Untitled

0:07 hello everybody and welcome to another upset if it knows this is Dave a
0:10 constant for this special show will be
0:12 interviewing Howard Ross in game composer have a listen and hope you
0:16 enjoy
0:31 hello
0:31 welcome to another upset a bit note and with us on the show we have Howard Ross
0:35 and how rich
0:36 how are you I'm doing great David thanks for having me
0:40 I'll thank you for being on the show Howard so I have
0:43 for those that the audience who may not be familiar with your work am
0:46 would you like to introduce yourself well
0:50 I I'm a composer slash orchestrator
0:53 I have been I i've been bouncing around a business for
0:57 for quite a while now since early nineties eaten I
1:00 I always wanted to be a film composer and and I
1:04 I somehow found myself composing for games early on
1:07 really by a fluke after a friend in mind someone I knew it again company and I
1:12 got involved over there and one thing led to another
1:15 and I ended up at Sega and I worked a quite a few games there
1:20 and then after that I I worked on
1:25 quite a few games as a an independent contractor mmm
1:28 and and and to and then after that I can gradually got more morn
1:32 involved then and Tom are cool
1:36 you make music for a lot of great games such as their
1:39 comics own which we'll be talking a bit about more and everything
1:42 and boulders gain Afro Samurai new
1:45 cool and M and recently you've been more am
1:49 he said EP now working on more and movie tracks pesci such as
1:53 like with the man with the are in 15 such yes yes
1:57 that's not for my career is taking me starting around
2:01 all about you know in the early 2000's hmm
2:04 a inlay well actually around that time I started working with
2:10 Terence Blanchard as is orchestrator and
2:15 it for those who don't know who years he composes the scores for all that
2:18 spike lee chance and I you know that that was kinda my first foray into
2:24 mmm of filmmaking on our I'm on a big lad a big level like a studio levels so
2:30 before that I'd done some smaller independent films
2:33 guide cut my teeth on nose and and
2:37 you know one thing led to another at
2:39 and I hooked up with parents and and things just started to
2:44 come from that so um what got you interested
2:48 in a music composing in the first place you know I i'm not really sure exactly
2:54 what it was when I was a kid I was always attracted to
2:58 orchestral music are classical music
3:01 I think my favorite composer growing up was run ski course car
3:04 and our I use to I used to pretend I was conducting channel recordings
3:10 %uh even though I couldn't reach core in those days but as a little kid I would
3:14 pretend I was conductor waving my waving our
3:16 baton around and my older brother played in Symphony Orchestra and every Saturday
3:22 I would just we would have to go to her soul
3:25 while my brother was at rehearsal so I I was I was pretty hearing
3:29 the you know the rehearsal process with an orchestra and hearing a lot of great
3:32 literature
3:33 and a I think that's really where
3:36 it it grew out of a as far as
3:39 orchestra that may be lied to want to be a song composer
3:43 but I was always really into pop music too you know I mean my parents had
3:47 recordings are to be dole's on
3:49 my mother Miles Davis and yeah I just loved everything I love Danny
3:53 any everything that I thought was good awesome and
3:57 of course even with your interest in pop and classical you still think it's got a
4:01 lot to rock I think you said your
4:03 preferreds instrument at the Qatar yes I wound up I played the cello when I was a
4:08 little kid to play the piano
4:10 arm but then a certain point I realized that that just really doesn't make it
4:14 with a girl so
4:15 a so I so why I took up the guitar
4:19 I when I was thirteen-years-old like bank
4:23 and I I took it very seriously by the time I was in high school I was playing
4:27 in bands
4:28 and I had some some pretty good success with that I was in a few big LA bands
4:33 and Mar that I hooked up with
4:36 I a group called flies on fire and we had a
4:40 we had a deal which are Atlantic Records ako black
4:43 at the time in if you albums music videos like
4:46 charring and so you know like I had my stand where I did the whole
4:51 control Fang and and got experience that was really great
4:54 I am but by the time by the time that was over with one that kind of fizzled
5:00 out on a second-down didn't sell as much as
5:02 you know as a record company had hoped I was ready to move on
5:06 a and to just composing
5:10 on commercially so I am
5:13 and at that time out maybe the world that may be and
5:18 orchestral sounds via samplers and things like that was was really growing
5:22 at a rapid pace and
5:24 you know I found that if I can scrounge enough money to
5:27 together a few pieces of gear together I could research make my own music happen
5:32 and that's that's really how that started
5:34 okay cool so %um you got your own like
5:38 say a left heel your left the rock n roll thingy start like going at it by
5:42 yourself
5:43 and enter cool and how did this get into video games
5:47 what you at the time there was a friend of mine
5:51 I that was working as a tester
5:55 at Disney Walt what was called walt disney software
5:58 back in those days and his older brother was a producer there
6:02 and I thought well this is a great opportunity for me to maybe
6:07 you know get a gig because she had mentioned me hey you know you should get
6:12 some I'm your music to my brother
6:14 I maybe can get on one of his game so I did that arm
6:18 I put some of my stuff on a cassette tape happened
6:22 he gave it to his brother and his brother hired me to do game
6:26 them and I and that was first game that I did
6:30 it was great experience for me and so
6:33 I I did I did the soundtrack to the game was called wolf
6:37 true-life adventure month and I did the soundtrack for the game
6:42 and it was digitize it was on those PC games where you know where you put the
6:47 CDs and then
6:49 it the music would strain and when it was
