It was officially announced today that I am the composer of the score for Bioshock Infinite. I can honestly say that this is a stunningly beautiful and fascinating game unlike anything ever made. It has been exciting to be a part of it and I'm very proud of my score - I am really looking forward to the games release on March 26th 2013! For one thing I can't wait to play it!
I was asked for a quote today and here is what I wrote:
It doesn't get any better for a composer than to be able to score a game as remarkable as Bioshock Infinite. It provided a vast canvas filled with extraordinary and completely unique characters and situations that permitted me to be creative in ways that we composers usually only dream of. Much thanks goes to Ken Levine and the entire team at Irrational for inventing such an astonishing world and then letting me write music for it!
Ken Levine's quote:
We're proud to announce that Garry Schyman, composer of BioShock 1 and 2 has returned to the composer's chair for BioShock Infinite. His score is very different from the first two games, yet very much guided by the same aesthetic principles. We were lucky to have him and I can't wait until you get to hear some of his stuff. He's working in a different, sparer style, but it's awesome."
I composed a new song for Matt Hardings latest video released today. It really is remarkable and I recommend that everyone check it out. It includes lyrics by Alicia Lemke and Matt Harding.
The Melbourne Sympphony Orchestra will be performaning two works from my score for Bioshock 2 at concerts on the 11th and 12th of April 2012 at the
Plenary Hall, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
More information about the concerts are available at the MSO's website -
Seats for the panel are sold out but fans who still want to meet and have me and the other composers sign soundtracks and/or BioShock stuff, can attend the open signing from 4PM.
April 24, 2011
A concert of my music will be performed at California State University Northridge on the evening of May 9th. Tickets are free and can be obtained by calling the Ticket Office at (818) 677-2488.
This orchestral concert will include a performance of my selected scores to include Bioshock 1 and 2 and Dante's Inferno. Additionally the 2nd movement of my Viola Concerto "Zingaro" will see it's world premier.
Much thanks to Elizabeth sellers and John Buonmassa of CSUN for making this possible!
__________________________________________
February 8, 2011
I am very pleased to announce that two of my scores have been honored with multiple nominations by the Game Audio Network Guild today. This is a particular honor as the nominations are made by colleagues who themselves compose for the industry.
I would like to thank Electronic Arts and 2K Games for trusting their projects to me and for the amazing creative collaboration they permitted.
MUSIC OF THE YEAR
Bioshock 2
Dante's Inferno
BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
Bioshock 2
Dante's Inferno
BEST INTERACTIVE SCORE
Dante's Inferno
BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL - CHORAL
"Dante's Theme" - Dante's Inferno
"Redemption" - Dante's Inferno
AUDIO OF THE YEAR
Dante’s Inferno
January 13, 2011
I am very pleased to announce that I have named composer of the year by the Annual Original Sound Version Original Soundtrack of the Year (OSVOSTOTY) Awards:
Composer Of The Year
With much appreciate to all of those who nominated and voted for my music in 2010
December 30, 2010
I am very pleased to announce that I was given the 2010 SEMO Annual Game Music Award for "Outstanding Contribution By A composer - Western"
"With a highbrow sequel soundtrack (BioShock 2), a daring international collaboration (Front Mission Evolved), and an incredible melange of horror and opera (Dante's Inferno), Garry Schyman's artistic achievements in game music were superlative throughout 2010."
Much Thanks to SEMO and all of those involved in my selection!
December 22, 2010
I am pleased to announce my nomination by the SEMO Annual Game Music Awards 2010 in two categories:
Best score: Dante’s Inferno &
Outstanding Contribution by a Composer -
Garry Schyman (BioShock 2, Dante’s Inferno)
October 14, 2010
My score for BioShock 2 was nominated yesterday By the Hollywood Music In Media Awards Committee for Best Original Score for a Video Game. I am grateful to those who nominated my music and to the many people at 2K Marin who made such an amazing game. My special appreciation goes out to the audio director Michael Kamper and creative director Jordan Thomas!
May 30, 2010
Some video from Garry's London/Abbey Road recording sessions with the Philharmonia orchestra to record his score for Dante's Inferno
April 23, 2010
I have been invited to Sweden by the Malmo Symphony Orchestra to attend the world premier of a suite of my music from BioShock 2. Two cues from my Dante's Infero score will be performned as well. The concert is to be held on May 21st and I am very much looking forward to my first visit to Sweden and, of course, to hearing the performance by this fine orchestra.
