GameGrooves Uncovered

Ro speaks with Alyssa Menes AKA AC Menes about working in game music, sound design, and arranging music for both rock and gaming symphonic groups. They chat about 60s/70s rock, great music coming from the New Jersey Gamer Symphony Orchestra, and what it's like to work on deep cut game music for performances. Lastly the two discuss the upcoming MAGFest music festival in National Harbor MD, what Alyssa plans for her show at the Belvedere, and the great experiences to be had.The show will be at the Belvedere Lobby Bar on January 19th at 2PM ET

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Alyssa Menes

Plugs:

https://acmenesmusic.com/

https://www.njgso.org/

Ro speaks with Brooke Ferd and Becca Michaelson about their upcoming panel "VGM in Music Education" to be shared at MAGFest 2024 in National Harbor, MD. The three discuss how the panel has grown through its presentation at teacher's conferences and VGMCon 2023, as well as how they've experienced music education as teachers. The trio enjoy the benefits of improving the classroom, inclusive music forms, and how engaging K-12 students with music helps inspire a long-term appreciation.The panel will be hosted Thursday, January 18th at 5:30PM ET at Panels 6.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Brooke Ferd (Medllix), Becca Michaelson (flootiful)

Plugs:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Flootiful

https://www.youtube.com/@Medllix

https://www.youtube.com/@BeccaMichaelson

Ro speaks with Jay Kim, aka Ronin Op F, about his slew of collaborations, live performances at MAGFest and VGMCon 2023, and his brand new instrumental hip-hop album "Link's Restless Awakening". The two discuss the benefits of joining communities, preparations for good live shows, thoughts on genre "boxes", and how making albums can be therapeutic.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Jay Kim AKA Ronin Op F

Plugs:

https://ffm.to/restlessawakening

https://twitter.com/roninopf

In a new formatted interview called Spicy Gamers, Ro interviews video game cover musicians, remixers, composers and similar folks while enjoying all things spicy and hot in life. In this episode, brass instrumentalist and arranger Allison Martin discusses the Kingdom Hearts' franchise and adopting 14 tracks into various big band jazz arrangements across the year. The two chat while eating progressively spicier wings from "Hot Ones Season 22"'s collection of sauces, including the world-record holding "The Last Dab Xperience" featuring the Pepper X with over 2 Million Scoville Units.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Allison Martin

Plugs:https://allisonmartin.bandcamp.com/album/heart-seeker-a-kingdom-hearts-collection

Ro speaks with surf punk/rock and latin rock specialist Audio Mocha/Daniel Florez about his album "Seas of Destiny: A Xenoblade Tropical Tribute" as well as the genre and subculture of surf rock. The two discuss its impact, branching from its 1950s roots, and the many ways it can be arranged for video game music. They also discuss live video game music events and how arranging interesting guitar mods and performances has been, and how the album's creation helped improve various aspects of production.

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Audio Mocha

Plugs:

https://audiomocha.bandcamp.com/album/seas-of-destiny-a-xenoblade-tropical-tribute

https://www.audiomocha.com/

Ro speaks with composer Alpha Something about their work scoring the indie game Venba, based on South Indian cooking and the immigrant experience. The two share thoughts on the game, its story, and how composing with inspirations from classic Tamil film scores worked into the game. They discuss Indian food favorites, the navigation of infusing culture into music, the ways Venba tackles key Indian culture, and the "Tandoori Chicken Diet".

Participants: Ro Panuganti, Alpha Something

Plugs:https://alphasomething.bandcamp.com/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1491670/Venba/

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 about the latest in 2023 Spring game music news, including VGMCon 2023 and their in-person/virtual events, GameGrooves' latest albums and Summer of 64 event, and the upcoming Ongaku Overdrive fundraiser "Tears of Ongaku". Ro details the donation goals, roster of musicians performing, and how Ongaku Overdrive's JUNE 11TH stream will go.

Participants: Ro Panuganti

Plugs:

www.twitch.tv/ongakuoverdrive

https://gamegrooves.com/gazette/tears-of-ongaku?fbclid=IwAR2dp6uU1N9fl4V2FT5iJwHatfJxHSDt8NQC-GQaF6So9lUnxW7kxgAozpQ

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