Quick Look: Popular YouTube Vocalist Takes A Stab at VGM Music

We just got our hands on London-based Sabrina Valenzuela’s  adorable cover of Utada Hikaru’s “Simple and Clean” with a wonderful accompaniment from YouTube pianist, Alex Peniera. As a self-declared video game fan, Sabrina’s skill as a vocalist shines through, carefully integrating sentimental emotion and passion into one of Square Enix’s most popular theme songs.  Valenzuela has explicitly utilized her YouTube channel as a means of working to “become a better singer and songwriter”. However, we definitely have to applaud this lovely twenty-one year old YouTube songstress on her absolutely gorgeous voice and continued journey as a soloist.

Peep Sabrina Valenzuela’s latest video on top. While her VGM-related songs mostly involve Final Fantasy content, check out her YouTube channel here for more cute video game covers.

P.S. We’ve been thinking about implementing a ‘Quick Look’ series with videos and featured songs to ThaSauce to introduce emerging artists and musical twists within the VGM scene. While we’re also on this topic, I want to know what readers would like to see more of. What do you guys think? Shoot me an e-mail at [email protected]t and let me know!

Mazedude Announces Pre-Order EP, Talks About His Anticipated Album

Here at ThaSauce, we aim to advocate great releases that are often overlooked for the sake of promotional commercialism that continues to viciously saturate most video game news sites. That being said, we couldn’t stop ourselves from talking about Mazedude’s upcoming release that’s going to be downright ridiculous. If you don’t know who Mazedude is, chances are that you probably live under a rock. With over fifty outstanding remixes, Chris “Mazedude” Getman stands as one of the most popular composers on OverClocked ReMix. His 2005 debut album, American Dreams, has garnered attention from well-established talents such as Jeremy Soule, Jack Wall, Peter McConnell, and Doom lead designer John Romero. Breaking out of his seven-year hiatus, Mazedude’s newest follow-up American Pixels is definitely going to wreck 2012.

In honor of his long-awaited follow up, Mazedude has just released an amazing pre-order bonus EP entitled Star Spangled Chips that underlines his progressive talent as both a composer and remixer; like his last album, this EP exclusively covers American arrangements from Myst IV: Revelation, Medal of Honor, Bioshock, and Grim Fandango. While this album has been slated for a 2012 release, you should pre-order your copy of American Pixels to get your hands on pure win.

Thomas Nelson, remixer Ghetto Lee Lewis discusses his Rainless Days album

Thomas Nelson, better known in the arrangement community as Ghetto Lee Lewis (GLL), took some time to answer a few of my questions regarding his recent original album Rainless Days. It is the first album he has ever released, featuring somber and reflective solo piano. Nelson is no stranger to the remixing community; several of his tracks are posted on OverClocked ReMix covering games from Dragon Warrior to Tales of Phantasia in the style of trance. With Rainless Days, he uses his raw skill on the keys for an assortment of self-composed material.

As he mentioned in the description of his album page, the release “marks a transition in my life, going from a failed marriage and life of depression to being able to move on with my life and find happiness once again.” He elaborated further on this period of change:  “My wife filed for divorce back in March I think, and so I had to move out. We were married for just over two years. I’ve been living in an apartment with a roommate since then.” Nelson remarked on the album’s title, and how lack of rain “is a metaphor for the emptiness and loneliness I’ve felt for much of my life.” In his Nevada residence, the desert climate is such that rainfall is seen as a special and uplifting event.

Nelson started work on the album on June 6, 2011 and developed it over the course of the month. “I recorded “Song for Miku” about a week before I started on the other tracks.” He noted that the majority of Rainless Days was composed and recorded in about seven days, and completed over three weeks. Nelson produced the album himself and used a mastering preset created with the help of Prophecy. The release carries a floral motif, particularly a rose on the album cover and the song titles “Roses in June” and “Sunflowers”. Nelson acknowledged this as being a deliberate theme. “Flowers are often a symbol of beauty and romance. They can also signify change, since flowers bloom, they wilt, and they die.”

As Nelson specified, the album “was performed on a Casio WK-1800 76 key keyboard, recorded to MIDI into FL studio. The samples are from Tonehammer Emotional Piano sample library.” Nelson has been outspoken on his views of performance versus sequenced piano, which he reaffirms when he cautiously states, “The interpretation of dynamic changes during a performance isn’t supposed to mathematically follow what’s written on paper. Any experienced performer knows this and is able to give music proper rhythm and emotion during a performance. However, it’s just simply not easy to put down on a sequencer.” He also prefers to play an acoustic piano rather than a keyboard, but is unable to move one into his apartment for the time being. “I hope to upgrade my gear to a more playable MIDI controller, probably to a Yamaha KX-88.”