I would like to thank the Malmo Symphony as well as the Malmo Music University for hosting my visit.
March 14, 2010
Four recent reviews of my scores for Dante's Inferno and BioShock
Square Enix Music
The score for BioShock marks one of the most satisfying matches of narrative and musical accompaniment in game history: the music successfully mirrors the game's period setting, its location, its habitants, and its ambiguous history and what remains of it. Hitting all these marks, while producing a game soundtrack quite unlike any other, Schyman can lay claim to having composed a modern game score classic.
Higher Plain Music
Technically stunning and flawless, the way it captures the essence of the otherworld is memorizing and is already vying for Higher Plain Music’s 2010 soundtrack of the year award.
Square Enix Music
... it is one of the most intriguing and fascinating scores game music has produced in a while and shows how many more creative venues are still there to be explored by game composers who deploy orchestras to create their scores. ... Schyman further cements his reputation as one of game music's most interesting and innovative composers.
G4TV
With this release, Schyman has definitely captured what he has described as “the scary, grotesque, beautiful and tortured sounds” of this game world. The orchestrations are big and pristinely recorded affairs, appropriate, as the scoring was done at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, played by the Philharmonia Orchestra with the Metro Voice, both of which are on excellent display...
March 2, 2010
Reviews, interviews and review quotes are in on my scores for Dante's
Inferno and BioShock 2 and I am very please to share them with you.
MSXBox World
-
“The audio is very good and is probably the best part of the game.”
“The music is chilling and epic in nature, and helps drive Dante onwards as he reaches deeper into the pits of depravity”
Terminal Gamer
-
The soundtrack to Dante’s Inferno is a work of art in itself. The score follows the darkness of Hell fittingly and enhances the overall mood of your journey.
Telegraph UK
-
…note-perfect and the menacing orchestral score by Garry Schyman (who also composed the music for the recently released BioShock 2 is excellent
The Sixth Axis
-
It is the musical score written and produced by Garry Schyman and recorded by the Philharmonia Orchestra and Metro Voices Choir at Abbey Road Studios which so perfectly accompanies the action as Dante journeys through the nine circles of hell.
… There is one point where you are floating across the Styx Marshes using your ranged holy cross attacks to keep the winged beasts at bay when you reach the shoreline the music changes perfectly to the grandeur that is happening on screen as something amazing happens.
I’m not going to go in to detail for fear of spoiling it for the people who are still to experience it, but suffice to say it is my favourite moment in all of gaming, where the action, graphics and importantly musical score combine in to something which blew my mind.
Gaming Target
-
“The soundtrack is comprised of haunting orchestral numbers, sometimes grand and other times eerie. It fits the game perfectly.”
IGN UK
-
Matt Wales
“Hell's soundscape is beautifully realised and frequently oppressive and the bombastic score does it job well.”
Arrived on Scene
-
…the soundtrack too was a fantastic compliment to the game.
Got Game
-
The score successfully creates the blockbuster feel when it heightens areas. Boss fights have some of the best music in the title. When the score is augmented by screaming, the title hits that “epic” mark.
Brutal Gamer
-
There are huge orchestral scores soaring away in the background like some tragic German Opera and they all capture the tone of the game perfectly.
Elder Geek
-
Rounding off the excellent presentation is a haunting score by Garry Schyman, the composer behind Bioshock and its sequel.
Amazon
-
The musical score compliments the titanic battle scenes well, as well as the generally unsettled feeling of the whole setting. Crank this game up on a 5.1 surround sound system to truly enjoy its cinematic splendor. Soundtrack: haunting and powerful, orchestra and opera-style vocals provide additional feelings of being trapped in a place of loathing and incredible power for which one should "abandon all hope, ye who enter here"
Shogun Gamer
-
By now I’m probably sounding like an overly critical game nerd but the one part of Dante’s Inferno that absolutely shines is the sound design, soundtrack and voice acting. We all know that EA always brings it to the table with the production values of their games but listening to the haunting score of Dante’s Inferno almost makes me think the bar has been raised for future EA games. The soundtrack perfectly captures that grand feeling as you travel through Hell and each section of course has its own theme which at times can be quite chilling due to the string heavy orchestrations, especially when you hear an almost gothic choir track start playing as you walk by a massive structure or descend into a place that you know is filled to the brim with things that want to kill you.
