SoundCast Interview: Laura Karpman (Kung Fu Panda 2: The Video Game)

Interview: Laura Karpman "Ask Your Panda"

Composer Laura Karpman (Taken, Everquest II) talks about some of her most recent projects which include one of the most unique musical projects of the last few years, ASK YOUR MAMA, as well her most recent video game score, the tie-in-game to KUNG FUN PANDA 2. She also talks about the why there are fewer female composers in the USA compared to other countries such as the United Kingdom and Japan.


Episode Highlights

00:23 — Introduction and "Ask Your Mama"
08:29 — Writing music for multiple mediums
13:52 — Struggle of the Female Composer in the USA
18:57 — Kung Fu Panda 2: The Video Game

Music Clips (Select music clips contained in this podcast)


00:00 — "Main Title" (Kung Fu Panda 2 VG) by Laura Karpman
03:49 — "Cultural Exchange" (Ask Your Mama) by Laura Karpman
07:44 — "Jazztet Muted - Show Fare, Please" (Ask Your Mama) by Laura Karpman
18:18 — "Komodo Dragon Bossfight Minions 2" (Kung Fu Panda 2 VG) by Laura Karpman
19:43 — "Cliffside Puzzle 2" (Kung Fu Panda 2 VG) by Laura Karpman
21:42 — "Main Title" (Untold Legend: Dark Kingdom) by Laura Karpman
26:46 — "Marina Combat 2" (Kung Fu Panda 2 VG) by Laura Karpman

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Variety Interviews Game Composers

VARIETY has just posted an interesting article regarding the state of video game music as described by some well-known game composers...and feature film composers. Mentioned in the article are composers such as: HOWARD SHORE, MICHAEL GIACCHINO, HARRY GREGSON-WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER LENNERTZ, LAURA KARPMAN and GERARD MARINO.

Some brow-furrowers from the article:

Music budgets have risen from $30,000 (in the early '90s) to $1 million in some cases today, execs say. Composers tend to be paid by the minute, but with games requiring 90 minutes-120 minutes of music each, the $1,000- to $2,000-per-minute rate quickly adds up to creative fees in excess of $100,000.

Debney committed to writing the music for the knights-and-dragons game "Lair," but has turned down subsequent projects because there are no provisions for backend payments for successful games (as composers receive, via ASCAP and BMI, for successful films and TV shows). "The game companies are extremely resistant," he says. "I don't know if it'll change. It's a big problem."

Gerard Marino, whose "God of War" games are among the most popular (and whose music is featured on "Video Games Live"), recently heard a fellow composer complain that "there is no middle class anymore." His response: "Well, I think there is. It's games."

Also mentioned is that CHRISTOPHER LENNERTZ will be scoring the QUANTUM OF SOLACE tie-in game.


There's more so check out the full article here!

LAURA KARPMAN TO CONDUCT "GAMES IN CONCERT 2"

A little game-music news for you today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAURA KARPMAN TO CONDUCT "GAMES IN CONCERT 2"

EMMY AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER CONDUCTS VIDEO GAME MUSIC CONCERTFEATURING MUSIC FROM EVERQUEST II AND UNTOLD LEGENDS: DARK KINGDOM

Los Angeles, CA – November 26th, 2007 – Emmy award-winning composer Laura Karpman (Steven Spielberg’s TAKEN), will conduct the second “Games In Concert” (http://www.gamesinconcert.nl/) event in Holland featuring live symphony orchestral performances of popular video game music scores. The concert will be performed by the Metropole Orchestra and PA’dam Choir (http://www.metropoleorkest.nl/) at the Music Centre Vredenburg Utrecht (http://www.vredenburg.nl/) in The Netherlands on 8th December, 2007.

Some of the orchestral arrangements scheduled to be performed during “Games In Concert 2” include: Final Fantasy, Grandia II, Halo, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, Kingdom Hearts, Legend of Zelda, Max Payne, Shadow of the Colossus, Soul Calibur 2, Super Mario Bros., Star Fox, StarCraft, Tetris and Unreal Tournament, as well as Laura Karpman’s epic orchestral/choral scores for Sony Online Entertainment’s EverQuest II and Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom.

“It's so inspiring to be a part of this performance. I believe that games are a terrific way for audiences to hear and experience serious music,” said Laura Karpman. “The sheer number of hours alone that people are listening and engaging with orchestral music is hugely exciting and encouraging about the future of the art form.”

Karpman’s fantasy score for Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom won PLAY Magazine’s (US) 2006 Best Original Soundtrack of the Year Award. The score was originally recorded in Prague with the FILMharmonic Orchestra and Choir, with Karpman conducting. The lyrics sung by the choir were adapted by Karpman from portions of the medieval poetry text “William Wallace” in Middle Scots - the literary source for the legend of “Braveheart” - and woven into the score to complement the game’s intriguing narrative and dramatic storyline.

In 2005 Karpman received a Game Audio Network (G.A.N.G.) award for her EverQuest II video game music, which has been performed by orchestras internationally including the “GC” Symphonic Game Music Concert in Germany, “Joystiq” in Sweden and “Video Games Live” at the Hollywood Bowl in North America. Karpman most recently contributed additional music to Clive Barker's Jericho and the bonus material for Halo 3. For more information visit: http://www.laurakarpman.com/.