My score/song for Matt Harding's latest video is now up on youtube and Vimeo and has received over seven million views so far (first three weeks). For those interested here's the link and my album notes that was not published with the song on Amazonmp3.com.

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B8R3MS/

Album notes "Praan"

Credits:

Music By Garry Schyman

Drums and Engineering Dan Blessinger

Vocals Palbasha Siddique

Guitars and bass Kevin Dukes

Concertmaster Belinda Broughton

Orchestral contractor Ross DeRoche (DeRoche Music Inc.)

Vocal Contractor Melissa Nixon

Lyrics adapted from the poem "Stream Of Life" from Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore

This song is my fourth collaboration with Matt Harding. How we met and got started working together is an interesting story in itself, without detailing it here I will just say it is one of those serendipitous events that can play a big part in ones life.

I wrote this music without particular lyrics in mind because, for one thing, I don"t really write lyrics. Matt would send me early edits of the video which I used to inspire me as I composed. I used my film and television experience to build the song in the appropriate places.

When it came time for lyrics and to find a singer Matt suggested that we consider non-English lyrics, which instantly sounded right to me. I immediately thought of Rabindranath Tagore who is considered the poet laureate of India. He was given the Nobel Prize in literature in 1913 for his English translation of his book of poetry entitled Gitanjali and was the first non-westerner to win the prize.

Matt was particularly fond of the poem "Stream Of Life" which seemed perfectly in tune with his video.

Bengali is a beautiful language so we decided to have it sung in Tagore's native tongue, however we had no idea who the singer would be.

I started listening to countless demo mp3's of various studio singers, who all sounded terrific but just didn't seem right for the song. Bengali is a particularly difficult language to sing if you don't know the language and we wanted someone who could really bring off the poem in Bengali. To the rescue came Matt's girlfriend and co-producer of the video Melissa Nixon. Melissa is amazing and searched youtube for just the right voice. Astonishingly she found her in the person of Palbasha Siddique. Palbasha had a couple of videos that included her singing and though the videos did not do her justice, they were enough for us to contact her and learn that she was a 17 year old high school junior living in Minneapolis Minnesota (Palbasha was born in Bengladesh and moved there when she was six years old). To be honest I was initially very skeptical as to whether she could really pull off what we wanted for the song, but when I spoke to her she was keen on being involved and was willing to record a demo for us. I sent her a rough mix of the song and she recorded over it and sent it back. We were all just completely amazed at how perfect she was. She completely understood what we were doing and she sounded fantastic. We immediately invited her and her mother to Los Angeles to record at a session planned for June 5th of this year. She came in and was so professional and sounded so awesome that it could not have been better. Later that day we recorded live strings and if you look closely at about 3:40 into the video you will see Matt dancing with the string section with me next to him conducting (I have the honor of being the only person in Matt's video whose backside is prominently featured!). Our concertmaster was Belinda Broughton and she and the rest of the string section were wonderful.

I must also pay tribute to my recording engineer Dan Blessinger who records all of my orchestral music for me (I am not really known as a songwriter but rather as a film/TV and video game composer of orchestral scores, check out my score for BioShock). Dan also plays the drums on the track and did an amazing job. I also want to thank Kevin Dukes who has plays guitar and bass on all three songs I have written for Matt's videos. Kevin is an amazing studio guitarist who can do anything you ask on his instrument.

Oh and the title of the song "Praan" is a particularly poetic way of saying "life" in Bengali.

I hope you like this track I loved writing and recording it.


Regards,


Garry Schyman

Stream of Life

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the lifethrob of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

My score for BioShock was honored with awards in the following four categories at last weeks 6th Annual G.A.N.G. awards held in San Francisco during the Game Developers Conference:

Music Of The Year
Best Interactive Score
Best Original Instrumental
Audio Of The Year

I am deeply grateful to all of those who supported and voted for my music.

I was honored last night at the Red Rock Hotel in Las Vegas with the most prestigious award the game industry bestows on a composer "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition" for my score for BioShock.

I am most grateful to the academy for the nomination and for affirming my nomination with the award. I am also extremely grateful to everyone at 2K Games for making such an amazing game and giving me so much creative freedom to score it.

It has been an amazing season of awards showered on both BioShock and my score for the game.

That said I would be remiss if I did not mention that I have just been nominated by the Academy Of Interactive Arts and Sciences for "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition" for my score.

This is the most prestigious award of them all and I am truly honored just to have been nominated.

BioShock has been nominated for a total of 12 AIAS "D.I.C.E." awards which is unprecedented!

The Game Audio Network Guild has nominated my score for BioShock in three categories.

- Music Of The Year

- Best Original Instrumental

- Best Interactive score

In addition BioShock was nominated in four other audio categories including:

- Audio of the Year
- Sound Design of the Year
- Best Dialogue
- Best Use of Licensed Music

GANG awards are nominated by and voted on by audio and music professionals in the Video Game industry and I consider it a high honor to receive these nominations!

The winners will be announced at the Game Developers Conference on February 21st.

Well - when it rains it pours!

Thanks to the folks at Primotech for the Best Original Score Award and for the kind words

"But what really sets the music of BioShock apart was the brilliant original score, provided by composer Garry Schyman.