Two songs on Rainless Days make direct references to people with whom he has been acquainted: “Song for Miku” and “Jenni’s Song”. He explained, “I met Miku playing an online chat game, and kind of fell in love with her. I was going through severe depression at the time and she inspired me to actually do something about it. We had kind of a falling out later, but that’s beside the point. I met Jenni playing that same chat game, and became good friends with her.” He was informed of an attack that caused her to be taken to a hospital. “Her song was really just about how I cared about her and didn’t want to lose her. Luckily, she had a speedy recovery, and she’s fine now.”

Nelson is an avid participant in competition compositions. He recalled the time when his interest in compos began. “I met starla during a Las Vegas meetup, and she told me to start participating in One Hour Compo. I’ve entered a few other ones in the past, just because I thought it would be fun, and I had friends who were entering to compete against. So I’ve done OHC on ThaSauce a few times; I’ve done FLMC, PRC, BEER (on OC ReMix), and a few others.” Although compos are generally done to hone one’s craft, he also stated that he hasn’t “really participated in enough of them to improve my efficiency. If anything, I think recording this album helped improve my efficiency of creating new music.”

He acknowledges many inspirations for his music in general. From within OCR, Nelson cites Prophecy, bLiNd, DJ Carbunk1e, FFmusic DJ, Spekkosaurus, Russell Cox, goat, Sir NutS and SgtRama. Outside the community, his influences include Rachmaninov, Beethoven, Robert Miles, Tiësto, Rammstein, Danny Elfman, Nightwish, Juno Reactor, Master P, Dr. Dre, Journey, Guns N’ Roses, Enya, Nobuo Uematsu, Koji Kondo and Koichi Sugiyama.

Rainless Days is available on Bandcamp to stream for free, or as a paid download. Nelson hopes that listeners will support him though his commercial release. “By supporting my music you’re helping me pay rent, buy food, and make more great music. Recommend it to your friends and family too. Thanks!”

DannyB Reveals New Song for Forthcoming Shooter

Composer extraordinaire Danny Baranowsky, also known as DannyB, has just released a new song for Super Meat Boy co-creator Edmund McMillen’s upcoming game, The Binding of Isaac. As his first non-Team Meat project, McMillen’s new shooter has been described as a interesting cross between the Legend of Zelda series, the Bible, and Satanism. Two words: absolutely stoked. With an awesome industrial score to be expected from DannyB, we’re pumped for forthcoming release of The Binding of Isaac, coming to Steam next month!

Although the official soundtrack is still in progress, check out DannyB’s new song “Sacrificial” for The Binding of Isaac right here.

Straight Outta Console: The Nintendo Thumb Mixtape Out Now!

Bursting right out of the Sunshine State, the self-proclaimed record nerd and philosopher For Beat’s Sake has just tweeted about a brand new mixtape featuring some up-and-coming talents like Heath McNease, Davey Rockit, Playdough, Manchild, Red Cloud, and various artists. Although a tenderfoot to the VGM scene, this talented dude mixes in his own crude style with Nintendo samples to create an exquisitely real sound that leaves you wanting more.  For Beat’s Sake’s work on Straight Outta Console: The Nintendo Thumb Mixtape is no exception, as this particular release demonstrates his own proficiency as an artist to bring beats to the next level.

Check out Straight Outta Console: The Nintendo Thumb Mixtape today, available now on Bandcamp.

MAGFest X Announced

Predicted to be the “absolute biggest year ever”, the 10th annual Music and Gaming Festival has just been announced.  If you’re unaware of one of the most anticipated events in VGM community, get in the know: started by Brendan Becker in 2002, MAGFest is an annual event by fans devoted to the celebration of video games and video game music for fans. Since then, attendance has increased drastically while MAGFest’s theatrics get bigger and better each and every year.

An official MAGFest announcement has confirmed mind-blowing performances from Random Encounter and The Megas as well as appearances from special guests Arin “Egoraptor” Hanson, mastermind behind the “Awesome” series of flash video game parody cartoons, and Jon St. John, the voice responsible for the badassery of the Duke Nukem we’ve grown to love. More guests and musicians will also be announced soon.

MAGFest X will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland on January 5-8, 2012. Pre-register today to ensure your attendance to one of the most exciting events of the year!

