GXM Podcast (Games X Music‪)‬ GXM Podcast

We’re only six months into 2024 and Pierre Crochart has listened to more than 500 video game soundtracks. As the founder and editor of NOWPLAYING, a newsletter and podcast curating video game music, Pierre is on a mission to discover and showcase the amazing world of video game music, with a particular focus on celebrating lesser-known soundtracks. 

We discuss the challenges of keeping up with the latest releases and which music platforms are best for video game soundtracks before Pierre discusses some of his recent discoveries. Expect to hear fu-age jazz from Mansur Brown, Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies with breakbeats, and a Japanese match-3 game with a soundtrack that sounds like it was written by Polyphia. 

News - 00:04:05

Topic introduction - 00:28:57

Topic interview: Discovering and curating new video game soundtracks with Pierre Crochart

60 second recommendations - 

In the news… 


Via GameSpot, Billie Eilish releases three new songs in ‘Fortnite Festival’ day-and-date with other platforms


Via Uproxx, Megan Thee Stallion released a tribute to video games with the music video for ‘Boa’


Via BBC, Shin Megami Tensei 5: JRPG joins Download Festival    


Via RPS, What did a medieval peasant’s raw, sour breath sound like? Manor Lords’ composers tell us


Via GamesPress, New Sonic Symphony Dates Announced


Via GXM13, Sonic Symphony Review 



NOWPLAYING 


Check out NOWPLAYING on Apple Podcasts


Subscribe to NOWPLAYING on Patreon


Take a listen to the playlist Pierre put together for this podcast: NOWPLAYING X GXM 



We're GXM (Games X Music), a fortnightly podcast exploring video game music and the intersection of video games and the music industry. Your hosts are freelancer Tom Quillfeldt (also Laced Records community manager + A&R) and journalist Mat Ombler (also Laced Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

Whether you work in the music or games industries or simply enjoy video games music and want to learn more about this area of interest, make sure to give us a listen…

…and HIT SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy!

We'd love to hear your feedback, thoughts on topics you'd like to hear us discuss, and ideas for guests.

Email — ⁠gxmpodcast@gmail.com⁠   

Twitter — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠ | ⁠@tquillfeldt⁠ | ⁠@matombler⁠

Instagram — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠

Produced by Tom Quillfeldt and Mat Ombler

Edited by Tom Quillfeldt

Music by Zak Foster

Show artwork by Joshua Klein

Jamie Mac Rae of Materia Music/Collective joins us to talk about how composers, developers and publishers creating or handling indie game soundtracks might put that music to best use. Whether it’s registering it properly, producing sheet music, or considering the costs of a vinyl release, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to video game music. 

News - 00:12:32

Topic introduction - 00:17:58

Topic interview: The opportunities around indie game soundtracks with Jamie Mac Rae - 00:18:43

60 second recommendations - 01:06:07

In the news… 


Via TimeExtension, A Bizarre Legal Battle Is Being Waged Over Metal Orange EX And Chip-Chan Kick's Soundtracks


Via Wbur, Local musician discovered by Fortnite after posting on Reddit


Via Kotaku Ranking Fortnite’s Lobby Tracks From Worst To Best 


Via VGC, An online concert to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mother aka Earthbound will be held on June 22nd.



We're GXM (Games X Music), a fortnightly podcast exploring video game music and the intersection of video games and the music industry. Your hosts are freelancer Tom Quillfeldt (also Laced Records community manager + A&R) and journalist Mat Ombler (also Laced Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

Whether you work in the music or games industries or simply enjoy video game music and want to learn more about this area of interest, make sure to give us a listen…

…and HIT SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy!

We'd love to hear your feedback, thoughts on topics you'd like to hear us discuss, and ideas for guests.

Email — ⁠gxmpodcast@gmail.com⁠   

Twitter — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠ | ⁠@tquillfeldt⁠ | ⁠@matombler⁠

Instagram — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠

Produced by Tom Quillfeldt and Mat Ombler

Edited by Tom Quillfeldt

Music by Zak Foster

Show artwork by Joshua Klein

How much should film and TV adaptations of video game franchises honour the source material? And how closely related should the music be between original and adaptation? The success of Amazon’s Fallout TV series, which was viewed by more than 65 million people within two weeks of launching, is the latest game adaptation to win over both fans and newcomers alike. But would it still feel like Fallout without those familiar radio songs and nods to Inon Zur’s award-winning score? 