With a game like Dante’s Inferno it could’ve been rather easy to perhaps over-do certain themes which would’ve resulted in a bloated score but throughout the game the soundtrack never once over plays a key dramatic moment or action scenario and at times it can be rather subtle, something that you might not have expected from a game that takes place in Hell.
3D Juegos
-
Finally, speaking of the sound, it is noteworthy that this is probably the most solid section of Dante's Inferno. The music is simply great…
IGN
-
The soundtrack is notable, thanks to the orchestral score and choral presentation.
G4TV
-
Sounds from the Lighthouse - The BioShock 2 Soundtrack Album Review
Kotaku
-
A Fiddler’s Delight: Garry Schyman returns to score BioShock’s soundtrack and once again captures the desolate nature of the game through strong overtones of solo violin tracks. The game also features classic songs from the 1950s that provide a strange juxtaposition to the events happening in the game.
God Is Geek
-
The score to Bioshock 2 was composed by Garry Schyman with the aid of a 60-piece ensemble and it certainly shows. The music is consistently fantastic throughout the course of the game, especially during the Big Sister battles. The sheer panic of those moments and many others is captured perfectly through the stunning score.
Ultra Review
-
The soundtrack has been crafted by the award winning composer Garry Schyman that exemplifies and reflects a distinctive appeal that forms a hall mark of the Bioshock 2 game play exclusive sound architecture.
The Elder Geek
-
Rounding off the excellent presentation is a haunting score by Garry Schyman, the composer behind Bioshock and its sequel
Xbox World Austrailia
-
Aurally, the sounds of the city are just as pleasing. Garry Schyman is once again at the helm, and hasn't failed in his duty to deliver an exhilarating and familiar ride through Rapture. Having worked on the original BioShock, and won numerous awards might I add, there was never going to be another person for the job. There isn't a moment he can't capture – and the score in BioShock 2 will evoke a large number of emotions from you, completing the experience.
Big Shiny Robot
-
Another portion of the game that really stands out is the music. The soundtrack to the game is beautifully mesmerizing. From the stylized load screen music to the great symphonic score, I feel the music from this game compete’s with the soundtrack from Modern Warfare 2. Blend the well composed music with terrifying splicers, and a beautiful underwater world, and you get the greatest overall immersion that a game can create. If anything can be said of the Bioshock team, they know how to place you in a world, that not only terrifies you, it enthralls you.
Twin Galaxies
-
Aside from the iconic settings and characters of Rapture, one of the strongest atmospheric features of the original BioShock was its orchestral score. Therefore, fans will be delighted to hear that the composer, Garry Schyman, has returned to work on the upcoming sequel.
GamePro
-
“Garry Schyman, BioShock's award-winning composer also returns with another skillfully crafted score that expertly captures Rapture's distinctive aesthetic while complementing the game's stellar voice acting and ambient sound design.”
IGN Australia
-
…plus a wonderfully moving orchestral score.” (Score of 9.5 out of 10 in the “sound” category)
GameZone
-
“The music and sound effects are also fantastic. The soundtrack features an atmospheric score complemented by songs from the era, just as in the first game. The sound effects also make for some terrifying ambience and sound great. The voice acting is also nicely done.”
“The game’s sound effects are great, lending a great element to the ambience and giving Rapture a unique feel. The music also sounds very good, with score elements as well as classic music from the era.” (score of 9.0 out of 10 in the “sound” category)
MS Xbox World
-
“The music featured throughout the game, and even in the menus, is nothing short of staggering. It's not 'quite' what we listen to these days, but that dated and calm sense the music has doesn't half fit all too well in this beautifully battered, aged and eerie underwater city.”
(score of 9.5 out of 10 in the “sound” category)
Cheat Code Central
-
“The background music, effects, and voice acting are amazing.” (score of 4.7 out of 5 in the “music/sound FX/ Voice Acting” category)
Game Informer
-
“One of the best soundtracks I’ve heard in awhile.”
Destructoid
-
Interview with the BioShock 2’s Audio Director Michael Kamper and Creative Director Jordan Thomas
“Like I said, I cannot speak highly enough about Garry and his work. He's like the only composer I ever want to work with again because the experience of working with him was so wonderful that I can't imagine it being any better than that.” (Kamper)
“[Garry's] score just works so well. He would just play some of that stuff for us and we'd be blown away each time.” (Kamper)
“Garry Schyman shapes what's almost orchestral noise into these really creepy cues. He recorded a lot of that for BioShock 2, so I'm sure that you'll be unfelled by the music.” (Thomas)
Telegraph UK
-
Garry Schyman manages the trick of being creepy, beautiful and jarring all at the same time.