6:53 I guess one that months of were told to
6:57 and then I remember him coming back to me and saying well now you have to port
7:02 this over to the Sound Blaster admit card I
7:05 Oak Lawn you know I was pretty adept tactically because I have my own little
7:10 mini studio together and I
7:11 had to figure everything out on my own but I thought must first thing about
7:14 myself is what is a sad
7:16 pastor at left guard i know im playing Jackie I looked it up
7:20 back so we thought you said you know how to do this and I said
7:23 yes course and that of course I didn't know I do it and i just i I figured out
7:28 he asked me if I had one and I said now
7:31 he said well I have one in my office you can do it in there
7:35 so I don't know where he was as Disney job is on vacation or something up for
7:40 about
7:41 about a week i sat in his office pouring all my music over
7:45 and do this little Sound Blaster have a car now so my first foray into dealing
7:50 with computer chips and technology and things like that to try and
7:54 a accomplish game soundtrack yeah I mean has orbited
7:58 talk in a bit later on am back then you know
8:01 it wasn't just about composing you all had to really know a lot about had the
8:05 actual chips worked
8:06 absolutely because you're so limited
8:09 and that even became more than issue what I want sayer
8:13 are which is which is another you know another story
8:16 well tell us how %um tell us how you got into Sega
8:20 well as it turns out
8:23 the guy who was vice president a walt Disney
8:27 saw for the times name is Roger Hector and Roger Hector
8:31 had left disney and wanted to say get to become
8:35 ginger the be a GP up there and I
8:38 run STI think so Technical Institute
8:41 yes Sega Technical Institute yes and
8:44 I so I don't remember how I was having I was working on a few other games
8:49 tradition at the time but there was a friend of mine who
8:53 had left just need to go to Sega Roger hired him up there i think is art
8:58 director
8:59 and he was visiting Downeast down a dizzying Monday he stopped in the office
9:03 users and he said hey you know they're looking for new music I
9:06 there and I set out so I i I R
9:10 late wanna my cassette tapes on I'm
9:13 and I he took it up to roger gave a chairman Roger also knew who I was from
9:18 having worked on a few dozen games
9:20 and Roger called me up a few days later
9:24 and asked me if I wanted the job so incredible
9:27 on am just a bit about yet go ahead
9:30 just a point of clarification and this is something even game fans get a bit
9:34 confused
9:34 there was Sega Technical Institute of course was at Sega development studio
9:39 in and america but it does not Sega of America which is separate
9:43 can if there they're kinda like from what you've told me they're like two
9:47 different studios
9:48 they weren't there were two completely different studios
9:51 Sega Technical Institute I wasn't there from the beginning
9:55 1i showed up there Sonic 3 was just
9:59 being finished I and
10:02 but my take on it was that whole studio
10:05 was put together Chicana basically how's the sock team
10:09 which was knock on ya Sahara n the whole japanese teen from Japan
10:14 were here developing in america and
10:17 in addition to and they had their own side in the building and in addition to
10:22 that
10:22 there was kind of an American side I love several little development teams
10:28 are creating in Des Moines various games now say give america
10:32 was in a completely different building they had a different corporate structure
10:37 over there they had their own BP's in our own music studios
10:41 are they had a lot of guys over there they had like I don't know
10:44 67 composers over there I am
10:48 and the they were much bigger she gets a Technical Institute was a smaller
10:52 operation
10:53 but E we had a little bit more autonomy
10:58 are overt Sega of America I think that they were doing some original games
11:03 they're also involve a lot of licensed games
11:05 and things like that it's a good technical I city we're just focus on
11:09 making original original products original ideas real characters
11:15 and of course all stocks to watch cool so it's like
11:19 so it kinda formed in order to take care of them
11:22 Sonic games in in america and then kinda what happen is became
11:25 something and even in STI there was a bit of a division between the American
11:29 and the Japanese side
11:30 what it was and I think it you know it was largely due
11:35 no: it was always that way I at my whole time and Sega
11:39 and I think a lot of it had to do wish are
11:42 you know cultural and and language barrier you know
11:45 I I i felt that the Japanese
11:49 are I'm not really sure why teams were brought over here
11:53 maybe two have in american influence on them to try and make the
11:57 the games more Americanized I never really totally understood that but
12:02 I you know they they were somewhat
12:05 con have on their own they they would kinda hang together and
12:09 and I think a lot of it was this language and cultural
12:13 you know a lot and didn't speak English very well and
12:17 you know it just that's the way it was it was
12:21 is always felt a little strange to me you know by
12:25 I you know that's the way it was okay
12:29 am I believe it was kinda the make the factors that ended up with that
12:33 tonic to being developed largely in america that the right people were there
12:37 and of course a sequel needed to be developed
12:39 but I am you joined it when they were developing Sonic three right
12:43 rights just to understand this and you said you were the only composer and STI
12:48 but
12:48 how much of an influence in the music up sonic treated you have
12:51 I I don't really know
12:54 I because are Sonic three by the time I showed up shot three was pretty much
13:00 done
13:01 I search for my understanding and
13:04 you know I remember the first day I was there
13:07 I fired up like my new PC in my Mac
13:11 and I had to start composing on socks pinball like
13:14 immediately like right now I wrote AXA caves the very first day at Sega
