MagWest 2025

I performed at MagWest!!!

When I was a kid, I decided I wanted to write music for video games. I did what I was supposed to do - I studied hard in school and got all A's, started teaching myself how to write music, took extra-curriculars and AP classes to look good for colleges, took AP Music Theory, studied Latin for the SATs -- all to make sure I got into a good school to follow my dreams. Surely my good grades would be relevant for my music career????? Right????????

Well... sort of.

As I entered adulthood I learned that people are _highly_ context driven. My good grades didn't matter in rehearsal. My intellect didn't matter at a party. It was less about who I was as a person and more about who I seemed to be in that moment and how much that person suited the task.

Thankfully, I was only half right.

Turns out, the dedication I gave to that academic work - which is the same energy that drives me to be kind to others - does matter. That kindness is showing up to practice on time, being flexible and easy-going if everything doesn't turn out perfectly, and giving whatever you've got when you got it - even if you could use a few extra hours of sleep.

That's what matters - more than how fast your fingers are, how optimized your code is, or how dope your beats are. I'm honored to have gotten the chance to bring that energy to my performance with Aivi & Surasshu, Miles Morkri, and Stemage - and so grateful to have received it in return.

Til next time!!!

P.S.: I'm holding a mic because I played viola and rapped, stay tuned 👀

Three Stars Parade

My most streamed track on Spotify... is a level completion jingle.⁠

When the developers for The Stars Between Us asked for a level complete "fanfare" I wrote them a fanfare.. which didn't sound quite like this.⁠
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As a classical musician, the word fanfare called forth big brass, rolling snare drums, big orchestral bells - something symphonic! (ironically I didn't think of 'a brief improvised introduction to an instrumental performance' which is what Wikipedia says I should have but tomato tomato*)⁠
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So I sketched something to that effect because, surely I'd gotten a hang of the developer's taste by now, as I'd been working on the game for a while and all of my other sketches were approved without fuss.⁠
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Not so! I thought they wanted a fanfare, but what they were looking for.. was more of a march. which, significantly! is in 3. I'd never have written a fanfare in 3, because my mind told me a fanfare was in 4⁠
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and that, ladies in gentlemen (leaving that typo) is why you always use a musical reference.⁠
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seacrest, out**⁠
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*if you read tomato the same way both times, you are reading it as intended⁠
**this is on spotify etc, stream it there⁠

MagWest Announcement!

I'm performing at MAGWest!!

I'll be joining aivi & surasshu on stage as a violist and maaaaaybe helping out with another little surprise 😉👀

This'll be my first time performing in the games industry (I'm much more of a composer you see) but it's sure to be a fun time! and hey I hear some of the best composers played viola so check that out

If you're around, come out and see us!!

July Update - The Rising Star Patronage Project

Our contracts are signed and production has begun! Right now that means we've set the creative direction of the project and gotten everything set aside for us to start working. Unfortunately, due to shifting schedules, a bit of travel, and a few complications, we'll have to delay past our initial target of August.

To set accurate expectations, I'll refrain from announcing a release date here BUT for full transparency, all of our composers are contracted to finish their tracks by September 15th - so with a little time added to finalize everything and prepare for release, I wouldn't be too surprised if we saw something before the end of the year. (but no promises! not until those files are uploaded and ready for release)

Speaking of finalizing, I have additional news - even with the limited scope, our initial project was grossly underfunded... which is why I'm thrilled to announce that, thanks to a very generous donation from a local organization in Seattle, we were able to blow past our first milestone with a total amount raised of $14,748.

Thanks to kindness of this organization, we now have the funds required to properly complete the album - which includes a budget for mixing, mastering, promotional support, and album art!!!! (friends... we did not have enough budget for album art 💀)

I can also proudly announce that the future of the fund is significantly less uncertain. We're now able to increase payments for composers who discounted their rates, plan for and fund additional tracks beyond our first release, and, importantly, set aside a small operating budget which will allow us to do all of the aforementioned sustainably, at least for a little bit.

As always, thank you all for your support! We'll be announcing our composers over the coming months and keep you posted as we keep plugging away.

