The Video Game Composer Podcast

Growth never happens in the comfort zone. In this episode, I share stories from my own career as a game composer—times when I stepped into unfamiliar, uncomfortable situations and how those moments led to real breakthroughs. If you’re looking to grow your game composition career, this episode will challenge you to embrace risk, push past fear, and recognize that the opportunities you’re seeking often lie just outside your comfort zone.Looking for more resources to help you level up your composing career? Check out this video on the 4 books that launched my career (on my NEW youtube channel!)https://youtu.be/n0g5TbCMs6c

What should you charge to score a game? Should you sign an exclusive contract—or not? How do you protect your creative rights without burning bridges?In this episode, I sit down with Noa Beazley, a Boston-based composer and multi-instrumentalist whose game scores span genres—from the Latin-metal fusion of Protodroid DeLTA to the orchestral fantasy of A Token War. Noa teaches game scoring at Berklee College of Music, speaks regularly at major conferences like GDC and PAX, and brings a wealth of insight into both the creative and business sides of the industry.We dive deep into the realities of negotiating contracts as a game composer: rates, exclusivity,, best practices, and more. Whether you're just starting out or already working in game audio, this conversation offers actionable advice.Follow NoaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/noabeazley.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/noabeazley/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noa-beazley-b74a7620a/

How does your music sound? Maybe the notes are good, but the recording sounds like General MIDI from 1991. Maybe the production is good, but your music sounds like everyone else. Maybe you have no idea how your music stacks up.Today's guest, Jason Walsh, has worked for over a decade on some of the largest projects in the game industry. Jason's high level of expertise comes in part from wearing many hats—from senior composer at Riot Games to thriving freelancer, sound designer to mix engineer, to composer. Jason has a unique voice in game audio and offers so many ways to make your music more distinct, uniquely you, and higher quality.To follow Jason and listen to his music, check out the links below:Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/4dKqulo3dOAgwda3SK6IhuInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jasonnicholaswalsh/Xhttps://x.com/jwalsh_musicWebsitehttps://www.jason-walsh.com

At the start of your game audio career, you’ll need to grind. A lot. Finding consistent work means meeting people, stepping out of your comfort zone, and spending an inordinate amount of time on business activities—not just writing music.But over time, your career can pivot. Opportunities begin to flow to you, and your days become more focused on the creative work you love.Chris Rickwood has made that transition. In this episode, he shares hard-earned insights on the skills, mindset, and habits that helped him build a lasting, sustainable career as a video game composer.Grab a notebook—this one’s packed with wisdom.

Gina Zdanowicz, Founder and Audio Director of Serial Lab Sound, has cultivated a dynamic career spanning over two decades in the game industry, leaving an indelible mark on titles such as Eternights, Paladins, Just Cause 3, Bioshock 2, and numerous indie, e-Learning and midcore games. Gina has been instrumental in shaping the future generation of game audio professionals. Her impressive tenure includes leading and authoring courses at Berklee Online, as well as spearheading the establishment of the Game and Interactive Media Scoring Major at Berklee College of Music's campus. Gina's co-authorship of "The Game Audio Strategy Guide: A Practical Course" exemplifies her dedication to providing both theoretical foundations and practical insights into the nuanced world of game sound for enthusiasts and inquisitive minds alike. Beyond her contributions to academia, Gina's impact resonates throughout the gaming industry, where she serves as a mentor and has been a distinguished judge for esteemed awards such as the Game Audio Network Guild and IADAS.

Megan is primarily a video game composer. She did the music for River City Girls 1 & 2, the Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead games from Retro Realms, and I believe she composed most of the music for the Atari Recharged games.Not only does Megan do a ton of custom work for games, but she also earns income by licensing her music for TV and releasing her own music as an artist. I brought Megan on today to teach us how to create multiple streams of income using our musical talents.In addition to all the great info she’ll be sharing, notice how cool and easy to talk to Megan is. I’ve found that the vast majority of working professionals in the game audio industry are not only great at their craft but also down-to-earth, genuine people. Let’s jump into this conversation with Megan McDuffee!