13:19 in the afternoon often castro
13:22 that that was a very first thing I dismissed first day
13:26 okay here's your game bongo how a
13:29 so I did that one and then work out a few other things and then
13:33 and roger quickly
13:35 came over to me and said hey I you know you need to need to jump on a sock to
13:40 reduce music over here but it was my I had no idea where they were out the game
13:44 looking back now I know that they're pretty much done
13:46 I didn't know where music was coming from I
13:50 you know I'm guessing now was it was coming
13:53 largely from Japan so what I did because they had a completely
13:57 he's a completely different development system
14:01 to to make music for the Genesis that we did on the American side
14:05 I forget the name in the system they use all other systems always had female
14:09 names like
14:10 Naomi or her I forget what it was but he had a female name we used on the
14:15 American side we used
14:17 japs okay but so what I did is I created
14:21 a bunch attraction for the game just for
14:25 I don't know just how to my imagination i thought well you know all do something
14:29 that sounds old
14:29 lolol adventures in something that sounds a little more common surf rock n
14:35 so I I did this stuff and so then we had a big meeting with
14:39 not going out are an all-stock change so they'll come in my studio
14:43 and Roger says OK playing the stuff and outside playing all the stuff
14:48 and I I turn around and and eight they had smiles on their face and they said
14:54 thank you yeah that hearst that was just the last
14:58 that was it the last I heard it so I am
15:02 the stuff want to I
15:05 you know it was on attacked a pin and which
15:09 for those who don't remember what that was they were these little digital audio
15:12 tapes
15:13 and it went to somewhere
15:16 but I don't know venue for got used I have no idea but I
15:20 as a result the that they gave me a special said a special thanks
15:24 up on the game so fantastic now
15:28 am there is one question you constantly get
15:31 asked and I mean I don't wanna had II hate repetition but i spose
15:36 just for the listeners they're just have to be asked just once just to get it out
15:39 of the way
15:40 and that people have said that's michael Jackson was involved at the game
15:44 soundtrack
15:45 what was your experience with bass
15:48 by experience was was pretty limited
15:51 and that there was a lot that I knew are
15:54 except that my except Roger had told me that I was gonna be working on Michael
15:59 Jackson which I was absolutely thrilled about because
16:02 I was a I was huge Michael Jackson fan growing up
16:05 and our and then the whole scandal happen with him and and Roger said
16:11 you're not going to be working Michael Jackson so
16:13 I I don't know what bomb that he had there's a lot of people watching them
16:17 more knowledge about than I do
16:19 okay are including one of the guys that worked with and that is contacted me
16:24 at their contact me at some point because
16:27 I don't know what he wanted but I am there really wasn't much that
16:31 that yet that was really the extent of it accept that I know that
16:36 I never song you know around STI
16:40 at I never heard any tracks that were you now
16:44 that someone said hey these are Michael Jackson's tracks and I would think
16:47 michael Jackson was involved they would have
16:49 promoter it somehow but then again maybe not with that scandal going on so I
16:53 don't know
16:54 its it's that there's really not a whole lot that I can I can offer to
16:58 that discussion because other people would probably know more
17:02 okay work highlight the well thank you very much
17:06 am sup I think I hope obviously there's no point its be it's been a topic thats
17:11 been discussed a lot so it's just a tap your
17:13 both audio I know it and and
17:16 some people have sent me our tracks comparing a be comparing
17:20 you know this this Sonatrach with this Michael Jackson track
17:24 i've seen. YouTube videos doing the same thing exactly and
17:28 you know I don't know it's you know credit could it be period
17:31 could be that same track who knows maybe
17:35 I i mean i would think that Michael Jackson taken us a given him some big
17:39 box
17:39 to be using his tracks something and especially not crediting him but
17:43 arm I don't even know Michael Jackson wrote those tracks
17:47 I because I think that there are people out there that worked with them they
17:51 claim they were at the tracks
17:53 so you know this kinda stuff happens a lot the pop music world with her
17:57 world love song writing and publishing in money and credit
18:02 and you know i rly that was my first kinda
18:06 experience ever Anna yeah I mean composers who worked with Michael
18:11 Jackson def needed work on Sonic three but yet be held that
18:13 alright am but adjusted
18:17 so that what's your experience with Sonic three but you there was also
18:20 course your experience with phonics pinball which was a spinoff
18:23 haha after a sonic where basically Sonic was now pinball
18:27 now is he said you wrote toxic case on your first day
18:30 and I played toxic cave on the show before but when I didn't play it was a
18:35 remix you deserve it
18:36 as some time later so before we talk a bit more bat
18:39 you work in the game in the track and suck and Sykes been will want i at play
18:43 that remix
18:44 sure thank alright okay
18:47 hits to the audience have a listen and hope you enjoy well
18:57 the went
19:15 for
19:23 the
19:25 way
19:27 well
19:33 well
19:36 ok
19:40 the
20:02 well
20:05 well
20:11 well
20:15 did
20:19 well
20:48 Ste
20:53 the well
21:00 ok
21:02 ok
21:13 well
21:23 do
21:28 well
21:35 that's
21:39 way
21:46 ok
21:48 ok
21:55 and that was returned toxic case
21:58 Ace was a remix of toxic case which are played on the show before
22:02 remember previous episodes on but no defend a comment if i to listen
22:05 it was returned toxic apes remix by Howard Ross and based in toxic aids
22:09 which howard rosen also made and it which was originally from the video game
