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Interview With Composer David John

Profile by Jay Watamaniuk

As someone who has had the privilege to watch a game being developed from early concepts to finished product it never ceases to amaze me the profound effect that adding music can have on a game play. There is something that music brings to a game, a movie, even a commercial, that can heighten just about any emotion and thereby weave a far more profound experience for the listener. We spoke with David John, a Canadian composer, who was contracted to compose some exceptional music for the premium Neverwinter Nights modules on sale now at the BioWare Online Store.

Where can I read more about David John?

• www.david-john.com
• NWVault Interview

What is your training and experience in composing music?

I've been studying classical guitar for about 11 years now, and that always plays a big role when I sit down to compose. From the start, I've always been interested in composing, be it for the guitar or games. There is so much satisfaction creating something whose purpose is simply to be listened to and enjoyed, an end in itself. In games the role is similar, but there are some differences. Music is a single element in an array of different resources that play a role in making a game enjoyable. Being somewhat biased however, I think that music can add so much to a game. It adds raw emotion that can make a good game great, working hand in hand with great storylines and environments. Music can summon emotions and make the experience more then three dimensional. The evolving technology of dynamic music in games is something that really excites me. I think that dynamic music can bring games to another level by giving the games qualities that before were only available to film. Music adapting to situations as they change about you.

Back to the question :o). I've been studying orchestration on my own for the last couple of years, working through some great texts and studying film scores, as well as great symphonies from the past. I've always been fascinated by orchestral music; there is such a wide range of emotions that can be coaxed out by an accomplished composer.

Where might we have heard some of your work?

I have some pieces available at NWVault for download. I've also just finished scoring a promotional trailer for the very popular Half-Life mod Natural Selection. The trailer should be available soon. I contributed 40+ minutes of music to the DLA mod, of which some clips are available on the site. My website also has some demos available that aren't available anywhere else. And the BioWare Premium modules of course!

How did you get interested in creating music for video games? Did this interest come from work in other areas?

I really started getting into music for games as a direct result from the music composed for Total Annihilation, then Baldur's Gate II. They just blew me away. I was impressed at the time, but didn't start actually composing for games until a few years later.

Once Neverwinter Nights became available, a whole world opened up giving anyone with a great idea, perseverance, and determination the ability to create an adventure of their own. This created an avenue for lots of budding composers to get their chops in order and gain some insight into game development.

What tools and instruments do you use when creating music? Do computers feature heavily?

I'm still a guitarist at heart, so the majority of my compositions start with an idea, be it a simple progression or melody, on the guitar. At that point I will sit down at the computer and begin composing. A lot depends on what it is I'm composing. Every little bit of info helps, especially concept art. Pictures are truly worth a thousand words in this instance.

Computers feature very heavily in what I do. Technology has come such a long way in the past few years. And I'm excited about where it's going. But alas, computers can be frustrating at times. Back up now, back up often, back up always. :o)

What is the most important difference you have found in creating music as a professional vs. as a hobby?

I found that they are two completely different things. When composing for yourself, and for no other reason, you have only yourself to please. And if others like it when it's done, it's just a symptom of the initial enjoyment of creating it.

However, when you've been hired to compose something, it's a different matter. There are expectations a developer has that must be met. Sometimes it's more difficult to see the vision that the developer has for a particular piece. Communication is very important at this stage. But there is a great amount of satisfaction when you hit the nail on the head, or take the piece to a place that they had not thought of, exceeding their expectations.

What serves as inspiration when you are tasked with composing?

So many things can be inspirational. I draw inspiration from anything and everything I have that's related to the project I'm working on. Like music, good artwork can evoke emotions and an overall feel of the direction that the music should head in. It's a matter of capturing the essence of what the game, or a certain situation in the game, is trying to immerse the player in and adding to that. It can be challenging at times, but the satisfaction when you get it just right is very rewarding.

Without thinking, name 5 bands/composers that everybody should listen to.

Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Copland, Dvorak, and of course Holst. So much great film and game music is influenced by these composers, especially Holsts' The Planets. Anyone who is a fan of modern film soundtracks should have a listen to their works. For bands, off the top of my head my favorite is King Crimson, and their work between 1972-77.

But there are just too many great bands to mention them all, and I'm already pushing it with 6 names :o).

Lastly, I'd like to thank Jay, and everyone at BioWare for giving me the opportunity to do this interview.

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