Stay tuned!
-star

Star Charts

I don't always get to write "sleepy" music, but when I do, I like to lean into it.

"Star Charts" was put together as a level select/map theme for "The Stars Between Us" - I really leaned into that idea of that screen serving as a place of rest, hence the aformentioned sleepy vibes (heck I'm sleepy right now 😴)

It was also a fun opportunity to simplify the game's theme down to its most essential parts, a very simple chord progression combined with pleasant, chiming notes from the melody. Not exactly a bell, but bell-like - not in timbre, but in personality.

did I mention that I was sleepy

as always, enjoy on spotify and everywhere else. Imma take a nap
-🌠

creativity

"creativity" is another exploration of a favorite compositional form of mine, which can roughly be described as "do the same thing over and over again except, like, different sometimes*"⁠
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I don't make a lot of music without writing a really thorough creative document too often, either, but when I let myself be free so to speak, this is a form that comes out. I think that's because I like to approach a lot of my music as problem solving or solving a puzzle - I don't get as excited by melodies themselves, chord progressions, or rhythms, but if the "problem" is "take this simple idea and make it interesting" I can focus exclusively on that. When I do work for clients the puzzle is "how do I create a genre and style that suit this project" and the research I put into the creative direction doc becomes the place where I channel that energy⁠
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I think that's why this one sounds like "creativity" to me.⁠
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anywho, stream it in all the places (and enjoy) ⁠
-⭐⁠
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*p.s. in classical music we might call that a 'theme and variations' buuuuuut idk this one's a lil more simple fam

Interview with Cutiespectives!

Originally posted as a collaborative post with me by neka_kohai on Instagram

The next episode of cutiespectives is out now! I interviewed music composer Star VictoriaPower! You can check out the full interview on my YouTube channel ~
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#cutiespectives #slide20xx #lgbtinterview #interview #mtf #lgbtcommunity #musiccomposer #videogamemusic #lgbtqiaplus #lgbtq #lgbtqia #nonbinary #calicogame #bloodstained #stevenuniverse

One Month Update - The Rising Star Patronage Project

Thanks to your contributions, we've been able to raise $4723 - which is enough for us to support tracks from five composers! What we've raised so far will allow us to launch the program and pay 3 of our composers what they're worth!

Our eagle eyed readers will notice that we raised 43% of our initial $11,000 goal - which I've referred to as our "first milestone." That means that we're still hoping to raise more to meet that first goal and hoping to raise even more beyond that.

It also means that the overall fees we're able to pay our artists starting out are much lower than industry standards. While we'll be able to fund some of our composers at near (or, in some cases, slightly above) their asking rates, we've chosen fantastic composers who are able to charge lower rates due to the particulars of their circumstances. This isn't dissimilar to the phenomenon of the US tech industry hiring cheaper labor internationally. Beyond that, two of our composers are willing and able to work at a lower rate than their preferred (which, as mentioned, is not uncommon for artists). I don't love this!

So, here's what we're gonna do:

Our first album will be a short release - we're bringing you 4-5 tracks (4 planned with a potential bonus track), and we're aiming for a release date of mid to late August.

We'll be targeting shorter, episodic releases. Think of this first release as the base game and subsequent releases as DLC. These could be additional short albums or even singles.

We're leaving the fundraiser open and additional funds will be split between paying more to composers who've taken reduced fees, funding additional releases for composers we've already worked with to continue supporting them, and bringing on additional composers as we're able.

Thank you so much for joining us on the first steps of this journey. This is just the beginning: stay tuned to see what comes next.

Black in Gaming Feature

I was featured by Black in Gaming!! See their Instagram post below.

This month, we’re highlighting @slide20xx Power, a freelance musician who has created music for many popular IPs, including Steven Universe. You might have heard some of Star’s music on Cartoon Network.

Star understands that big decisions are easier to make with the right council backing them even while trusting one’s own intuition.

As a neurodiverse person of color, Star didn’t always feel comfortable in their own skin, but now is part of vibrant communities that bring out their best.

@BlackinGaming is thrilled to highlight Star this month. If you would like to share your Doin It BIG story to highlight why #representationmatters, fill out our Doin’ It BIG form, in our profile!