22:13 sonics pinball
22:14 which is developed by saying our STI has so howard said
22:18 it's a really good track their ok thank you thank you
22:22 it you know having having a guitar player pack wrapping
22:26 really helped in that rag listening to it now
22:29 because everything else sounds to me now sounds boring mill if I'd
22:33 year you know so I I'm really glad upper Decker Charger Ac on their
22:38 I yeah but it'll but it'll work for me you know I think some the MIDI fight
22:42 kinda give the benefits charm as well but it's also
22:45 wow absolutely I mean that that kinda sad his comeback in music
22:49 where you that the release sequenced kinda cause I techno
22:53 eaten pop stuff that's that's alive and well again
22:57 you know and and we were doing a lot of that stuff in those games back back
23:01 so you made you worked on the SN track to Sonics been balking there's a bit of
23:06 a story about the actual
23:07 intro of that game as well alright yes
23:10 I am they are told the story and numbered times
23:14 arm it was happy the release party
23:17 are they have the game up on like a little stand
23:20 where everyone could see it and play it and it was yasuharu came over
23:24 because i dun arrangement dreams come true track
23:28 from the other side on a games effect and
23:32 job yasar came over and said I don't think we're allowed to use that
23:36 so I am I think they I think they checked annually over a quick
23:41 and I went home that night and I just remember had a bad feeling
23:46 I thought well maybe I should go back to work and you know
23:49 just go back to work may be in your our bet and I got back
23:53 I roger was still there and
23:56 con one big honchos a guy named Shinobu Toyota was there
24:00 and a they said you you've got to you gotta redo that
24:05 the theme for the track
24:06 so and you've got two hours because they were up there were saying shipping that
24:11 thing out
24:11 photo of her so I did it and our
24:15 I I just came up with a tune the first thing that popped in my head
24:19 Hannah program Egyptian agenesis and
24:22 date they were hanging around there waiting I
24:27 Rogers you know who were waiting and I said okay come anne
24:31 and I i play for miss a call they loved it
24:34 so that that was a a fantastic yeah
24:38 so at yet who it and it's a pretty girl addicted DVD
24:42 DT and everything so I I'm a child in the seventies
24:46 so I love horn sections you know arm
24:50 and I never really had much opportunity use them except once I got testy hours I
24:54 call you can use them in people like it
24:56 great day I so you developed it
25:00 yeah I mean you make the music for couple a different tracks but there was
25:03 one track
25:03 in st. I that you really thought was like your
25:06 the I think he said with it was your baby almost because you're there right
25:10 from the very beginning
25:12 and air it with comic them right
25:15 oh yes yes that's that bad game for me that soundtrack is
25:21 you know is something that really proud of I
25:25 and I'm proud to the game that that we made his teen
25:28 up but we we're all very close Adrian Peter and I
25:33 and I was involved in that game relief from
25:36 even a prototype stage arm
25:40 because Peter Peter or Peter Moore was my body at the time we were just we go
25:44 out to lunch every day
25:45 and you know what we talk about work and girls but
25:48 of you know we we were always kinda branch starring
25:53 on this game and what should be in arm
25:57 you know any particular with me the music we we had an idea very are
26:01 early on that it would be this kind music that the
26:04 the the problem was how to really make that happen
26:08 in the genesis I'm so the
26:11 that you know i i want to work pretty early on trying to make some prototypes
26:16 music to get that thing the sound like a little rock band
26:19 and best way that I could exactly i mean
26:22 you you're saying her near like the actual intro sequence like with this
26:26 test 13 with the
26:27 Elvis impersonation I first started fantastic but a programming to actually
26:32 get book voices and a Mega Drive game like actual
26:35 Boyce but a real said that was meant to be like the band
26:38 tuning up at the start of the game exactly exactly
26:42 I and and that was that was the idea I had because
26:47 you know it it was I wanted to give the player this feeling like
26:51 first all the ban is accompanying you the whole game so I thought how cool
26:55 would it be over the logo you're hearing them tune up in warm up
26:58 you know like a ban does when you go and over her soul
27:01 you know the germans always be have you changed it our players always tuning
27:06 and bass players always riffing are
27:10 so I I kinda did that with the insurance inside
27:13 you know but but really being able to get so much digital audio on that game
27:17 I really cry a lot a drink Stevens because he
27:20 you know you generally could not do that in those days
27:24 is much audios I had no game with that that the sound effects
27:28 namely the sound effects but even being able to eke out that little
27:31 Elvis impersonation are she created
27:35 I his own little a special compressing
27:40 programming trick that he did that allowed us to cram more audio in that
27:44 game
27:45 and otherwise you'd be able to do so are
27:49 it to this day I i'm I'm thankful that he was able to do that cuz I really
27:52 think it it
27:53 enhance that came a lot death I mean there was a huge selection of tracks and
27:58 the music would
27:59 change very rapidly and yes even and you even have people IMing you actually
28:04 police acted in that game not
28:06 I did a lot yes ask a ants
28:09 you know made some personal attacks on people or d/b/a
28:12 the actual the actual voices some other more actually
28:17 10 particular is an imitation a friend of mine who was a
28:21 a it was pretty high up it's a haha
28:25 a hockey photos goof on a so
28:29 also for the sewer keeper I thought well we should do is use his voice
28:32 and so I just kinda do my really or the top English accent and %uh