Today you’ll be listening in on a conversation with lifelong gamer, composer, and music designer Olivier Deriviere. He has created the music for games such as A Plague Tale: Innocence, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Dying Light 2, Streets of Rage 4, and, most recently, South of Midnight.Equally impressive to his composing skills are Olivier’s talents in music design. He is a leading voice in pushing the boundaries of what game music can do.In this interview, Olivier offers guidance on everything from mindset to the questions you should ask in meetings with developers, designing game music, and acting with intention and integrity as a collaborator on game projects.Enjoy!To learn more about Olivier and music design check out these useful links:Olivier's Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@oderiviereOlivier's website resources:https://olivierderiviere.com/music-design/

Tobi Weiss is a video game composer who has amassed a following of over 120K on Instagram. He emphasizes the importance of being genuine with your audience and staying true to yourself while working hard to become known and find more work. This is a value-packed conversation for anyone looking to become more visible as a composer in a genuine and authentic way. Follow Tobi on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/filmandgamemusic?igsh=ZGxmaDZtN3lqc3lt

There is a lot to do and learn as a freelance game composer and it can be hard to figure out what activities are most important to focus on, what skillsets are most important to develop, and how a composer needs to think to make this career happen. This episode will help you get inside the head of professional composer Brendon WIlliams. He has composed for major franchises such as League of Legends, Guild Wars, and Start Wars. He has worked both as an in-house composer and a freelance composer. Follow Brendon and listen to his music: IG: https://www.instagram.com/brendoncomposer?igsh=MTVidDR4NXI2dTI3NQ== Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendoncomposer/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/BrendonComposer

Game composer, sound designer, and audio engineer Robbie Dolan talks about the top handful of skills that are essential for composers in order to carve out a career in today's marketplace. Robbie wasted no time establishing a strong career in the game industry and the knowledge and experience he shares are invaluable.

Michael Sweet is a video game composer, sound designer, audio director, and all around audio pro. He has also been teaching game audio at two of the top music programs in the world. He has worked on over 100 award-winning games and has basically done it all in the world of game audio. In our conversation, we talk in-depth about what interactive or adaptive music is, the fundamental building blocks of interactive music, how and when to use it, and how to compose it. This conversation is a masterclass on how to plan and create adaptive scores. Sweet also mentions different resources for improving as an adaptive music composer. Youtube channels to check out: Michael Sweet - https://www.youtube.com/@michaelsweet5043/videos Olivier Deriviere - https://www.youtube.com/@oderiviere Austin Wintory - https://www.youtube.com/@awintory Games that are good examples of adaptive audio: Peggle 2 Red Dead Redemption 2 Ghost of Tsushima Mass Effect The Batman Arkham Series God of War (every recent version after the reboot) Almost any Sony Product has terrific adaptive music systems Books Interactive Music for Video Games: A Composer's Guide - Michael Sweet Composing Music for Games - Chance Thomas A Composer's Guide to Game Music - Winifred Phillips

Today's episode is taken from module 3 of the START course. Module 3 is all about how to write demos that can help you find video game scoring work. This episode discusses the how and why of creating targeted demo music, and how targeted music is different than making music as an artist in general. If you are interested in taking the START course head to thevideogamecomposerhq.com/start and join the waitlist. The course is completely free and you will be given access as soon as the course is launched.

Today’s Guest, Ryan Ike, is a very accomplished indie game composer and an all-around awesome dude. You can hear his music in indie game hits like Wizard With a Gun, Shadows Over Loathing, Where The Water Tastes Like Wine, Gunpoint, and more. We had a great conversation about Ryan's diligent method for becoming a strong game composer. I learned a lot from this conversation and had a lot of fun. To follow or reach out to Ryan Ike: Instagram: @ryanikeaudio Website: https://www.ryanike.com Ryan’s Microjams project that he speaks about: https://soundcloud.com/ryanike/sets/microjams Want hands-on training to get your composer career off the ground, and off to a strong start? I am creating a new course called the START course. Through seven modules you be walked through setting up shop and getting started as a game composer. The course is completely free. Pre-register for the course to get automatic access as soon as the course is live. https://thevideogamecomposerhq.com/start

Jeff Broadbent is an award-winning game composer who has worked on many of the industry's largest franchises, including Diablo, Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Assassins Creed, and many more. Not only is Jeff a talented composer but he is an effective networker and strategic business person. He has so much great information to share. I hope you are ready to take notes and implement some ideas. We talk about how to improve the quality of your music, the importance of networking, and why you should study freelance business strategies as much as you can. If you are looking for more guidance to get your video game composing career off the ground, I am creating a free START course. It is all about how to Start your career as a game composer. Many podcast listeners have had a lot of success applying the principles that will be covered in the START course. If this free resource is interesting to you click the link below to automatically be added to the course as soon as it is live! https://thevideogamecomposerhq.com/start If you are a mid level composer in your career, you have already been paid to write for games, tv or film and you are looking to reach the next level here is a great opportunity from Grammy composer/orchestrator Penka Kouneva. Emerging and Mid-career composers for film and games: check out this Masterclass in Soundtrack Analysis and Media scoring. The class is presented by the Hollywood studio composer and orchestrator Penka Kouneva. 10 weeks of intense study (weekly composing & feedback, analysis lectures, private mentoring sessions, independent score study & tons of curated reading). The objective of this experience is to give you a competitive edge and to propel you forward on your artist and career path.www.penkamasterclasses.com