News - 00:08:44

Topic: The soundtracks of Fallout and video game adaptations - 00:31:43

G.O.A.T. round-up (Final Fantasy VII Main Theme) - 01:05:27

In the news… 


Via NME, ‘Fallout’ TV series causes music streams to double 


Via VGC, K-Pop Star BIBI releases an official Stellar Blade song (300k) ahead of the game’s release on Apr 25.


Via Thesixthaxis, Dead Island 2’s new expansion So LA is built around a music festival


Via PocketTactics, The Sounds of Monopoly Go celebrates first anniversary with Bon Jovi 


Via Fortnite, FORTNITE FESTIVAL SEASON 3 FEATURES BILLIE EILISH! 



We're GXM (Games X Music), a fortnightly podcast exploring video game music and the intersection of video games and the music industry. Your hosts are freelancer Tom Quillfeldt (also Laced Records community manager + A&R) and journalist Mat Ombler (also Laced Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

Whether you work in the music or games industries or simply enjoy video games music and want to learn more about this area of interest, make sure to give us a listen…

…and HIT SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy!

We'd love to hear your feedback, thoughts on topics you'd like to hear us discuss, and ideas for guests.

Email — ⁠gxmpodcast@gmail.com⁠   

Twitter — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠ | ⁠@tquillfeldt⁠ | ⁠@matombler⁠

Instagram — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠

Produced by Tom Quillfeldt and Mat Ombler

Edited by Tom Quillfeldt

Music by Zak Foster

Show artwork by Joshua Klein

We speak to the prolific, expert mastering engineer Joe Caithness who has worked on over 200 video game soundtrack releases across vinyl, digital, CD, cassette and even MiniDisc! Although there are numerous technical challenges and processes involved in mastering, at the end of the day it’s the fan listening experience — tinted by nostalgia — that matters most.

News - 00:08:00

Topic interview - 00:31:28

60 Seconds recommendations - 00:52:00

In the news… 


Via PocketGamer, Brawl Stars collabs with YouTube’s most-viewed video Baby Shark


Via Inverse, Crypt of the NecroDancer’s Surprise Update Turns Hatsune Miku Into A Monster Slayer


Via Yahoo, VALORANT: Riot Games collaborates with Japanese girl group XG for VCT Pacific theme song 'UNDEFEATED' 


Via X, Trouble for Tommy Tallarico?! 


Via PocketTactics Become the new Slipknot member with iconic masks in Dead By Daylight


Via eminempro, Eminem Makes Unexpected Chart Entry With “Fortnite Radio” Vinyl


Via MixMag, WIPEOUT: THE STORY OF THE WORLD'S FIRST RAVE-INSPIRED VIDEO GAME 



Listen to… 


Tactical Action by Kenji Hiramatsu in Xenoblade Chronicles 3  


Demon's Souls Remix - Abandoned by God by Alex Roe 



We're GXM (Games X Music), a fortnightly podcast exploring video game music and the intersection of video games and the music industry. Your hosts are freelancer Tom Quillfeldt (also Laced Records community manager + A&R) and journalist Mat Ombler (also Laced Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

Whether you work in the music or games industries or simply enjoy video games music and want to learn more about this area of interest, make sure to give us a listen…

…and HIT SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy!

We'd love to hear your feedback, thoughts on topics you'd like to hear us discuss, and ideas for guests.