28:37 I think the robot guy that was pure more work but then I kinda tweaked his voice
28:41 n
28:42 every all the voices in that thing were on how there was no voice talent hired
28:46 for
28:46 I grabbed a couple a different secretaries I were there
28:52 distract him and said hey can you screen do this you do that
28:56 if I was really find arm
28:59 I think one of the hardest side you know I said who's up for
29:02 like doing any boys as I didn't care you know but on
29:06 I thought well if I can get people to you know screaming in my a core
29:10 make enough noise as I could work with it and I was able to so that
29:13 that was really a lot of fun they checked I can imagine the directions
29:17 now I want you to scream like you've been electrified by meeting trash
29:21 all I know but you know people
29:24 you know people that's going on we're going to do one thing and then they get
29:26 have to do some like that was fun
29:28 it you know is a several every goes laughing and having a good time
29:32 and just take you you were the air elvis started the game when she
29:35 yes yes II that's that's me sing testing 12
29:40 your I and then in those in those days
29:44 all the Sega titles have this kinda branded say
29:47 a yeah the stang and I don't want to do that in this game I wanted to have it
29:52 something so i thought well why not just make it sound like the singer's warming
29:55 up to her
29:56 always big big fan of Elvis like out well let's do like seventies elvis
30:02 warming up to help me he isn't every game every game started by displaying
30:06 the Sega
30:07 thing but nearly every come been but the everyone did their whole
30:10 but different things to their own take on that you did basically in Alps
30:14 impersonation that was really cool
30:16 right right right so I am aside from
30:19 aside from am actually composing the music from the game
30:22 you actually took it one step further with do in the air
30:25 sanity check out the game with a live band yes
30:28 yeah I are I think
30:33 I can't remember how that came about but roger was able to get some budget for me
30:37 to go down LA and recorder band
30:41 on their and I think that that was for the release I love the game
30:45 in Europe because for the release of the game in the united states they put
30:49 together
30:50 marketing had put together like a compilation
30:53 I love a bunch big-name bands and put them on a CD any we get inside the game
30:59 the thing about me about that as I saw that is some
31:03 as a big marketing ploy you know it's gonna try and sell more units by
31:07 sticking this
31:08 compilation album a bunch a big bands that really have nothing to do with a
31:12 gang
31:13 I I thought that a lot of the the tracks
31:16 inside the game would translate very well and songs
31:19 so I was always pushing for that I am win that battle
31:24 up for the US release by we
31:27 we're able to get it in the in the European release
31:31 I can't remember if it was with the the Genesis or
31:34 Megadrive they call it release in Europe or was
31:38 makers around the area coming to PC release: can't remember which one
31:41 by I so thankfully I was able to get
31:45 I a budget come down here and I put together ban was some
31:49 somebody's mind and we won in the studio
31:52 we rehearsed once and then we just one studio on current awesome
31:56 and I there I played for those tracks from that air
32:00 remix band before and air like I said on the what
32:04 couple for the 100th at episode upbeat note and air
32:07 I think alt for now a play where the track the haven't played for this is ten
32:12 thousand knives
32:12 it is from Howard Ross and air you know full band version of the comics own
32:17 thang track
32:18 and which he tended Anna Bligh be called the ban
32:21 band roadkill as well yes yes after sketch turner's rats perhaps the meeting
32:27 to elect grass
32:28 but cool and there have a listen and hope you enjoy
32:35 down
32:53 chigney
33:58 me
34:11 she me
35:55 and
35:55 that was 10009 spiro to kill it was based on the same track by Howard
36:00 Russell from comics owned by Sega and take a technical issues and of course
36:04 broke election included Howard Roth himself and that was
36:07 pretty much formed by her trust in himself so at Dawson boy
36:11 ac the great song I mean there's a it's just a it's just a great thank track
36:16 it's just a lot of fun to play the game in here and then just
36:19 on the album into listen to love the songs and just much like more vibrant
36:23 and such
36:24 know Michael my only regret is that II didn't
36:28 arrange more them there just wasn't time because a
36:31 there were a lot of traction that game I really would love to turn and songs
36:35 and I that that's why I regret not having enough time to
36:40 you know do maybe five or six more
36:43 I mean I think a lot of us really like a la the tracks but time is something you
36:47 didn't
36:47 tend to be given a lot of i'm looking during your time in saying I mean
36:51 I think there was another album you worked on ever chill sonic this is the
36:55 one that
36:56 our previous track and virtual and returns toxic capes came from
36:59 you as a very short amount of time to for that
37:03 tracker for that at home yeah yeah i i wasn't given a lot of time to
37:08 a to do that to do that album and
37:12 a that that was a difficult one to share on but that's the nature of the business
37:17 you know especially being the only guy over there you know that there was
37:21 anything that needed music and and that sometimes it wasn't house stuff you know
37:25 say a presentation for a new game they need music for itself
37:29 I had I was really stretch a little fan
37:32 okay and just just summer tourist
37:35 virtual sonic album that was meant to spur the Luxor Hotel Las Vegas
37:39 at was a soundtrack but it with for something that never ended up happening
37:42 was it or
37:43 it was it was it was for I
37:46 it was going to be for sale there that's how it was for to me and then that
37:50 didn't happen and then it ended up coming out like