Interviews with Garry Schyman, regarding the BioShock 2 and Dante's Inferno scores:
The Dante's Inferno score is available on iTunes and Amazon MP3
The BioShock 2 score is only available to those who buy the special edition of the game for now.
February 2, 2010
Century City Masterworks has published my Viola Conertor
Zingaro
. I am looking forward to a great collaboration with CC Masterworks
January 24, 2010
I did an interview with Annette Gonzalez of
Gameinformer
. Much thanks to Annette for a great article!
December 30, 2009
Welcome to my new website. Much thanks to Joe Matzzie of Studio Miracles for his design.
- Garry Schyman
September 09, 2009
Visceral Games Announces Award-Winning Composer Garry Schyman to Score Dante`s Inferno
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Off to London to Record
I leave tomorrow July 17th for London to record the orchestral score for EA's Dante's Inferno. I am very excited to be recording at the historic Abbey Road Studio with the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Metro Voices choir. This is a very unusual score (I suppose it had to be to score the underworld) and I am very much looking forward to working with the awesome players and singers across the pond.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Hollywood Music Awards
I am very pleased to announced that I was given an award for my song Praan under the category of "best music video" this past week on Thursday Nov. 20th 2008.
Thanks to Matt Harding for hiring me! Thanks to Palbasha Siddique, Dan Blessinger and Kevin Dukes for adding their amazing musicianship to the song!
And thanks to everyone at the Hollywood Music Awards for recognizing Praan.
Garry
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Hollywood Music Awards Nomination
I am very pleased to announced the my score for BioShock has been nominated yet again. I have been honored with a nomination by the Hollywood Music Awards and the winner will be announced Thursday November 20th at a ceremony at the Hollywood Highlands Hotel in Hollywood.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
New Matt Harding Video on youtube
My score/song for Matt Harding's latest video is now up on youtube and Vimeo and has received over seven million views so far (first three weeks). For those interested here's the link and my album notes that was not published with the song on Amazonmp3.com. Youtube Amazon
Album notes "Praan"
Credits:
Music By Garry Schyman
Drums and Engineering Dan Blessinger
Vocals Palbasha Siddique
Guitars and bass Kevin Dukes
Concertmaster Belinda Broughton
Orchestral contractor Ross DeRoche (DeRoche Music Inc.)
Vocal Contractor Melissa Nixon
Lyrics adapted from the poem "Stream Of Life" from Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore
This song is my fourth collaboration with Matt Harding. How we met and got started working together is an interesting story in itself, without detailing it here I will just say it is one of those serendipitous events that can play a big part in ones life.
I wrote this music without particular lyrics in mind because, for one thing, I don't really write lyrics. Matt would send me early edits of the video which I used to inspire me as I composed. I used my film and television experience to build the song in the appropriate places.
When it came time for lyrics and to find a singer Matt suggested that we consider non-English lyrics, which instantly sounded right to me. I immediately thought of Rabindranath Tagore who is considered the poet laureate of India. He was given the Nobel Prize in literature in 1913 for his English translation of his book of poetry entitled Gitanjali and was the first non-westerner to win the prize.
Matt was particularly fond of the poem "Stream Of Life" which seemed perfectly in tune with his video.
Bengali is a beautiful language so we decided to have it sung in Tagore's native tongue, however we had no idea who the singer would be.
I started listening to countless demo mp3's of various studio singers, who all sounded terrific but just didn't seem right for the song. Bengali is a particularly difficult language to sing if you don't know the language and we wanted someone who could really bring off the poem in Bengali. To the rescue came Matt's girlfriend and co-producer of the video Melissa Nixon. Melissa is amazing and searched youtube for just the right voice. Astonishingly she found her in the person of Palbasha Siddique. Palbasha had a couple of videos that included her singing and though the videos did not do her justice, they were enough for us to contact her and learn that she was a 17 year old high school junior living in Minneapolis Minnesota (Palbasha was born in Bengladesh and moved there when she was six years old). To be honest I was initially very skeptical as to whether she could really pull off what we wanted for the song, but when I spoke to her she was keen on being involved and was willing to record a demo for us. I sent her a rough mix of the song and she recorded over it and sent it back. We were all just completely amazed at how perfect she was. She completely understood what we were doing and she sounded fantastic. We immediately invited her and her mother to Los Angeles to record at a session planned for June 5th of this year. She came in and was so professional and sounded so awesome that it could not have been better. Later that day we recorded live strings and if you look closely at about 3:40 into the video you will see Matt dancing with the string section with me next to him conducting (I have the honor of being the only person in Matt's video whose backside is prominently featured!). Our concertmaster was Belinda Broughton and she and the rest of the string section were wonderful.