 

Please Press Play: Akira Yamaoka’s Play for Japan Released Today

In a wonderfully heartfelt response to the devastating tragedy that tore through Japan on March 11th, Akira Yamaoka has reached out and organized a benefit album with one simple, inspiring message in mind: “Japan is not alone.” Aptly entitled Play For Japan, Yamaoka hopes to reach out to those affected by both the tsunamis and Tohoku earthquake as well as raise awareness of Japan’s invaluable contributions through technology, entertainment, and culture.

Yamaoka, known for his continued involvement within the Silent Hill series as both producer and sound director, has secured the participation of several prominent composers within the VGM scene. Koji Kondo (Mario/Zelda series), Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger series), Woody Jackson (L.A. Noire), Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy series), Inon Zur (Fallout series), Laura Shigihara (Plants vs. Zombies, see recent ThaSauce articles here and here), Hip Tanaka (Earthbound), and Jason Graves (Dead Space series) are just a few of the superb talents that have confirmed involvement with the Play For Japan project.

Yamaoka has also expressed his own concern of bringing together game and music enthusiasts alike through Play For Japan: “In the videogame industry, composers like myself are responsible for engaging the player through music. Music, too, creates bonds, inspiring listeners to share their passion with others. In this spirit, many gifted composers, musicians and artists — from East and West — have come together to record a benefit album. For creators whose role is to inspire, it’s only fitting we come together, across borderlines, for those in need.”

Out now on the iTunes Store in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, Play For Japan will become available worldwide on July 15th through iTunes and Amazon. 100% of the proceeds will go towards the relief efforts in Japan. If not for Play For Music’s inspirational message alone, we hope you take your time out to definitely press play for Japan.

Laura Shigihara Posts New Original for Upcoming Indie Game

With her recent collaboration with brilliant composers Akira Yamaoka and Woody Jackson to help create a charity album for Japanese tsunami and earthquake victims and the considerable attention being paid to her work, Laura Shigihara has been quite the busy bee lately.  Even so, this lovely lady still has time to produce soulful, enchanting tunes that are probably capable of rendering even the cruelest war-waging cyborgs useless. Written for Ken “Reives” Gao’s upcoming adventure game To The Moon, the acclaimed Plants vs. Zombies composer has delivered yet another delightful gem to add to her continued success — make sure you click the play button above to listen to Laura’s new original song, “Everything’s Alright”.

Mammoth Sound Presents: “The Day After…” @ The Geek Easy

Attention Nerdapalooza fans! If you’re still in Orlando after one of the biggest festival events of the year, come get your nerd on at The Geek Easy on July 18th for a special night of exciting new acts and spectacular encores. With lively performances from nerdcore legends including YTCracker, Mega Ran, and Shael Riley, this insane line-up will definitely blow your mind and leave you wanting more. A special after-show performance is also scheduled to follow from none other than the SKILL FOCUS: BURLESQUE, Orlando’s exclusive nerdy burlesque troupe!

For more information on Mammoth Sound Presents: “The Day After…”, click here. You can also pre-order your tickets online or just show up for a $10 cover. If you’re broke like me, bring a copy of the flyer or a NAP2011 ticket to get a $5 discount. Doors open at 6 pm.

Remember to bring your friends, frenemies, lovers, and cute dogs. Well, maybe not cute dogs. Unless you have a Corgi…

NiGHTS: Lucid Dreaming Just Released!

In an earlier update, we recently mentioned the trailer release for Stevo “Level 99” Bortz’s long awaited project. With over thirty talented musicians skillfully arranging tracks from Sega classic NiGHTS into dreams… over the past two years, this project highlights the first Sega Saturn title to receive an OverClocked ReMix album.

Today marks the official release of NiGHTS: Lucid Dreaming! Directly created by fans for fans, this project features a diverse array of genres that have been influenced by the NiGHTS musical dreamscape motif. Lucid Dreaming has also had the luck of being the first OC ReMix album to be heard by both the game’s creators and lead composer.

With the project intending to promote the music of NiGHTS into dreams…, Bortz recalls about his own unique vision for the project: “To me, NiGHTS into dreams… defines what the essence of the Sega of old was: creative, original, adventurous, and memorable. The music was the most memorable part of the game for me: I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for 15 years now. Despite being a cult classic, NiGHTS has not received its due attention over the years. Two years ago, I started this album, hoping to pay respect to the music, the game, and their creators through art and sound. I couldn’t be more proud of the amazing work everyone put into this album, and I hope you all enjoy it!”

So there you have it. Congratulations to OC ReMix, Bortz, and everyone involved for giving us such a solid album. NiGHTS: Lucid Dreaming is available for free download here.