This episode discusses three areas of focus that can help you make great progress in your video game composing career. Having a system and goals for music creation, building up a team of people around you, and tracking your progress are all powerful tools to help you achieve and succeed in this competitive and exciting journey. For even more detailed and hands-on help to kickstart your composing career and land your first gigs, sign up for my FREE Start Course (Start Your Composer Career). The course is expected to be released in late February or March 2024. Use the link below to get instant access to the course as soon as it is out: https://thevideogamecomposerhq.com/start For more advanced composers: Emerging and mid-career composers for film and games, check out this Masterclass in Soundtrack Analysis and Media Scoring. The class is presented by Hollywood studio composer and orchestrator Penka Kouneva. The 10-week program includes intense study with weekly composing and feedback, analysis lectures, private mentoring sessions, independent score study, and tons of curated reading. The objective of this experience is to give you a competitive edge and propel you forward on your artist and career path. ⁠Visit www.penkamasterclasses.com⁠ for more information.

Today’s guest is Jeff Kurtenacker, an amazing composer and sound designer for AAA games. He is currently the audio director for Deck Nine Games, and has also worked as a senior composer for Blizzard and worked on a ton of projects as a freelancer before that. Jeff wrote over 14 hours of absolutely killer music for a game called WildStar that got canceled before it ever saw the light of day. Check out that music. Jeff has a great depth of musical knowledge, a mastery over expressing complex emotions through music and also teaches private composition students on the side. Learn more about Jeff at his website https://www.jeffkurtenacker.com If you are interested in being notified and gaining instant access to my free START Game Composing Career Course when it comes out (probably late Feb 2024) click here: https://thevideogamecomposerhq.com/ccpstrategysession-8361 Emerging and Mid-career composers for film and games: check out this Masterclass in Soundtrack Analysis and Media scoring. The class is presented by the Hollywood studio composer and orchestrator Penka Kouneva. 10 weeks of intense study (weekly composing & feedback, analysis lectures, private mentoring sessions, independent score study & tons of curated reading). The objective of this experience is to give you a competitive edge and to propel you forward on your artist and career path. www.penkamasterclasses.com

Grammy-nominated composer J Scott Rakozy talks to us about his background in music, his process for creating convincing midi mach-ups, how he got to do the music for Hogwarts Legacy and much more! Check out more about Scott at his website and Instagram: https://www.jscottrakozy.com https://www.instagram.com/rockinrakozy/ Emerging and Mid-career composers for film and games: check out this Masterclass in Soundtrack Analysis and Media scoring. The class is presented by the Hollywood studio composer and orchestrator Penka Kouneva. 10 weeks of intense study (weekly composing & feedback, analysis lectures, private mentoring sessions, independent score study & tons of curated reading). The objective of this experience is to give you a competitive edge and to propel you forward on your artist and career path.www.penkamasterclasses.com

Enjoy this special edition episode celebrating my 5-year anniversary as a video game composer. I give career highlights and share the big lessons I learned each year. If this episode is helpful or inspiring please share it with another game audio person you know. If you don't know any, meet someone. You can start with me, shoot me an email at [email protected]

Vinicius is an LA-based composer for film, tv and video games. He was nominated for an Emmy with his music editor work on Go Go Cory Carson. Vinicius reveals what he did to build connections and start working with well-established composers on major projects. There are a lot of invaluable and fresh ideas shared in this episode. Listen carefully and be ready to take notes and then take action! Be sure to reach out with questions or episode ideas [email protected]

Nate Madsen is a long time veteran composer in the video game industry, with extensive experience as a freelance and in-house game composer. Nate shares really great insights and personal experiences on networking, prospecting for projects, personal improvement and so much more. Follow Nate at his website https://madsenstudios.com

In today's episode, composer David Fairfield talks about what he calls the creator's journey. Going from hobbyist, to time liberated, to mastery. David is a Music Composer, Sound Designer, and Audio Director who has worked in the gaming industry for 15 years. He has worked with some of the world's top companies and brands including Disney, Microsoft, Warner Brothers, and the Olympics. Most notably, David has worked with the Harry Potter, Minecraft, Disney Mirrorverse, and Club Penguin franchises.  You connect with David through his LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/davefairfield/ or visit him at his website: https://fairfieldaudio.ca Shoot me an email at [email protected] and let me know how your composer's journey is going, what topics you would like to hear covered in the podcast, who you would like to hear from, or just say hi. Go out and make it happen!