I must also pay tribute to my recording engineer Dan Blessinger who records all of my orchestral music for me (I am not really known as a songwriter but rather as a film/TV and video game composer of orchestral scores, check out my score for BioShock). Dan also plays the drums on the track and did an amazing job. I also want to thank Kevin Dukes who has plays guitar and bass on all three songs I have written for Matt's videos. Kevin is an amazing studio guitarist who can do anything you ask on his instrument.
Oh and the title of the song "Praan" is a particularly poetic way of saying "life" in Bengali.
I hope you like this track I loved writing and recording it.
Regards,
Garry Schyman
Stream of Life The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.
It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow.
I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the lifethrob of ages dancing in my blood this moment.
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Game Audio Network Guild 6th Annual G.A.N.G. awards
My score for BioShock was honored with awards in the following four categories at last weeks 6th Annual G.A.N.G. awards held in San Francisco during the Game Developers Conference:
Music Of The Year
Best Interactive Score
Best Original Instrumental
Audio Of The Year
I am deeply grateful to all of those who supported and voted for my music.
Friday, February 08, 2008
11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
I was honored last night at the Red Rock Hotel in Las Vegas with the most prestigious award the game industry bestows on a composer "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition" for my score for BioShock.
I am most grateful to the academy for the nomination and for affirming my nomination with the award. I am also extremely grateful to everyone at 2K Games for making such an amazing game and giving me so much creative freedom to score it.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The Academy Of Interactive Arts and Sciences Nominates BioShock Score
It has been an amazing season of awards showered on both BioShock and my score for the game.
That said I would be remiss if I did not mention that I have just been nominated by the Academy Of Interactive Arts and Sciences for "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition" for my score.
This is the most prestigious award of them all and I am truly honored just to have been nominated.
BioShock has been nominated for a total of 12 AIAS "D.I.C.E." awards which is unprecedented!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
G.A.N.G Awards Nominations for BioShock!
The Game Audio Network Guild has nominated my score for BioShock in three categories.
Music Of The Year
Best Original Instrumental
Best Interactive score
In addition BioShock was nominated in four other audio categories including:
Audio of the Year
Sound Design of the Year
Best Dialogue
Best Use of Licensed Music
GANG awards are nominated by and voted on by audio and music professionals in the Video Game industry and I consider it a high honor to receive these nominations!
The winners will be announced at the Game Developers Conference on February 21st.
Thanks to the folks at Primotech for the Best Original Score Award and for the kind words
"But what really sets the music of BioShock apart was the brilliant original score, provided by composer Garry Schyman.
Who among us can forget the shrill violins he heard upon coming face-to-face with the deranged Dr. Steinman? Or how about the symphonic grandeur of Sander Cohen's ostentatious entrance? BioShock's music simply struck every right note at exactly the right time, making the player feel sorrow, fear, and suspense at every turn."
G4 Television Awards BioShock Soundtrack of the Year award
Tis the season and I am once again proud and honored to announce that my score for BioShock has been awarded Best Original Soundtrack by G4 television in their annual X-Play Best Of 2007 video game awards.
Additionally, BioShock has been awarded the most prestigious award of the event - Game Of The Year.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Spike TV Video Games Awards - Announcement
Last night I attended the Spike TV Video Games Awards in Las Vegas. I am proud and very pleased to announce the my score for BioShock won for Best Original Score!
BioShock also won Game of the Year and Best Xbox 360 Game!
Very cool!
:)
The show airs Sunday December 9th at 9PM on Spike TV of course
Friday, November 09, 2007
BioShock Nominated Best Score - Spike TV
I am pleased to announced that my score for BioShock was nominated for best game score 2007 by Spike TV.
The game was also nominated in numerous other categories including "Game of The Year" and "Best Soundtrack".