37:53 a few years later okay a as I actually did that
37:56 soundtrack yeah I did that album and I think 93
38:00 maybe 94 I can't remember but
38:03 it didn't come out on 95 or
38:06 thereabouts tomorrow on their am
38:09 one other thing as women about their the game also in a STI which you off to the
38:13 music for pets get
38:15 talked about that much it was the use yeste
38:18 yeah 100 experience with that game that
38:22 that was another soundtrack that was really really fun to do
38:25 I just finished comic Sound hi trade little time to do that one
38:29 on so I
38:32 it was a very unusual game II I liked it though I was terrible at it I'm terrible
38:37 at all the games I i some I just I'm not a talented game player
38:41 I get killed really fast perhaps I am but that came in particular was
38:45 was really tough at but I really liked it was unusual
38:48 and I I like the sound track I did for
38:52 I was just given you know in St II was pretty much given free reign to do
38:57 whatever I want it musically
38:59 as long as it kinda share arm
39:02 and that was another RRR could just do whatever I want
39:05 so it was just so much fun to work on it and
39:08 you know I can always inject a little humor here and there which I'm always
39:12 about that arm
39:14 I think after that whose whenever you would eat something big he would belch
39:19 yeah a all in the case a comic Sound
39:23 I I was able to sneak a fart sound the flagellation
39:27 yes I remember the strict now an and it almost got kicked out several times for
39:32 checking
39:33 outs from the testers there's a there's a fluctuation sound that happens we
39:37 think it's a bug
39:38 chip ex and his a fixed and I we subversive Lee release the game that way
39:44 shop but this issue now I i still everybody farts I think it's funny
39:49 to this day ok i jus much to the dismay of my white
39:54 I just remember you know you P look here 8d with a detached barn which is a week
39:59 writes down for me here
40:00 you know what exactly helmets remove here a little bit
40:05 I the I just hear that stupid
40:08 rather just part will try to cook pitched
40:11 right you know and we were just thinking this stuff just like
40:14 for the far side
40:16 my DI hapter I
40:19 but we would think in this crazy stuff while we were standing outside smoking
40:22 cigarettes
40:23 you know so it was you know what what if you know
40:26 not not really deep banking stuff either what if we put a fart and
40:30 I a
40:34 30 rushing on that game I
40:38 now I just I just love stuff i mean adenauer it's like
40:41 in game circus is a Clark there's a lot of people who want to push
40:45 medium four games to explore new frontiers and I mean I boys like back
40:49 proud
40:49 but I always just sheik speak but
40:52 I like yeah it should be fine and you know
40:56 a lot of stuff is really serious and I was like having no
40:59 a little comedy behind it you know what all little comic relief
41:04 yeah you know where's where's the lash it's all going to be so dark and
41:09 everything I have a laugh
41:10 this older there was your last %ah definitely definitely well
41:15 given that we've just clearly with added ashcroft the high point to this
41:18 contributor yeah hey I know it's one of the most entertainer chain parched
41:24 his as it was her I would be actually riveted
41:27 that last month you mile I wasn't using the term on ironically
41:31 ironically it it lit literally while want this
41:34 you know if those are with me at some point it's going to go to the bathroom
41:38 in outside I fairness
41:41 I'll avoid I am
41:45 but yes directly as a no no signing up for
41:49 but aa yeah the news whose was great fun
41:53 that was that was a a programmer by the name of Dave shanor was kind of his his
41:57 brainchild
41:58 and I you know he was he was
42:02 he was very cool to work with their whole team was very cool the work with
42:05 just like comic something you know it was it was a lot of work to do
42:09 but I have to say everybody I worked which there was really great an
42:14 it was it was just a fantastic place to be
42:17 really creative you know and I didn't have a lot of
42:20 I scrutiny
42:23 to get past you know I was the I was the music director shakur but I was the only
42:28 music
42:29 in there so it was kinda she I something I liked it
42:32 I approved it and as as long as I could talk to game designers and producers and
42:38 two
42:38 approving it which I would of course I
42:41 I I am
42:45 you know it wasn't cool I mean
42:48 use was definitely variant creative game and tricky basically
42:52 played a guy I've been turned into a puddle abuse and it was just
42:56 very Weirton interesting very can almost like American comic book style
43:00 which yeah miss yeah it was out there for sure
43:03 with her on it it was like something you would see a university like I developed
43:08 this new algorithm
43:09 or something and backward controlling a pilot do rather than a single character
43:13 me I it was clear there were some coat there was some
43:17 real coding going on there to try to manage everything less
43:20 I'm not sure they've been sold thank copies of it but but you know
43:23 after give him credit for or you know trying to push the boundary they're all
43:27 good
43:28 in town I'll I that thats that's one thing that strikes the media about the
43:31 goods just
43:32 how you know like it's just such a different from what you normally get
43:36 the pack or so am so after the use them
43:41 you still to distill you still work to one or two essay titled in you
43:45 I did yes after the news that was the last game that I worked on before I move
43:50 back down to the LA area
43:52 RKR are myself
43:56 P tomorrow can Adrian we wanted to
43:59 open a satellite studio downtown Los Angeles
44:02 and our they let us do that
44:06 I so we had our own little studio down here and then
44:10 you know we set up shop down here and they were working on their things and I
44:14 was still
44:15 doing music for all the games and STI it kinda transition area into
44:21 ever developing some stuff I
