar tents to get that first beer or sweet cocktail to cool down on balmy, yet breezy, 90-plus degree day.
“We came here so we could drink with people,” Amee Brown of Riverside said. She and a group of girlfriends gathered around one of the massive photo op setups as they entered the venue to take their first maskless photo at a concert since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The last show Brown attended was Florida Georgia Line with Dan + Shay and Morgan Wallen at Glen Helen Amphitheater in Devore in 2019.
“We love country music and we just really wanted to be around other humans,” she added.
Boots in the Park — with Chris Young, Scotty McCreery, Dylan Scott, Tenille Townes, Leaving Austin and Tim Hurley — is the first major in-person festival to happen in Southern California after the COVID-19 mandates lifted in the state on June 15. With approximately 14,000 in attendance, it’s also the largest concert to play off in the area since early 2020.
Country artist Scotty McCreery performs during Boots in the Park at Silverlakes in Norco on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Approximately 14,000 country music fans attended the first major outdoor music festival in Southern California since the state reopening on June 15. Chris Young headlined the show. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
World Music Day: The rise and rise of the indie music scene in India - Hindustan Times
The rise of indie music scene in India was happening in the last two-three years, already. In the pandemic, of course, there was a surge in the number of indie music coming out. The growth is still on and it's going to only get better and be the best phase in indie music really soon. I like that as an indie music artist, we get to work according to our taste, experiment on our music choices, and go all out in our songs and videos. We're the face of our own songs, and there's always scope of growing into something better.
The popularity of indie music will continue to grow, it's going to get better from hereon, and not slow down anytime soon. It's not like a phase or something, it's going to stay even if film music keeps coming back. But, indie music will keep rising on a global level with bigger collaborations. There are lot of emotions and we have lot of sides as an artiste, which we can't show, or we don't have a place to express ourselves. But with indie music, there's freedom to express our creativity. It's based more from a personal experience. Sometimes, you're trained in a particular art form, which hasn't been used anywhere in regular songs, indie music gives us a lot of space to showcase that, and gives your audience to see this side of your versatility, too.
I'm happy to see how audiences in India have grown to accept and appreciate independent music over the last couple years, especially during lockdown when there was a rise of indie music releases and less film music. It's nice to see more artistes exploring their musicality in the independent space as well. We've seen the rise of budding artistes whose music has become as known as some of the more popular film songs. So, hopefully the rise of independent music will continue. What I enjoy the most about independent music is the freedom to do whatever I want — vocally and creatively. There are fewer cooks in the kitchen with opinions, and I can pick the team I want to create with, to have the process and vibe that cater to me and my musical taste.
Read the Black Music Action Coalition's 'Industry Report Card' - Rolling Stone
"The music industry unfortunately has not been immune to the systemic racism that plagues our country"
In June 2020, BMAC had already secured the support of some 200 mainstream artists, including Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Travis Scott, Cardi B, Harry Styles, and Lady Gaga, as well as board advisors like Clarence Avant and Irving Azoff.
“Our hope is that the MIA Report Card, especially coming on the heels of the Annenberg Study , will spur more conversations and efforts towards, in some cases, disruptive change,” Naima Cochrane, the lead author of the report, wrote. “We’re applying pressure, and we challenge more companies to take that next step towards honest and transparent dialogue moving forward.”
When Make Music Day is in Salem
After moving online last year due to COVID-19, the free event will return in person Monday marking its sixth year in Salem, joining 725 cities around the world.
Attendees and passersby will get to hear from 122 artists and bands performing just about every genre from hip hop and rock to Irish folk and soul through downtown and other locations across the city.
"People come to me and say … this is awesome, it's the best day of the year," said Mark Green, Make Music Day Salem committee member and organizer. "Just seeing people up on stage for the first time, or people start following a new band."
"It'll be just wonderful to play in front of folks and just enjoy other bands and other music," McPhearson, of Portland, said. "Salem has a fantastic music community and there are so many great musicians known and unknown in this town."
McPhearson has performed with one of his several bands, including The Kingsmen and M69s, at every Make Music Day Salem event. He says the festival is a way to showcase the talented, tight-knit community of musicians in Salem.
"It shows that it is vibrant and it is here and it's going," he said. "And to see the younger folks play and come out ... is really awesome. It's kind of like passing the baton, passing the torch."
Stages and artists will be spread out to accommodate for social distancing and, though masks are not required outdoors, organizers have masks available for those who need one.
Volunteers are needed to answer questions, give directions, help clean up and manage stages. Sign up at https://www.makemusicsalem.org/sign-up to volunteer at the event.
Sunday Conversation: Diplo On Dance Music's Past, Present And Future
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Diplo performs onstage during Field Day Festival 2019 at Meridian Water ... [+] on June 08, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lorne Thomson/Redferns)
Like many, many artists electronic/dance music superstar Diplo had a lot of time to think during the COVID pandemic of last year and this year. And also like many artists, he realized he wanted to make some changes coming out of the pandemic.
So, he moved from the Hollywood Hills to Malibu and musically is rededicating himself to dance music at least for the rest of 2021. As he points out, he has had success in a great many genres over the last few years, from working with Trippie Redd in hip hop to Thomas Rhett in country.
But, as he tells me when we speak by Zoom for 45 minutes, his focus is coming back to dance music. "I went back to dance music. People are really going to want to DJ and party this summer," he says. "I want to give something my audience can really identify with for like a full year."
As part of that he will release "Don't Be Afraid," a new song with Damien Lazarus and Jungle this Wednesday, June 23, on his house label, Higher Ground. Since forming in 2019 the label has released 48 tracks, including three number one dance songs — "On My Mind," "Looking For Me" and "Turn Back Time."
In this wide-ranging conversation I spoke with Diplo about the past, present and future of dance music, touching on everything from his Miami days and his first gig in San Francisco to Daft Punk, A-Trak, the artists he loves today and why he thinks there is a very fertile and exciting underground scene right now.
Diplo: I just moved to Malibu recently. During the pandemic I started a studio here and stuff. Surfing and stuff like that. Just been here. But I'm on the road now, I'm back, things are back. I'm out every weekend, Thursday through Sunday, so I'm not even home that often.
Baltin: Do you feel like when you do shows now you appreciate the more because you're choosing the ones that you want to do?
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