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Music Conference
I will be on a panel at the Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Music Conference this coming Friday November 2nd.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Scifi Channel rarely reviews game scores but they have reviewed my score for BioShock
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Reviews Of My Score To BioShock
Some very nice reviews of my score for BioShock have been coming in. Here are a few in no particular order of importance.
"The soundtrack on this game is amazing. The optimistic classics of the 1950s era are shoehorned in with early 20th century music, random sounds, traditional tonal tunes, and late Romantic stuff. The composer, Schyman, has even used musique concrete, sounds of the real world - ranging from footsteps on stone to a diseased man's breathing man (for the Big Daddy we think). Everything else in the world is equally well composed, from the catchy tunes of the vending machines to the clunky reloading of your shotgun".
Ziff-Davis' FileFront Interview
Nice Interview on my score for BioShock
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
BioShock Interviews
BioShock, the video game I scored, is perhaps the most anticipated title of the year. It will be released on August 24th and I have been asked to do a number of interviews about my work. I have pasted some of the links below.
Game Daily Biz
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Destroy All Humans3!!!!
I am pleased to finally be able to announce that I am happily working on Destroy All Humans3. There are two versions of the game I am scoring, one titled "Path of Furon" is for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The other "Big Willy Unleashed" is for the Wii.
The two games take place in the 1970's and will have a score from that era. Yes lots of wah wha guitar. Additionally, I will be recording the score with a large orchestra here in Los Angeles.
I am enjoying this gig immensely and can't wait to record with the orchestra!
Thursday, March 15, 2007 Outtakes Video now on youtube
For those of you who enjoyed Matt Hardings Dancing Video that I scored last year (over 5.5 million views to date on youtube - making it one of the most streamed youtube videos of all time) Matt and I have teamed up again to produce - Dancing Outtakes.
I hope you enjoy it.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Destroy All Humans! 2 score nominated for Music of the Year
I am pleased and honored to announce that my score for Destroy All Humans! 2 has been nominated for MUSIC OF THE YEAR 2006 by the Game Audio Network Guild.
This nomination is truly appreciated as it is voted on by the leading composers, musicians and audio directors in the video game industry.
Winners will be announced at the 5th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards ceremony, taking place on March 8, 2007 in San Francisco, California during the Game Developers Conference.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
"When Worlds Collide: Scoring for Film, TV and Video Games"
I will be part of a panel on January 16th discussing my work as a film, TV and game composer. Having worn all three hats I look forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences with those attending the California Copyright Conference (CCC).
Description of event:
As video games become increasingly complex and engaging join us for an evening exploring the interesting crossover occurring in music for Film, Television and Video Games. Three esteemed composers who have worked in all three genres will discuss the differences and similarities in composing for these different media.
Three composers who have tons of credits in both games and film/tv...
Guest Speakers:
SHAWN CLEMENT (Open Season, The Sims, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Idol, Batman: Vengeance)
LAURA KARPMAN (Masters of Science Fiction, Taken, Everquest 2, Untold Legends Dark Kingdom)
GARRY SCHYMAN (Destroy All Humans 1 and 2, Full Spectrum Warrior Ten Hammers, BioShock, Mortal Fear, Spooky House).
Friday, December 01, 2006
DAH 2 Wins Major Awards
Destroy All Humans 2 has garnered the top awards this year given by the Game Developers Association Of Australia.
The awards include:
Best Audio, 2006 (which includes music!)
Best Console Game, 2006
Game of the Year, 2006!!!
Some Very Nice Reviews For Garry's DAH2 Score Music Mania
"The result is an amazingly crafted and resoundingly effective score that mimics, pays tribute to, and re-energizes the inventive clarity of 1960s horror scoring. There is still plenty of the 1950s style that defined the first DAH gamescore, but DAH2 is a little more progressive in its musical palette. and pervasive chords rage in colorful battle while other moments brood in reserved rage, biding its time. Tunguska Disguised harkens back to the impenetrable requiems of Akira Ifukubes Gojira scores, with their irrepressible sadness and funereal cadence. Moon Base Hunted, which closes the CD, is a brilliant amalgamation of Barry and Bernstein and Bernard Herrmann.
