Horizon Forbidden West and Gotham Knights Composer Duo, The Flight
Nov 21, 2022
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Austin Wintory chats with composer duo The Flight, Joe Henson and Alexis Smith. They discuss their journey into game development, the advantages of working together, creating fresh content in an established franchise, composition and continuity in Horizon Forbidden West, and the challenges of composing music for video games.
The Flight collaborates by starting with live jam sessions and recording ideas, finding new ways to work on each project.
The Flight divides the composition work between them, starting with one composer writing the first part and the other writing the second part, then harmonizing and adding finishing touches.
The Flight values finding new ways to work and keeping their creative process fresh, constantly striving to expand their sound and explore different musical aesthetics.
Deep dives
Working collaboratively and finding new ways to work
The Flight works collaboratively, often starting with live jam sessions and recording ideas. They find new ways to work on each project to keep things fresh. For example, in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, they recorded live instruments and layered them with sampled strings to create a unique sound. In Horizon Zero Dawn, they started by creating sounds and exploring different sonic elements before dividing the composition work between them. They aim to craft demos that can be used directly in the game, avoiding the need for rewrites or major modifications.
Division of labor and composition process
With regards to the division of labor, The Flight's roles slide into each other, but they have distinct skills. They work together to create the sound of each project, often starting with one composer writing the first part and the other writing the second part. They bring their contributions together, harmonize and add finishing touches. They also work on mockups as if they were final recordings, striving to make them sound as good as possible in case they can't record live. They take pride in their mockups and aim for a high-quality sound even when working with sampled strings or orchestral instruments.
The process for different projects
For Assassin's Creed Odyssey, The Flight found inspiration in live jam sessions, while developing a distinct sound for the game. They recorded live instruments and collaborated closely with other musicians. In Horizon Zero Dawn, they took a different approach, experimenting with sounds and creating long atmospheric exploration pieces. They divided the composition work between them, writing different sections and finding ways to blend their contributions seamlessly. Both projects allowed them to explore new ways of working and push the boundaries of game music composition.
Maintaining a fresh approach and expanding their sound
The Flight values finding new ways to work and keeping their creative process fresh. They actively seek out different ways to start and approach each project to avoid repetition. They constantly strive to expand their sound and explore different musical aesthetics. Their goal is to deliver demos and compositions that stand on their own and can be used directly in the game, showcasing their unique approach and musical expression.
Navigating the Challenges of Sequels and New Inspiration
Creating a sequel like Horizon Zero Dawn is challenging as new inspiration is required to avoid repetition. The audio director and music supervisor prompted the composers to write differently by changing the music system. The focus of the second game shifted from the environment to the protagonist's emotional journey, resulting in a different structure and style of music.
Delivering Music for Games and Dealing with Feedback
The feedback and notes process in game music production can be intricate. The composers are open to trying out new ideas quickly if they are good concepts. They can re-record and edit music efficiently since they perform most of the parts themselves. The final judgment on the music often comes from the clients, who may not have a musical imagination. The composers adapt and revise their work based on the client's feedback to ensure the music fits the game.
Austin Wintory chats with the composer duo collectively known as The Flight, Joe Henson and Alexis Smith. Together they discuss their journey into game development; what led them to becoming a composing duo; the advantages of working together and relying on each others strengths; and their recent work in titles like Horizon Forbidden West and Gotham Knights.
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