Today's guest is Kristofer Eng who is an award-winning composer for his work on the game It Takes Two. He is also the CEO of Elias software, which is audio middleware initially designed exclusively for video game music (sound design capabilities were added later). Kristopher talks about his musical upbringing, his entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, and how game composing led him to create his own audio middleware company. Kris is a big proponent of musical storytelling and using technology to aid, rather than get in the way of that process.

Maclain Diemer of Guild Wars 2, Salt and Sacrifice, and other great games joins us to share his valuable perspectives and experience on being a full-time composer for games. 

Building strong relationships is crucial to any creative career, and it is especially true for game composers. A majority of the opportunities for game composers are freelance. With most of us working outside the "in-house" or company setting, having a robust network with solid relationships is essential. (It is also very essential to those wanting to work in a company setting as well). This is not an easy task; for most of us (myself included), it can feel unnatural, uncomfortable, and awkward.  In this episode, I share 3 tips that have helped my networking feel more comfortable and genuine. I hope one or more of these suggestions can help you as well.  I would love to hear from you about where you are at in your career and what is and isn't working for you right now, what you'd like to hear about in future episodes, and so on. Shoot me an email at [email protected]  connect with me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tysoncaziermusic/ or say hi using any of my contact info up on my website: https://tysoncaziermusic.com

In this episode, I share where I am focusing and what I am currently doing to grow my business.  As video game composers our biggest problem, and the reason we don't have more work, is visibility.  If every game developer on the planet knew who you were and was familiar with your music you would have more paid work than you could ever handle.  Becoming less and less obscure, and more and more known should be the top priority to any of us that are a household - or at least an industry-hold - name.

Many good activities can be excuses that slow our progress toward great things.  Forever tweaking tracks, learning more before you take the next step, doing it 'one day' after you update or buy this or that, on and on. Practicing, buying new gear, learning about the industry, and more can all be good things but sometimes we use them as crutches not to take the right actions. As you transition to doing these 'preperatory' activities AS you move forward, instead of 'before' you move forward you will make much better progress in your career.  Reach out to me at [email protected] and let me know what suggestions have or haven't worked for you, or what you would like to hear about in the future.

A great way to make more meaningful connections with video game industry leaders, add value, and have a lot of fun is by volunteering at industry events.  This podcast tells a simple story of how volunteering can open doors and help boost your game composition career.

Well-crafted testimonials build trust. Trust is essential for having a solid video game composition business.  The more people trust you, the quicker you will get deals and the more money your clients will be willing to pay you.  In this episode, I break down six steps you can use to get killer testimonials of your own!

For many, networking is a word that induces stress and anxiety. A necessary evil that must be suffered through in order to find work. If only there was another way!   There isn't. But an adjustment in how networking is approached could make all the difference. This episode will look at another way to think about networking that could turn it from foe to friend.

One role of music in media is to enhance the aesthetic appeal and goals of the project it is attached to. Our job as video game composers is to understand what the aesthetic of the game is and work to support it, as opposed to undermining or supplanting it.   Reach out with episode ideas, comments, questions and so on at [email protected]

One fundamental role that music plays in video games as well as other media is through providing context.  This is a very important role to understand and for composers to effectively use.  This discussion comes out of chapter one of Chance Thomas' Composing Music For Games book, as a part of our CMFG study series.   [email protected]

One of the six most common roles of music in media is for music to propel the action forward.  Understanding the essential role of music can inform a composer's craft and improve their ability to create effective and artful music for the media.  Send an email with your ideas for future episodes to [email protected]

In this episode I share some of the things I learned at my first year going to the Game Developers Conference, GDC, in San Francisco.  I got to meet a lot of artists, designers, programmers and fellow game audio folks. I made a lot of friends and it was a really valuable experience and I hope to share a little of that value with you.  Please reach out to me with any suggestions for future episodes at [email protected]

Music has a powerful ability to heighten our emotions.  Experienced directors and game producers take advantage of this by creating great relationships with composers and getting the right kind of music in their media.  Knowing about this important characteristic of music can help you when you speak with potential clients and can also help you pay more attention as you work on and develop your craft.  Be sure to check out other episodes of the Video Game Composer Podcast and let me know what kind of content is most helpful to you! [email protected]

