Whether or not you recognize Simon Viklund because the composer of the Payday franchise’s emblematic dubstep/EDM/techno soundtracks or because the voice of Bain in the identical sequence, his identify is at all times related to heavy-hitter motion video games. He’s recognized for his work on Bandits: Phoenix Rising, Bionic Commando, Lifeless by Daylight, and naturally, Payday: The Heist and Payday 2.
For Polygon FM — our weeklong take a look at the way in which music and gaming interweave with one another — Viklund discusses his early inspirations and why wonky rhythms make good online game music.
Polygon: Was there a sport soundtrack or track that impressed you to pursue creating sport music? Are you able to set the scene of what that felt like for you, and why the music was so efficient?
Simon Viklund: I used to be considerably obsessive about NES music after I was a child, to the purpose the place I recorded Megaman 1-3 music off the TV to cassette tape in order that I may hearken to it after I wasn’t enjoying. The music on the NES was extraordinarily efficient as a result of the primitive sound chip pressured the composers to rearrange economically and depend on nice harmonies and melodies. My scorching take is that the music within the 16-bit period wasn’t nearly as good as a result of the tech sounded extra like precise devices however not fairly — it was just like the uncanny valley of sampled devices — and composers began to over-rely on the instruments.
Are you able to break down one among your individual songs and its influences? Was it impressed by sport soundtracks, different music, or one thing else?
I made a observe known as “Inject” that was written particularly for the identify reveal trailer for Den of Wolves, a techno thriller heist co-op sport we’re engaged on at 10 Chambers. We needed the trailer to go away the viewer with a way of “oh hell yeah, that’s bad-ass,” and I listened to half-tempo bass music for inspiration.
There’s this observe known as “Arbiter” by Draeden, which has what I’d name a trap-inspired beat, and I’m probably not into entice however I cherished what Draeden did and drew closely from that individual observe. “Inject” is mainly drums and one synth melody, with many of the bass coming from an 808 that goes with the kick drum. In different phrases, there’s not quite a bit [of] layers to it, and so every part actually has to shine. I spent plenty of time making the kick very punchy, the snare snappy, and so forth.
One other facet was my thought to make the music sound form of “wonky” and never pitch excellent or quantized (i.e. not rhythmically excellent). My thought was that it could assist the music turn out to be a bit extra ear-wormy beacuse it could form of really feel “off.” I spent plenty of time making the groove sloppy timing-wise, and the synths screech and wobble a bit prefer it wasn’t intentional though it was. I had plenty of enjoyable exploring new concepts, pushing out of my consolation zone and studying new methods whereas making “Inject”!
What are the principle devices used to file the soundtrack for the Payday sequence? How did you select these devices?
Payday has plenty of drum loops and distorted synths, however each as soon as in awhile there’s some actual electrical guitar and bass in there. After we have been creating Payday: The Heist again in 2010-2011, my intestine feeling stated the selection for the music was between leaning into the sport’s Hollywood film inspiration with cinematic music, or leaning into the “outlaw energy fantasy” with one thing extra rock ‘n’ roll. I went with the latter.
Is there anything we should always find out about your method to composing online game music?
It doesn’t come simple for me. It’s laborious. I don’t use venture templates, though in all probability I ought to. Each time I sit all the way down to make one other observe, it’s a clear slate, and I’m going “How do you do that once more?” There are such a lot of instructions a soundtrack or a person observe can go, it’s simple to get alternative paralysis. I would like time, I have to attempt to fail, and I would like different folks on the venture to assist me via the method — with path and help via endurance. So the method is difficult, however I really like doing it!