Intro & Loop - Practice Clip (3)

Originally posted as a collab post with me by Dr. Marco Schirippa on Instagram

Here is the final clip I will share from @slide20xx Intro & Loop for marimba w/ digital delay!! If you want to check out the rest, join the consortium! (Or wait until the album coming in late 2026 🤓)

I am so incredibly excited to share this whole piece and the others from the PIXEL MASTERWORKS consortium later this year. Check out the link in my bio and buy in to the consortium today to get the new pieces later this month and have performance exclusivity following the premieres!!! Only a few weeks left 😵‍💫😵‍💫

Mallets: @salyers_percussion @matthewlaumusic

@cmu_perc @cmumusicschool @pearladamspercussion @sabiancymbals #newmusic #percussion #percussionist #marimba #marimbasolo #vgm #gamemusic #classicalmusic

The Rising Star Patronage Project

It feels like the economy is on fire and the game industry hasn’t been an exception to that rule. I know it might seem like there’s nothing we can do, but we’ve got to start somewhere. I’m starting right here.

I’m teaming up with Aivi Tran (who you may know from their work on Steven Universe) to raise funds for a selection of diverse composers; We’ll make some new music, boost everybody’s careers, and keep everyone’s rent paid. You’ll find the link to the GoFundMe campaign here.

Things are tough everywhere, but when things get like this, marginalized folks are often hit the hardest. In a time where it feels like the people in power don’t have our best interests in mind, the only way any of us will be able to survive is if we start helping each other out. I hope you’ll consider helping us, now.

I know we’re all having trouble, so if you aren’t able to contribute this time, please keep us in mind for the future. I’ve also included some non-money ways you can help out on FAQ on our campaign page, too.

Please give everything a look, help out if you can, and please please share it far and wide. We’re hoping to really create some positive change in the industry and we need as much help as we can get.

Hope to hear from you, and hope I’m able to help you out when you need it, too.

Passion Is Work (Never Stop Drumming)

Surprise - I'm giving my career talk again! This time I'll be presenting at the lovely media co-working space, the Seattle Interactive Media-Lab!
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This edition of the talk will move at a bit of a slower pace - we'll take a little more time to dive into the things I want to talk about and maybe even make time for a little more ✨music✨ (you know how I like music)

If you're in the Seattle area (especially if you haven't been to the SiM yet!!) drop on by!! And catch my little blurb below~

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With 2024 being a challenging year for the games industry, many of us have faced career turbulence—whether it’s layoffs, delayed projects, or disappearing opportunities. While these moments are difficult, they offer us a chance to pause, reflect, and reimagine how we define and pursue success.⁠
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In this talk, I’ll share my journey as a freelance video game music composer, highlighting the lessons I’ve learned and the strategies that have helped me move my career forward. We’ll explore what it takes to make meaningful progress (even during tough times), how to channel your passion into a sustainable career, and how to keep moving toward your goals and make 2025 a landmark year in your journey.

Intro & Loop - Practice Clip (3)

Originally posted as a collab post with me by Dr. Marco Schirippa on Instagram

Here is the second of several chunks I will share from @slide20xx Intro & Loop for marimba w/ digital delay!! This #marimba pieces has been such a pleasure to work on.

AND YOU CAN TOO! This is one of the 7 new #videogamemusic inspired works for marimba commissioned as part of the #PIXELMASTERWORKS project. You can still join the #consortium via the link in my bio until June 15!

#Mallets: @salyers_percussion @matthewlaumusic ML1B, ML2B x3🔥🔥

Marimba: @pearladamspercussion 🥰🥰

#percussion #newmusic #classicalmusic @cmu_perc @cmu_cam @cmumusicschool @sabiancymbals #vgm #gamemusic #soloist #electronicmusic

Intro & loop - Practice Clip (2)

Originally posted as a collab post with me by Dr. Marco Schirippa on Instagram

Check out the opening chunk of @slide20xx Intro & Loop for marimba w/ digital delay!! This piece is SO SICK and only uses 3.5 octaves of the #marimba, making it playable on a 4.3 or smaller!