Email — ⁠gxmpodcast@gmail.com⁠   

Twitter — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠ | ⁠@tquillfeldt⁠ | ⁠@matombler⁠

Instagram — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠

Produced by Tom Quillfeldt and Mat Ombler

Edited by Tom Quillfeldt

Music by Zak Foster

Show artwork by Joshua Klein

GXM #23: What is a video game needledrop? With Kenny Vaughan

Mat & Tom ponder: does Final Fantasy VII Rebirth have music implementation issues? Then Kenny Vaughan of the ‘Between Music & Gaming’ newsletter joins us to establish a loose definition of ‘needledrop’ and how they can work within video games. We chat through some notable examples of the different types (non-diegetic vs. diegetic, covers, bespoke songs, etc.) in games including BioShock: Infinite and the Red Dead Redemption series.

Kenny's newsletter: betweenmusicandgaming.substack.com

News - 00:10:27

Topic interview - 00:37:03

60 Seconds recommendations - 01:33:38

In the news… 


Via VGC: Final Fantasy music legend Nobuo Uematsu thinks modern ‘movie-like’ game music is uninteresting


Via Direct: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Original Soundtrack and the limited ~ Special edit version ~ will be available April 10th


Hi-Fi RUSH is now available on PS5


Via NME: Billboard charts will now count music played in ‘Roblox’ - Billboard later denies



Listen to… 


“Nana-Nan Damacy (Hardfloor Remix)”


“Plains” from Farthest Frontier by Steve Pardo



We're GXM (Games X Music), a fortnightly podcast exploring video game music and the intersection of video games and the music industry. Your hosts are freelancer Tom Quillfeldt (also Laced Records community manager + A&R) and journalist Mat Ombler (also Laced Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

Whether you work in the music or games industries or simply enjoy video games music and want to learn more about this area of interest, make sure to give us a listen…

…and HIT SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy!

We'd love to hear your feedback, thoughts on topics you'd like to hear us discuss, and ideas for guests.

Email — gxmpodcast@gmail.com   

Twitter — @gxmpodcast | @tquillfeldt | @matombler

Instagram — @gxmpodcast

Produced by Tom Quillfeldt and Mat Ombler

Edited by Tom Quillfeldt

Music by Zak Foster

Show artwork by Joshua Klein

Tom talks to campaigner Mark Robins (also a PR Manager at Bethesda) who, over 10 years ago, successfully launched video game music almost to the pinnacle of radio station Classic FM’s Hall of Fame (top 500 classical pieces.) Is video game music legitimised these days? What else might we campaign for in the pursuit of popularising VGM?  

News - 00:03:05

Topic introduction - 00:20:45

Topic interview - 00:22:12

60 Seconds recommendations - 01:00:20

In the news… 


Via NME: Composer Bear McCreary announces new album featuring Slash, Corey Taylor and more


Via Kerrang: Avenged Sevenfold release immersive virtual reality concert through Amaze VR Concerts 


Via VGC: Final Fantasy music legend Nobuo Uematsu doesn’t think he’ll ever compose a whole game again


Via Spark Chronicles: Lit Killah releases song inspired by League of Legends


Buy tickets to the upcoming Beyond the Console concert. 



Listen to… 


Ouji Saint from Ultros composed by Oscar Rydelius 


Sound of the Wind (Final Fantasy Chronicles) performed by Floor Jansen & Metropole Orchestra 



NOWPLAYING is now on Patreon and his monthly selections are now mixtapes published as a podcast on major DSPs! You can check all the good links on https://nowplaying.cool  

We're GXM (Games X Music), a fortnightly podcast exploring video game music and the intersection of video games and the music industry. Your hosts are freelancer Tom Quillfeldt (also Laced Records community manager + A&R) and journalist Mat Ombler (also Laced Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

Whether you work in the music or games industries or simply enjoy video games music and want to learn more about this area of interest, make sure to give us a listen…

…and HIT SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy!

We'd love to hear your feedback, thoughts on topics you'd like to hear us discuss, and ideas for guests.

Email — gxmpodcast@gmail.com   

Twitter — @gxmpodcast | @tquillfeldt | @matombler

Instagram — @gxmpodcast

Produced by Tom Quillfeldt and Mat Ombler

Edited by Tom Quillfeldt

Music by Zak Foster

Show artwork by Joshua KleinClassic FM Hall of Fame Final Fantasy VII Aerith's Theme via Time2LevelUp on YouTube -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSG3ZKlrx34