In this interview, music business and networking master Akash Thakkar shares powerful tools on how to cut through the noise and build genuine relationships and connections.  Use these strategies to prepare for big conferences like Game Developers Conference, GDC, or even local meetups or zoom conversations.  Learn How to ask the right questions, give better answers, have better mindsets to adopt, and much more! Send in your comments, stories, questions, and episode suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode, we are talking with solo dev Jack Breen of Hybrid Studios who is the creator of Gigasword. Not only has Jack done all of the art, design, and coding but he is also the composer for Gigasword.  In this interview, Jack gets into his influences, workflow, and philosophy on music and games.  He also talks about what he does to cut through the noise in a crowded market.  Connect with Jack, follow what he is doing, and support Gigasword: Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/726600008/gigasword-an-action-puzzle-metroidvania Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hybrid_Games_ Discord: https://discord.gg/ZXH6XPUaKh Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh1fijKgdW9n0rSUngWkHOw

There are 6 important roles that music can fill in media.  The first of these six, setting the mood, is what we will be discussing today. Knowing the purpose of your music within a game will help immensely when digging into the planning and composition processes and help you to be a much better composer and asset to the game team.

Quick episode defining the term "Diegetic."  Knowing the lingo in an industry is important, especially when you are new and you don't know as much.

In this episode Tyson Cazier gives 5 exercises you can practice to improve your effectiveness at using the scoring language. These exercises can help you to understand harmony on an emotional level and use chords with more sophistication, write melodies that can better express complex emotions, and know how to write music that directly speaks to the emotions of others.  Send examples of your exercises to [email protected] to share what you have been working on.  Remember to go out and make it happen!

Imagine being able to captivate audiences' imaginations and emotions with your music just like a great novelist can do with their words. Mastery of the rules and grammar of the scoring language can help you achieve those ends.  

Music scoring is a language that you are already fluent in, this episode explains how.  This is a very exciting and freeing concept for those of us that are struggling to become full-time video game music composers and sometimes wonder if we have what it takes.  I love to hear if this message resonates with you or not, if you have questions, or requests for episodes.  Shoot me an email at [email protected]

Introducing a new study series! When I first got started composing for games, and knew basically nothing, I had the great opportunity to meet game composer icon Chance Thomas.  He told me about the text book he wrote to help young composers like me and recommended I study as if I were getting a Master's Degree in game composition.  I read through the book back then and it was very helpful, if you've listened to earlier episodes you've heard me talk about it. I have decided to start the book again and do an even deeper dive and share my studying and insights with you.  I recommend you get the book to study along. At the time of recording this podcast episode I don't have any kind of affiliate marketing set up, but if I do I will paste a link right below. If you missed the interview where I interview Chance it's right here: https://anchor.fm/tyson-cazier/episodes/Interview-with-Chance-Thomas-Composer-for-DOTA-2-and-Lord-of-the-Rings-Online-e102ufe

Writers block is super frustrating!!! In this episode I share one strategy I use to get my ideas flowing.

I share 3 production tips to start doing (if you're not) to immediately improve your music production quality. Layering samples, automation curves, and recording live instruments are three no excuses techniques that can really improve your sound.

In this episode I share four tips on how to stay organized and on top of your business.  It is far too easy to get unbalanced and give to much focus on one are of your business at the expense of other areas.  This episode offers some ideas to help get your composition business back in balance while maximizing productivity.

The monthly report! This is my first monthly report episode.  In my monthly reports I report on how my business is performing and progressing in the four core areas of my business: Learning, Producing, Networking, and Visibility.  Starting in June 2021 the monthly report will happen the first episode of each month and report on the previous months efforts.  These reports are a great way to take a peek inside my business, see what is and isn't working, track my progress over time and apply what you learn to your business.  Shoot me an email at [email protected] and let me know what topics you would like to hear about in the podcast.

In this episode I had a great conversation with Chance Thomas. Chance has been entrusted with prestigious titles and high-value entertainment properties again and again in his career - The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Warhammer, Marvel, King Kong, Dungeons & Dragons, DOTA 2, Star Wars, Monopoly, Heroes of Might & Magic, Left Behind, Jumanji and many more.  Follow chance by visiting his website https://hugesoundrecords.com

It is very important to value your work as a video game composer. This episode talks about how you can do that by discussing how much to charge and why you should charge your clients.

The two common shortages are money and time.  Most of us are often looking for more of these two things.  In this episode I talk about how to find more of both of those.  This is one of the small and simple principles, that most people don't take the time to do, that can be a big game changer in your personal life and career path.  I would love to hear your experience trying this challenge, shoot me an email at [email protected]

Getting your first gig is so important!  It's your initial 'foot in the door' experience to the game industry.  Once you get your first video game composition gig you can officially call yourself a video game composer.  Use these 3 suggestions to make it happen and get your start in the industry.  If you have tried these and haven't gotten your first gig yet, feel free to reach out to me and I would love to troubleshoot, problem solve and strategize with you.  Send me an email at [email protected]