This is one of the 7 new #videogamemusic inspired works for marimba commissioned as part of the PIXEL MASTERWORKS project. You can still join the consortium via the link in my bio until June 15!

Stay tuned for more clips from this piece as the month rolls on!

Also peep the sick @matthewlaumusic mallets 🔥🔥

#percussion #newmusic #classicalmusic @cmu_perc @cmu_cam @cmumusicschool @salyers_percussion @pearladamspercussion @sabiancymbals #vgm #gamemusic #soloist #electronicmusic

Dawn's Rise

This composition is one of the most important I've ever written.⁠

I was inspired by a web demo of the game CrossCode waaaaay back in 2014 or so while I was still at Berklee. I thought it was super fun to play, loved the art style, and was an even bigger fan of the music and what seemed to be some inspiration from Chrono Trigger (one of the best games+soundtracks of all time as I'm sure we all know)⁠
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I thought, hmm, I'll try to write some music like this! which led me down a rabbit hole of analyzing the piece of music in the demo, transcribing about half of it (aka listening to it and writing it down on sheet music, which in my opinion is exactly as metal as it sounds), doing a deep-dive listen of the entire Chrono Trigger soundtrack (lights out, eyes closed, headphones, head on couch) and then seeing what I came up with.⁠
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I don't often get a chance to write music that moves around thematically and harmonically quite as much as this does, but some of the techniques I applied to shape this have been a part of a _lot_ of the music I've written since. "thick as thieves" from the Penny Larceny soundtrack comes to mind - see my previous post about that one!⁠
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In the meantime, enjoy! Dawn's RIse is (as usual) available for streaming across the .. stream.. ways. it's on the internet you'll find it

Heart Village Day - Demo

The second and third pieces of music I wrote for Calico actually don't appear in the game.⁠
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A lot of my soundtracks start with a "statement piece" - something that's representative of the major themes and moods of the game and is in a genre similar to a good bit of, if not necessarily all of, the rest of the soundtrack. ⁠
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It'll often be a pretty significant piece of music - on The Stars Between Us, it was the game's main theme. On some of the professional game-jam work I've done, it's been the main (or only) gameplay theme.⁠
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For Calico, it was the game's title theme, "Cats and Magical Girls" which became the basis of the background music for the Heart Village - it was eventually reinterpreted as the song that appears when you're in the cafe, "A Cat is a Cat"⁠

This version of the theme, though, was the original theme for the Heart Village. It's the second piece of music I wrote for the title and the first remix of that main theme (the version that appears in the game is technically the third!) ⁠
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This version was approved for the game when it was finished, but after I'd written through the rest of the soundtrack, we thought it might be interesting to re-approach it and see how the theme would come out with my newfound experience - plus, it also needed to be reworked to properly add lyrics. ⁠
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So we ended up rewriting it! Even though we didn't end up shipping this version I still think it was an important part of the journey that got us where we ended up. (plus it makes a nice little behind the scenes journey)⁠
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as always, find the Heart Village demo streaming on Spotify + everywhere ⁠
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stay musical, people⁠
🙂‍↔️

a failed experiment

For every piece of music I've released there's been at least one failed experiment - I present to you! one of those.⁠
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The original conception of this track was simple - I hadn't written anything in a while, so I'd confine myself to just 30 minutes and see what I came up with. That... did not work out ⁠
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So! I decided, I'd only work on this in 30 minute sessions at a time. I gave that a shot but it was feeling undercooked, so I tried to focus on the other part of the challenge: I'd restrict myself to only the instruments that were open in the session, no adding anything new.⁠

Unfortunately... these are.. not... mmmMMMM exactly what I'd choose.. given a choice. which my challenge did not give me⁠
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So! we call it a(n admittedly groovy) failed experiment. I still think the challenge(s) is worth re-exploring -- I do think it takes me at least 4 hours to get most things off the ground, and it'd be fun to find ways to work faster. I did make one of my favorite compositions in about 2 hours and it'd be awesome to do more of that.⁠
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I also think I have a tendency to search for new sounds instead of using things that I've already added to a session - and that's a limitation I'm going to keep trying to overcome