Film Music Monthly
"This score continues to offer up that homage to the music of 1960s sci-fi explored in the previous score. Furon Theme, the opening score cue, is just that updated sound most closely resembling a cross between a Barry Bond score mixed with the theremin-tinged Herrmann sci-fi sound with nods to North By Northwest and The Day the Earth Stood Still. One might also hear in the score tracks an extension of Elfmans music from Mars Attacks! (the Hollywood homage to 1950s sci-fi.) Bay City Disguised is like a cross between Schifrin and Goldsmith taking a page from Mission Impossible along the way. The result is still interesting if not at times amusing. This cue abruptly ends and sounds as if it continues in Bay City Hunted interrupted by the licensed material. The score is a fun companion to Giacchinos The Incredibles of which it is a kindred spirit in intent if not in compositional style.
Schymans music is really an exciting listening experience filled with engaging musical lines and accomplished and polished orchestration. All the things that separate the merely interesting from the above average are on display here. The music has rhythmic vitality that falls into the same category as Goldsmith, a wide harmonic palette and moves freely, though not distractedly, between its purely orchestral sound and the addition of electric guitars. The orchestration is also varied and superbly crafted".
"..an impressive score (once again from Garry Schyman) is perfectly in keeping with the 60s setting and the feeling of the game".
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Garry 's Score For Destroy All Humans 2 Released This Week
I am pleased to announce the release of the "Destroy All Humans! 2" soundtrack, which includes over 40 minutes of my orchestral score for the game. DAH2 (the game) will ship to stores on Tuesday October 17th, as will the soundtrack. The soundtrack will be available in most major retailers as well as iTunes.
Thanks to Pandemic Studios and THQ for making such a great game and for giving me the opportunity to write such cool music!
Garry has scored the new trailer for BioShock. Take a look, as it gives a flavor of what this awesome game will look, feel and sound like.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Garry Scores Matt Harding's "Dance Video"
Garry has scored Matt Harding's amazing world travel dance video. The score is in a pop-rock style with vocals from a traditional lullaby from the Solomon Islands entitled "Rorogwela" as sung by Afunakwa and recorded by Hugo Zemp in 1970.
Watch the video at YouTube.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Garry has begun work scoring BioShock
Garry has begun scoring an amazing new game- BioShock. BioShock is the spiritual successor to one of the most innovative games all time System Shock.
BioShock has received multiple nominations in the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Game Critics Awards and to date has won 17 E3 awards including a sweep of Best of Show awards from IGN, GameSpot, and GameSpy.
"BioShock is a stunningly beautiful and interesting game and the score will be unique and innovative. I am enjoying work on it immensely" said Garry.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
New Representation!
I am very pleased to announce that I am now a client of The Gorfaine Schwartz Agency. The agency represents the most highly acclaimed composers working in today's entertainment markets including film, television and video games. The composers include John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, Thomas Newman, Michael Giacchino, Ennio Morricone, James Newton Howard, Randy Newman and others.
My new agent's contact information is:
Cheryl Tiano
The Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency
818-260-8530
ctiano@gsamusic.com
Wednesday, June 07, 2006BioShock's music and Audio Picked by TeamXbox as "best of Show"
"...BioShock was exactly that- a shocker to the editors who had a chance to witness its juxtaposed art styles, including the most photo-realistic water effects on the planet. The gameplay demo was just as freaky. Plasmid-induced player character seeks revenge on crawlers and other mutations out for the kill.
But it was the soundtrack of BioShock that got the most attention- at least at this stage of the game. Irrational is actually using audio clips as plot drivers instead of the tried-and-true but somewhat played out cut-scene cinematic. Couple the spooky, well-written dialogue with an equally riveting musical score, and the result is one of the most visceral experiences in console gaming coming at ya’ in the very near future."
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Destroy All Humans! 2
Garry has begun work on Destroy All Humans 2. Set in the 1960's the score will be an ode to the scoring of that era and the orchestral score will be recorded in Hollywood with L.A's best orchestral musicians.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Garry's NPR Interview
Listen to Garry's Destroy All Humans! interview with NPR
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Garry's score for Destroy All Humans Nominated by G.A.N.G
Garry's 1950's sci-fi score for the game "Destroy All Humans!" was nominated by G.A.N.G (the Game Audio Network Guild) in three categories for this years audio awards.
MUSIC OF THE YEAR 2005
BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE RECORDING
BEST ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL
The Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G. - www.audiogang.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of game audio.
Nominating are working composers and audio professionals in the games industry.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Garry Interviewed As Part of Gamasutra Article
Read This interesting article entitled "Hollywood Sound: Part One" on Gamasutra.com which includes an interview with Garry
Source: Gamasutra.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Garry Starts Work On "Full Spectrum Warrior - Ten Hammers"
Garry has started composing the score for Pandemic Studios/THQ's new game "Full Spectrum Warrior Ten Hammers". The project is a combat strategy game and is the successor to the very successful "Full Spectrum Warrior".