44:24 and mind you at that time to Jess's was history so
44:27 hmm about what I would seem to be focused a lot on
44:31 there was a %ah a man named Makoto cheetah
44:34 you cheat a song came over with his chain
44:37 from Japan and they were developing a lot of arcade step so I got the ball
44:41 back
44:41 in developing is a person who is these arcade games which would then get ported
44:46 over to the Dreamcast
44:47 yet so there was a lot of that going up on February 1 at risk and now
44:52 yet diehard arcade and dynamite cop I played a bit
44:55 it and think game where basically a ships been taken over by terrorists
44:59 and you go in as a cop and start beating the crap edible the Mets it acosta
45:03 its yeah to bury over-the-top game as well
45:07 yeah I L i know i I had seen too much about while I was working on it just
45:13 because there was an
45:14 much but it was just I was very busy with this homely development system on
45:19 this new board
45:20 with a female name of course cuz it was the Japanese development system
45:24 I am and I need a bike for computers to run it by needed like my Mac I need a PC
45:31 2pcs and a silicon graphics machines
45:34 I I have this whole like separate piece of hardware that look like it was like
45:39 at a frankenstein's laboratory
45:41 with fuses and thing sticking out of it and they set me up with this thing and
45:45 topping out you know show me how to turn it on and had a you know
45:49 send information to him to get it back it was crazy
45:52 so but are so what at what other one other games at after
45:56 after you know leaving sega's sexually that you know stick in your mind as
46:00 being like
46:01 you know good example the York and stuff after leaving Syria
46:06 well I am you know i i bounced around
46:10 I was getting more involved than and are film stuff
46:14 and I did do some other games I was involved in the vigilante 8 games
46:18 arm rates I I
46:22 I worked on a couple Baldur's Gate titles arm
46:27 that that stuff no I'm really proud of what I did on it
46:31 it wasn't really my bank so much I really did what I did
46:35 by it was that was kinda jumping into something is
46:39 in particular Baldur's Gate that was already Comments tab was five and they
46:42 were very much
46:43 interested in keeping Mac
46:46 back sounder that style going you know this kinda big of a
46:50 graphic I've which is really fun to do to
46:53 I so I
46:56 that was cool know it's it's not really so much to stand out for me
47:01 you know I like stuff I did on it I think
47:04 I you know and then after that I
47:07 really got involved I inchon stuff and that is that
47:11 just really starting on my time a chain that
47:14 and I was getting commercials and just there's a lot of stuff going on so
47:18 I didn't do game for a little while and tell Afro Samurai
47:22 okay cool are so I'm
47:25 I'm just basically you know the film was going on
47:28 and I'm just completely busy with her all the time
47:32 and you know I thought maybe even I was down mccain's I didn't know if I would
47:36 ever
47:36 do another game I am but
47:39 Afro Samurai came along and I thought it was a really great
47:44 opportunity to do something different again something really creative
47:47 okay any other yes impact okay well i play a track mac n
47:51 sure alright have a listen and hope you enjoy
47:58 in
48:14 where
48:21 okay
48:35 Hey
48:47 a
49:05 well
49:31 in
49:41 it
49:48 E
49:55 in that was a
50:04 very good mix there and that of course was at paid and it is
50:08 by Howard Roth it is from the video game am
50:11 Afro Samurai which was developed by Namco Bandai Games
50:16 an act like that there had a kinda like an nice big that the older news with
50:20 kinda all staff and then the record scratches and everything it was pride
50:24 yeah that now was that was a a lot of fun to do
50:29 there was another game that was really just a blast had to get work an Afro
50:32 Samurai then
50:33 well actually up mile from Roger Hector
50:37 wipe over to Namco Bandai arm
50:42 and I spoke with them one day in our catching up
50:46 and he said hey you know we're doing this came after a samurai
50:50 want you are come up and have a look at it so
50:53 I am I went up there in entering the game in
50:57 he said where you thank you know you do you want to do some music for
51:00 I said sure cool and and thats
51:04 the that was it you now well awesome it just
51:08 reach I mean it just shows how like in many critics have knowing
51:12 having the right can knowing the right people really helps and they're not
51:15 really helps is everything I relationships in this business
51:21 if there are any young aspiring composers out there its every check
51:25 arm you know that there's a lotta
51:28 really great talented people out there who
51:32 may not be getting the work because they don't have necessarily access
51:36 and you know this
51:39 there's people that have a lot more access to me but I'm sure lucky to have
51:42 had the access to certain people that I've had certain key people in my life
51:46 and that's usually the case with some people have had some success
51:51 usually boils down to one or two really key people
51:54 that were really good clients are really good contacts for them that
51:59 kind of help get them started and point in the right way
52:03 boy and
52:04 if anyone's interested i spose the question that be asking is well
52:07 I do you get these contacts you know sometimes it's just by pure down lock
52:13 I for me it it happen to
52:17 in the case roger it happened to be having a friend who just so happen to be
52:21 working at a game company
52:23 I'll and not high up a game company
52:27 though his brother he was a tester though his brother
52:30 I was a producer there so it is down lock
52:33 you'd be surprised at how many people in the industry
52:37 kind of got there first and threw you know maybe someone's and family or
52:41 someone a new
52:42 or a mentor that introduce them to the right people
52:46 there's usually something like that because it's very very difficult to do
52:51 unsolicited if you to show up on the door several production company with
