The Video Game Composer Podcast

Growth never happens in the comfort zone. In this episode, I share stories from my own career as a game composer—times when I stepped into unfamiliar, uncomfortable situations and how those moments led to real breakthroughs. If you’re looking to grow your game composition career, this episode will challenge you to embrace risk, push past fear, and recognize that the opportunities you’re seeking often lie just outside your comfort zone.Looking for more resources to help you level up your composing career? Check out this video on the 4 books that launched my career (on my NEW youtube channel!)https://youtu.be/n0g5TbCMs6c

What should you charge to score a game? Should you sign an exclusive contract—or not? How do you protect your creative rights without burning bridges?In this episode, I sit down with Noa Beazley, a Boston-based composer and multi-instrumentalist whose game scores span genres—from the Latin-metal fusion of Protodroid DeLTA to the orchestral fantasy of A Token War. Noa teaches game scoring at Berklee College of Music, speaks regularly at major conferences like GDC and PAX, and brings a wealth of insight into both the creative and business sides of the industry.We dive deep into the realities of negotiating contracts as a game composer: rates, exclusivity,, best practices, and more. Whether you're just starting out or already working in game audio, this conversation offers actionable advice.Follow NoaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/noabeazley.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/noabeazley/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noa-beazley-b74a7620a/

How does your music sound? Maybe the notes are good, but the recording sounds like General MIDI from 1991. Maybe the production is good, but your music sounds like everyone else. Maybe you have no idea how your music stacks up.Today's guest, Jason Walsh, has worked for over a decade on some of the largest projects in the game industry. Jason's high level of expertise comes in part from wearing many hats—from senior composer at Riot Games to thriving freelancer, sound designer to mix engineer, to composer. Jason has a unique voice in game audio and offers so many ways to make your music more distinct, uniquely you, and higher quality.To follow Jason and listen to his music, check out the links below:Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/4dKqulo3dOAgwda3SK6IhuInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jasonnicholaswalsh/Xhttps://x.com/jwalsh_musicWebsitehttps://www.jason-walsh.com

At the start of your game audio career, you’ll need to grind. A lot. Finding consistent work means meeting people, stepping out of your comfort zone, and spending an inordinate amount of time on business activities—not just writing music.But over time, your career can pivot. Opportunities begin to flow to you, and your days become more focused on the creative work you love.Chris Rickwood has made that transition. In this episode, he shares hard-earned insights on the skills, mindset, and habits that helped him build a lasting, sustainable career as a video game composer.Grab a notebook—this one’s packed with wisdom.

Gina Zdanowicz, Founder and Audio Director of Serial Lab Sound, has cultivated a dynamic career spanning over two decades in the game industry, leaving an indelible mark on titles such as Eternights, Paladins, Just Cause 3, Bioshock 2, and numerous indie, e-Learning and midcore games. Gina has been instrumental in shaping the future generation of game audio professionals. Her impressive tenure includes leading and authoring courses at Berklee Online, as well as spearheading the establishment of the Game and Interactive Media Scoring Major at Berklee College of Music's campus. Gina's co-authorship of "The Game Audio Strategy Guide: A Practical Course" exemplifies her dedication to providing both theoretical foundations and practical insights into the nuanced world of game sound for enthusiasts and inquisitive minds alike. Beyond her contributions to academia, Gina's impact resonates throughout the gaming industry, where she serves as a mentor and has been a distinguished judge for esteemed awards such as the Game Audio Network Guild and IADAS.

Megan is primarily a video game composer. She did the music for River City Girls 1 & 2, the Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead games from Retro Realms, and I believe she composed most of the music for the Atari Recharged games.Not only does Megan do a ton of custom work for games, but she also earns income by licensing her music for TV and releasing her own music as an artist. I brought Megan on today to teach us how to create multiple streams of income using our musical talents.In addition to all the great info she’ll be sharing, notice how cool and easy to talk to Megan is. I’ve found that the vast majority of working professionals in the game audio industry are not only great at their craft but also down-to-earth, genuine people. Let’s jump into this conversation with Megan McDuffee!

Today you’ll be listening in on a conversation with lifelong gamer, composer, and music designer Olivier Deriviere. He has created the music for games such as A Plague Tale: Innocence, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Dying Light 2, Streets of Rage 4, and, most recently, South of Midnight.Equally impressive to his composing skills are Olivier’s talents in music design. He is a leading voice in pushing the boundaries of what game music can do.In this interview, Olivier offers guidance on everything from mindset to the questions you should ask in meetings with developers, designing game music, and acting with intention and integrity as a collaborator on game projects.Enjoy!To learn more about Olivier and music design check out these useful links:Olivier's Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@oderiviereOlivier's website resources:https://olivierderiviere.com/music-design/

Tobi Weiss is a video game composer who has amassed a following of over 120K on Instagram. He emphasizes the importance of being genuine with your audience and staying true to yourself while working hard to become known and find more work. This is a value-packed conversation for anyone looking to become more visible as a composer in a genuine and authentic way. Follow Tobi on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/filmandgamemusic?igsh=ZGxmaDZtN3lqc3lt

There is a lot to do and learn as a freelance game composer and it can be hard to figure out what activities are most important to focus on, what skillsets are most important to develop, and how a composer needs to think to make this career happen. This episode will help you get inside the head of professional composer Brendon WIlliams. He has composed for major franchises such as League of Legends, Guild Wars, and Start Wars. He has worked both as an in-house composer and a freelance composer. Follow Brendon and listen to his music:IG: https://www.instagram.com/brendoncomposer?igsh=MTVidDR4NXI2dTI3NQ==Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendoncomposer/FB: https://www.facebook.com/BrendonComposer

Game composer, sound designer, and audio engineer Robbie Dolan talks about the top handful of skills that are essential for composers in order to carve out a career in today's marketplace. Robbie wasted no time establishing a strong career in the game industry and the knowledge and experience he shares are invaluable.