GameGrooves Uncovered

Ro speaks with the folk/medieval music duo Axe & Ale about their formation, debut original album Tavern Melodies: Medieval Lute & Flute Dances of the Hobbits Vol. 1, and the music styles of medieval inspired music and fantasy-driven covers. They discuss working together through online real-time streaming, forming a violin streaming group, and their love of Lord of the Rings, Witcher 3, and more fantasy tales.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Diwa AKA String Player Gamer, Isabelle AKA Firamiel

Plugs:

https://axeale.bandcamp.com/album/tavern-melodies-medieval-lute-flute-dances-of-the-hobbits-vol-1

https://twitter.com/axealemusic

https://twitter.com/firamiel

https://twitter.com/StringPlayerGmr

Ro speaks with Carrie Wood about her experience playing bass and band-leading across live groups like Baltimore Gamer Symphony Orchestra, GameGrooves, performing at VGMCon and the upcoming MAGWest convention, as well as her work in the Quick Save band and duo Bi Score with Ian Cowell. The two chat about their cats, gear, and what it takes to create a collaborative album as well.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Carrie Wood

Plugs:

https://twitter.com/supitscarrie

https://biscore.bandcamp.com/

https://baltimoregso.org/

https://www.magwest.org/

Ro speaks with Jeff Penny about going from arranging to sound design and composition, including Jeff's latest soundtrack and first solo work "The Game of Fourtune" based on a visual novel meets death game. The two discuss the experience of working together on a cover *for* the game's release, drawing from anime and influences, and marketing your own work.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Jeff Penny

Plugs:

https://jeffpenny.com/

https://jeffpenny.bandcamp.com/album/the-game-of-fourtune-original-soundtrack

Ro speaks with Ian Martyn about his completion of the 2022 GameGrooves Album Challenge, releasing Beyond the Wind, VGM and vocal-driven game music, and a long history of community involvement and instrument playing. They discuss the exciting JRPG vocal music and growing scene for performing game music live, as well as the ability to choose songs for the EP.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Ian Martyn

Plugs:

https://twitter.com/IanMartynMusic
https://ianmartyn.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-wind

Ro speaks with Vaughn Rowles about the upcoming VGMCon 2023 in Minneapolis, MN featuring exciting guests, panels, and celebration of game music. The two discuss the event's origins, what viewers can expect, the virtual and streamed music, Gamer's Rhapsody, and what the Zelda theme will bring.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Vaughn Rowles

Plugs:

https://vgmcon.org/

https://twitter.com/VGMCon

Ro speaks with Mahn about his new album Mode 8 featuring classic SNES tracks arranged for heavy metal and includes a variety of collaborators from the VGM Space. The two discuss Mahn's interests in game music and playing guitar, exploring the community, as well as performing live and virtually in different game music spaces.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Mahn AKA MahnPlaysMusic
Plugs:

https://mahn.bandcamp.com/album/mode-8

https://www.youtube.com/mahnkiman2

Ro speaks with Austin Green (Katajun) about the upcoming WASD project's album ESCAPE, the preparation for a full band MAGFest show, running and participating in the Dwelling of Duels community, and geek out on modern production tricks for making heavy metal. The two also swap favorite reference tracks and discuss different entrypoints and accessibility into the VGM community.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Austin Green
Plugs:
https://wasdband.com/
https://wasdband.bandcamp.com/album/escape

https://linktr.ee/WASDBand

Returning host Peter Gillette talks with host and progressive-metal musician Ro Panuganti about the process of releasing a new album "Arwing Odyssey: Music from Star Fox 64" and the changes in producing his 15th project in the current VGM space. The two discuss continuity between tracks, good advertisement and PR strategies, engineering music videos and promotional videos, and what makes for interesting albums in game-music. 

Participants: Peter Gillette 

Plugs:

https://twitter.com/RoPanuganti
https://ropanuganti.bandcamp.com/album/arwing-odyssey-music-from-star-fox-64

Ro speaks with Alasdair aka Celestial Fury about his djent/modern metal sound, working on 7-8 string guitars, recording albums, and finding the VGM community through local musician scenes. They discuss the resources for mixing and producing modern metal and his experience performing at the VGMTogether Virtual convention.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Alasdair Cooper AKA Celestial Fury

Plugs:

https://twitter.com/alasdair_cooperhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CelestialFuryhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/0YAER6hS3BG9vlm8xlCqTp

Ro speaks with FirahFabe AKA Fabian about his work in VGM, fusing Filipino music styles of Rondalla and Kulintang, and the rich origins of these musical styles. They discuss the representation of Asian folk music in video game music, communities, and similarities between Filipino music and other folk styles.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Fabian (FirahFabe)

Plugs:

http://www.twitter.com/firahfabe
https://firahfabe.itch.io/
https://learnfilipinorondalla.netlify.app/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5MwSQ5vfamJ2RZSeP12ql5