52:56 your demo in your hand
52:58 you're not going to get a shot so arm
53:01 relationships are really what it's all about I can't I can't stress that enough
53:05 when I talk to people
53:06 who who want to be involved in business that's what I tell them
53:10 I mean I'll your it's an uncomfortable message for some cuz they wanna believe
53:15 that you know and it's
53:16 it's nice to believe everything is like a meritocracy and you know your ability
53:20 is the only thing that sells its so
53:22 sometimes if yeah unfortunately it's not
53:25 you now mom that's what's great about sports
53:29 you know or or running my cousin is an Olympic runner
53:33 she won a bronze medal in Athens for the marathon and our
53:37 what I love about her business the business running
53:41 it doesn't matter who you know it choose fast I
53:44 who gets from point A to point be the fastest without dying
53:48 are and I love that but it's not
53:52 it's not the same in the entertainment business care entertainment businesses
53:56 its to business filled with complex relationships
54:00 and I really think it's its you have to be able to deliver
54:04 I want to take anything away from that okay but that's important now
54:08 know you do need to be able to deliver high quality stuff but there's a lot of
54:12 people now they can do that
54:13 and the ones with the relationships those other guys are working more
54:16 okay and gets anger price well
54:20 I suppose it's I mean you know I think some people always suspected some degree
54:25 or other but it's good just have someone who is in the business is ready
54:28 you know knows just a give your view on this absolutely
54:32 yeah alright am this is a video game music show that swam folk singer but he
54:37 made a lot of
54:38 maybe tracks as well so i spose has we r
54:41 gradually wrapping up what movie same track do you feel the strongest
54:45 connection with are you most proud of
54:46 I gosh that's such a difficult question
54:51 on because I've been
54:54 involved in movies you know as a couple different roles as an orchestrator slash
54:59 ghostwriter
55:00 slash while not slash
55:03 composer are so are there things are really proud about
55:08 as an orchestrator there are things I'm really proud of
55:12 as a ghost writer but I didn't get credit for them arm
55:16 and there are things I'm proud him as a as a composer and you know I'm proud of
55:20 what we did on man with the iron fist
55:22 you know a couple tracks in particular on their om
55:27 Irish I need recently just in the second now with our interest
55:32 sound that's coming out and now in March
55:35 has a sequel so I am
55:38 but I I like that whole world you know that that's out that same Bible
55:42 Afro Samurai and and a
55:45 I'll a kinda doin' mashup she now
55:49 i know i i watch the man with the iron fists and I actually really I mean
55:52 I I haven't heard much about it but I really did like it I mean it was
55:56 it's kinda like a yet kinda like a martial arts Eastern but also kinda
56:00 fantasy film and it's clear I E
56:02 very much a labor of love i mean you're there baby they really cared about troop
56:06 buildup this whole
56:07 the universe that's fantastic arts down everything right right well that then
56:11 you got it right i i you know i i think it's one of those things that you want
56:14 to get some popcorn and have a few beers and have some fun
56:17 yeah
56:18 I guess that's what it's for and I think that that's that's what Rizza
56:22 intended you know yeah are ran
56:26 I think that he was successful at that and I think it's amazing that they
56:30 she called it as well sup yeah death
56:33 HP should be pretty in course reserve both you know
56:37 wrote it stars in it and also directed this in depth
56:40 think it's I'm looking forward I'm gonna try to watch
56:43 I dunno feel comes out in March in AM in Anna
56:46 here in Ireland but outdoor deftly be on the watch out for in any way
56:50 well it's cutting out I I don't think it's I don't think there's the Sikh was
56:54 being released in a few years i think is going straight to DVD
56:57 okay up by a I'm sure they'll be available along
57:02 online and you know like on demand or whatever it is
57:06 I'll def I'll watch it one way or the other there's certainly no shortage of
57:10 options list
57:11 Boracay it's for it says Canada continuing you know it's it's different
57:15 in the first film
57:16 by its its fine has a really cool fight scenes in it
57:19 and its its it's like the first time in a way that it's just fun right
57:24 you know especially if you like old martial arts films
57:27 I if you're if if you really did adult stuff which I do.
57:32 so like I said I'll be a look import seeing and man with the iron porn
57:36 52 and accuracy there anything else you got coming out in the future we should
57:40 pay attention to where the forty
57:42 I am working on something right now
57:45 but of course I can't talk about it I am
57:48 I'm very excited about it i cant wait till it comes out
57:52 and I'm hoping it will lead to other
57:55 a similar projects but I
57:58 I really can't talk about well-paid
58:02 fair enough we do not want to invoke the wrath of what I presumably
58:05 RA entertainment industry lawyers cuz is right right exactly yeah
58:10 those alright well listen am
58:13 Howard it has been utterly fantastic having on the show we talked about in
58:17 great stuff and I really enjoyed it and there are some great things to talk
58:20 about their
58:21 thank you very very much %uh it's been my pleasure David
58:25 and it normally am
58:27 normally I have a ending track to finish off the show but I think we've had
58:30 gone through mostar tracks and throw something out in a I'll be okay so
58:34 I think we'll just leave it there so thank you thanks to you howard
58:38 and M thank you everyone out there for listening at this is being day because
58:42 it knows we have been interviewing Howard rawson
58:45 video game and movie a music composer spin day because a bit knows
58:49 thank you very much for listening and all the best