Three Stars Parade

My most streamed track on Spotify... is a level completion jingle.⁠

When the developers for The Stars Between Us asked for a level complete "fanfare" I wrote them a fanfare.. which didn't sound quite like this.⁠
⁠
As a classical musician, the word fanfare called forth big brass, rolling snare drums, big orchestral bells - something symphonic! (ironically I didn't think of 'a brief improvised introduction to an instrumental performance' which is what Wikipedia says I should have but tomato tomato*)⁠
⁠
So I sketched something to that effect because, surely I'd gotten a hang of the developer's taste by now, as I'd been working on the game for a while and all of my other sketches were approved without fuss.⁠
⁠
Not so! I thought they wanted a fanfare, but what they were looking for.. was more of a march. which, significantly! is in 3. I'd never have written a fanfare in 3, because my mind told me a fanfare was in 4⁠
⁠
and that, ladies in gentlemen (leaving that typo) is why you always use a musical reference.⁠
⁠
seacrest, out**⁠
⁠
⁠
*if you read tomato the same way both times, you are reading it as intended⁠
**this is on spotify etc!

Intro & Loop - Practice Clip

Originally posted as a collab post with me by Dr. Marco Schirippa on Instagram

Hard at work on a NEW PIECE for the #PIXELMASTERWORKS project!! This is a tiny practice clip from @slide20xx (Star Victoria Power)’s work for marimba and digital delay, Intro and Loop! I am so excited to continue digging into this piece in the coming months and CANNOT WAIT to share this absolute #banger with the world!

This piece is a fast and relentless groove in 5 with delay at the quarter note. The “Intro” section gradually introduces the piece’s rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic characteristics, which are elaborated on in the challenging “Loop” section, which mirrors the composer’s approaching to “looping” in their video game soundtracks. This is Star’s first publicly presented concert work, and I sure hope it isn’t the last 🔥🔥🔥🔥

The PIXEL MASTERWORKS consortium is still open, by the way, until June 15 (final delivery day). Link in bio to read more about the project and contribute for access and exclusivity for the seven new pieces. Going forward, every consortium member who will receive sheet music (including those who have already contributed) will also receive the PIXEL MASTERWORKS album, to be recorded summer 2026 and released late 2026/early 2027.

Also shout out to the new @matthewlaumusic #mallets 😊

#marimba #percussion #newmusic #classicalmusic #gamemusic #vgm @cmu_perc @cmumusicschool @cmu_cam @salyers_percussion @pearladamspercussion @sabiancymbals

GDC 2025 Wrap-Up

This GDC was truly one for the ages.

Our 3-Day Diversity in Game Audio Roundtable was amazing - I am once again floored by the quality of the discussions brought up and again pleased to see just how thoughtful we’re being as we continue to build the game industry of the future.

Three days out of 365 might be a small place to start, but these are the grains of sand that we’re moving into mountains, and I can’t wait to see how things grow and shape as we continue working to make change.

Speaking of diversity in general, I’m continually astounded as I walk the halls and the park and continue to meet so many people who look like me, my friends, and the wonderfully diverse group of people I’m happy to call my peers. It’s easy to feel lost as we read updates about some of the rich, clown-people we’ve let weasel their way into positions of power, but when I see crowds like these, it makes something clear: We’re still out here and we’re not going anywhere.

And we’re looking fabulous throughout it all !!!! The “Fashion Icon” badge ribbons I printed and gave out were a HUGE success. I ordered 100 of them and that supply was not nearly large enough to meet the demand. If I saw you and didn’t give you one (and you know you deserved it - you know who you are 👀) find me next year and I will correct the error of my ways. 🙏🏾

I also want to take a moment to personally thank everyone who exchanged a kind word with, graciously accepted a ribbon from, took pictures of, or sneakily had nice things to say about me behind my back (how dare you!!! 😤)

There have definitely been those moments that I felt like I didn’t belong - so please know, even if we didn’t get as much time to catch up as I would have liked - it means the world to me.

Let’s keep rockin’
-Star