On this week’s episode of GXM, we share our thoughts on this year’s Game Music Festival and how live performances of music from Persona & Hades compared to other game music concerts we’ve attended. And now that Denshattack! is finally out, we reflect on the game’s phenomenal success and what its mammoth soundtrack of all-star game composers says about the growing popularity of game music in general. 

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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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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

The last few years have seen a record number of music collaborations take place between game studios and the music industry, from massive virtual concerts on platforms like Fortnite and Roblox to a growing number of artists like Marshmello and Imagine Dragons setting up their own game studios.

But where is the industry heading next?

In this episode of GXM, Mat speaks to JP Kellams, former lead producer on Fortnite Festival at Epic Games. They discuss the evolution of music in games, from Fortnite Festival and blockbuster virtual concerts to the resurgence of rhythm games and the future of interactive music experiences.

We explore why today's biggest in-game concerts aren't sustainable, the music licensing challenges holding the industry back, the game knowledge barriers facing the music industry, and why the next generation of music experiences in video games will be built around long-term fan engagement rather than one-off events.

Enjoy!

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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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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’re back from what’s essentially been an extended hiatus to chat all things video game music! In this episode of GXM, we discuss the significance of Nintendo’s first commercial vinyl soundtrack release in the West as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild lands on vinyl. We also share our thoughts on the recent BAFTA Games in Concert, and why video game music was on top form at the GRAMMYs. 

––––––––––––––––––––––

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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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

Is video game music this generation’s The Great American Songbook? On this week’s episode, we’re joined by two-time Tony and GRAMMY-winning composer and producer, Charlie Rosen, to talk about his journey from working on Broadway productions to creating big band jazz arrangements of video game music with the 8-Bit Big Band and why a golden age of video game covers and arrangements is heralding what Rosen dubs The Great Video Game Songbook.

––––––––––––––––––––––

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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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

What happens when you build a music game with a diverse range of influences spanning Jon Wick, Kill Bill and Batman Arkham Asylum?

The answer is Dead as Disco: a neon-drenched beat 'em up where every punch and kick is synced to the BPM of music in the background. On this week's episode of the GXM Podcast, Mat speaks to the studio's CEO Will Cook to learn more about why the studio set out to create a music-based combat game, their experiences working with labels to license music, and finding a place for Dead as Disco in a rapidly evolving rhythm game market.

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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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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

Mat and Tom regroup to cover a mountain of music and gaming stories! We discuss the never-ending hype around the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack, Duolingo’s acquisition of Nextbeat and what this means for the rhythm games Beatstar and Country Star, and why the new RedOctane Games studio could deliver the guitar rhythm game fans have been waiting for since Rock Star and Guitar Hero. 

––––––––––––––––––––––

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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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 speaks to one of the busiest working video game composers — Will Roget. They chat about projects past and present with Will having had an incredible, BAFTA-winning 2024, not only with Helldivers 2 but also shipping Star Wars Outlaws, Pacific Drive AND animated series Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance.

––––––––––––––––––––––

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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠ | ⁠@tquillfeldt⁠ | ⁠@matombler⁠

Instagram — ⁠@gxmpodcast⁠

Produced by Tom Quillfeldt and Mat Ombler

Edited by Tom Quillfeldt

Music by Zak Foster

We’re back for another chatty summary of video game music news from the last couple of weeks. Tom returns from an Undertale concert – an experience he describes as one of the best vgm concerts he’s ever attended – but with so many new productions popping up, is there a risk of the video game concert space becoming saturated? We chat through this, share our music highlights from the video game summer showcases and smash through a mountain of news! 

Enjoy! 

• Via Eurogamer, Ed Nightingale speaks to Grant Kirkhope about the Donkey Kong Rap appearing in the upcoming Donkey Kong game and Grant’s lack of credits - he calls it "the worst rap track in the history of rap tracks"

• Via GameInformer, US dates have been announced for PlayStation in Concert 

• Via Aftermath, SiIvaGunner Is An Elaborate Game Music Joke Collective And One Of The Best Parts Of YouTube — Makes Tom feel very very old

––––––––––––––––––––––

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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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

Video game concerts are more popular than ever before, but what goes on behind the scenes to bring these productions to life?

This week, we’re joined by Gaetano Fazio, founder of SOHO Live, to talk about the logistics of video game concerts, why they’re growing so popular, and SOHO Live’s upcoming productions of the Stardew Valley and Death Stranding concert tours.

Enjoy! 

––––––––––––––––––––––

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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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

Sandfall Interactive’s debut RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has been an overwhelming success amongst critics and the official charts. With more than 90 million track streams on DSPs and top spots on the Billboard Classical Charts in less than one month after its release, Mat and Tom explain the hype behind the game’s original soundtrack and how its enjoying the same critical praise as the game itself. 

As always, there’s a lot of news to get through too. We share our thoughts on the mammoth 200+ tracklist for the new Mario Kart game, the series’ synonymous link with jazz fusion and the biggest updates for your favourite video game composers. 

• [Via Nintendo] Ask the Developer Vol. 18: Mario Kart World — Part 1

• [Via thatgamecompany] The Aurora concert in thatgamecompany’s Sky: Children of the Light is coming back between June 9th-22nd 2025

• [Via Denz1000] What is Rally House? 

––––––––––––––––––––––

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'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 Tom Quillfeldt (Laced’s Production and Community Manager) and Mat Ombler (Laced’s Head of Music and Game Partnerships.)

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

Email — ⁠[email protected]⁠   

Bluesky — @gxmpodcast.bsky.social | @matombler.bsky.social | @tquillfeldt.bsky.social 

X — ⁠@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