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
From USA Todays Review Of Destroy All Humans
Destroy All Humans musical score is stellar. The fabulous soundtrack drips with a drive-in movie aesthetic.
Source: USA Today.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Garry Interviewed By IGN
Not many individuals get to make a living by paying homage to 1950's sci-fi films and honoring their musical heroes (in this case the legendary Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann). Garry Schyman, however, is one of these lucky bastards, a man who has risen up through the ranks and made a name for himself scoring television, film, and now videogames. The game most recently in question, in terms of Schyman being able to craft music that bows gently to the memory of classic films like The Day The Earth Stood Still, as well as the musical legacy of Herrmann, is the comedic alien invasion action/adventure Destroy All Humans.
Source: IGN.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Destroy All Humans Reviews Are Coming In
"...The game features a perfectly fitting score that plays it surprisingly straight (with a few exceptions, like the end credits music that is worth sitting through the credits for) with orchestral old school sci-fi film style music that perfectly compliments the action."
Source: xboxworld
"...At least the audio makes up for it, with appropriately spine-chilling music that could have come straight from a fifties movie."
Source: trustedreviews.com
"...The music itself reeks of an old school B movie with flying saucers attached to strings and people running from a giant ant. It's got the creepy music you'd expect from an old alien movie, fitting the game like a glove."
Source: Xbox Advanced mn.
"Sound: 10/10 Brilliant B-Movie score."
Source: PlayStation 2 Official Magazine-UK
"...The mixture of melodramatic orchestral music with a heavy dose of Theremin is just perfect for what the game is going for."
Source: Gamespot
"...the music plays a major role in ensuring the atmosphere throughout the game is spot on. The dynamic soundtrack helps to build up a certain sense of tension when the action heats up."
Source: totalvideogames.com
Monday, June 20, 2005
Team Xbox Interviews Garry
With the release of Destroy all Humans! just around the corner, we thought it would be an opportune time to learn a bit more about the 50s style sci-fi soundtrack that accompanies this unique title. We sat down with composer Garry Schyman (Voyeur, Voyeur II, Off World Interceptor), who gives us insight into retro movie soundtracks, writing music specifically for videogames, and working in accordance with Pandemic on Destroy all Humans!
Source: teamxbox®
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Press Release
Garry Schyman Scores Destroy All Humans!
Composer Garry Schyman, whose experience outside of videogames includes feature films, television movies, and series television, has created the original orchestral score for the upcoming videogame Destroy All Humans!
Source: teamxbox.
Press Release
THQ grooves, Destroys All Humans!
Publisher announces Garry Schyman will score game; promo CD features 1950s songs remixed by today's DJs.
Source: gamespot.com
Saturday, June 04, 2005
SoundtrackNet Interviews Garry
SoundtrackNet occasionally likes to take a peek at what is going on in other media, and so we took an opportunity to talk with composer Garry Schyman. Garry has just completed work on the zany alien-invasion game (in which you play the alien) Destroy All Humans, and we wanted to talk with him about his work on this project - which resulted in a rather unique and old-fashioned sci-fi score.
Source: SoundtrackNet
Thursday, April 07, 2005
DAH Reviews start coming in
"The audio portion of Destroy All Humans has passed the TXB pre-build inspection with flying colors. An eerie and overly dramatic instrumental track fits perfectly into DAHs mid-50s sci-fi flair. Throw in some ancient electronic organ effects and you have the complete, suspenseful soundtrack for a game about 50s Zenophobia."
Read more at IGN
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
GarrySchyman.com goes live
Welcome to Garry's new website. Please check back soon for new additions!
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Destroy All Humans! Director praises game's score
XBox World Australia interviewed Destroy All Humans! game director Brad Welch in January, and Brad took the opportunity to praise Garry's original music:
Q - How important is sound & music to the game? Nothing makes a good (or bad) sci-fi movie like surround sound and a killer soundtrack!
A - We took submissions from a variety of talented musicians who were all very keen to work on the game In the end we selected a chap called Garry Schyman, whose brain is doing a great job providing us with hours and hours of very cool and genre specific music. Bernard Herrmann was the influence, and Garry has done an awesome job of providing us with an original score inspired by that influence.
Source: XBox World Australia.