Who among us can forget the shrill violins he heard upon coming face-to-face with the deranged Dr. Steinman? Or how about the symphonic grandeur of Sander Cohen's ostentatious entrance? BioShock's music simply struck every right note at exactly the right time, making the player feel sorrow, fear, and suspense at every turn."

http://www.primotechnology.com/2007/12/18/primotech-game-of-the-year-awards-2007-day-two/

Tis the season and I am once again proud and honored to announce that my score for BioShock has been awarded Best Original Soundtrack by G4 television in their annual X-Play Best Of 2007 video game awards.

Additionally, BioShock has been awarded the most prestigious award of the event - Game Of The Year.

Last night I attended the Spike TV Video Games Awards in Las Vegas.

I am proud and very pleased to announce the my score for BioShock won for Best Original Score!

BioShock also won Game of the Year and Best Xbox 360 Game!

Very cool!

:)

The show airs Sunday December 9th at 9PM on Spike TV of course

I am pleased to announced that my score for BioShock was nominated for best game score 2007 by Spike TV.

http://www.ifilm.com/collection/24055/show/23733

The game was also nominated in numerous other categories including "Game of The Year" and "Best Soundtrack".

I will be on a panel at the Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Music Conference this coming Friday November 2nd.


http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/filmtv/schedule.jsp

Scifi Channel rarely reviews game scores but they have reviewed my score for BioShock

Here is a quote

"Remarkable and remarkably good, the music for Bioshock is a feast for the musical connoisseur"

Read the whole review at this link

http://www.scifi.com/sfw/sound/sfw17057.html

Some very nice reviews of my score for BioShock have been coming in. Here are a few in no particular order of importance.

Music 4 Games Score review

http://www.music4games.net/Review_Display.aspx?id=98

intimate orchestral, aleatoric passages, virtuoso solo, masterful piano and even environmental sound design. Dark brooding strings that never ever overpowers anything but fleeting thoughts. Percussion that glibly stabs and pulsates in your gut. Violin solos that jerk at your brain, your heart, and anything you hold dear or thought was safe. It's music, and such that can be easily enjoyed outside of the game, but takes on a whole new meaning while playing.

LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-wk-gamea20sep20,1,6731809.story?coll=la-headlines-technology


eerily placed music, are all very much from the period, helping set the tone.

The Bitbag

http://www.thebitbag.com/index.php/2007/09/14/review-bioshock/


Arguably even more striking than the visuals are BioShocks music

BioShock takes other cues from the film industry. Atmospheric music is beautifully handled, alternately setting various moods and palpably evoking tension. The score is varied and high-quality throughout, but not heavy-handed enough to impinge upon the players sense of disbelief. Other games,

Supersite

http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/xbox360_bioshock.asp

an amazing musical score that seems to kick it up a notch at all the right moments

Boomtown

http://www.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=14816

Sound: 10 gorgeous soundtrack.

411 Mania

http://www.411mania.com/games/reviews/59042


The music really enhances the game on so many levels. It can make it feel like someone is watching you from the shadows (which is probably true) or it can make you feel like youve just done a miraculous thing by saving a Little Sister. I cannot say how happy I was to know I didn t have to switch out the game’s music for my hard drive music.

Gaming Excellence

http://www.gamingexcellence.com/xbox360/games/837/review.shtml?page=4


The music ranges from upbeat 40's tunes such as Beyond the Sea to adrenaline pumping orchestral scores that perfectly suit the moments in which they are utilized.

PALGN

http://palgn.com.au/article.php?title=BioShock+Review&id=8657&sid=bf15107901e3296d8571d8d89e8f51ae

with the games orchestral soundtrack create a chilling atmosphere

CNET

http://www.cnet.com.au/games/xbox360/0,239035744,339281451,00.htm


you'll get some terrific music that helps set the creepy, uncertain mood.

Herald-Dispatch

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070823/ENT/708230362/1006


great voice acting that plays out through little recordings spread throughout the game or some of the creepy period music.

Goupstate.com

http://www.goupstate.com/article/20070823/NEWS/708230311/-1/BUSINESS

The soundtrack is wonderful as well. You will probably find yourself finding a place to hide just to hear the music.

IGN

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/813/813749p3.html


Great score a stirring score

Gamespot

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/bioshock/review.html?page=2&sid=6176947&part=rss&tag=gs_reviews&subj=6176947

In addition to some nice period music that plays from jukeboxes or record players, you'll get some terrific music that helps set the creepy, uncertain mood.

Games first

http://gamesfirst.com/?id=1542

The first thing you notice about Rapture is how beautiful it is. Bioshock, running off Unreal Engine 3 technology (the same technology that brought us Gears of War) is mind-blowingly beautiful. Credit given where credit's due: it's the texture work, the lighting, the music, the water and level design that stun.

Official Xbox Magazine UK

The soundtrack on this game is amazing. The optimistic classics of the 1950s era are shoehorned in with early 20th century music, random sounds, traditional tonal tunes, and late Romantic stuff. The composer, Schyman, has even used musique concrete, sounds of the real world - ranging from footsteps on stone to a diseased man's breathing man (for the Big Daddy we think). Everything else in the world is equally well composed, from the catchy tunes of the vending machines to the clunky reloading of your shotgun.

Gamespy

http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/bioshock/813618p2.html


The audio is excellent, with fantastic music matching perfectly with the art deco theme of Rapture

Game Informer - "BioShock" - 10/10

Games just don’t come any better than BioShock

The classic music, haunting voice recordings, and sound of insanity blend to create an eerie and intimidating array of sound.

Source:
http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200709/R07.0814.1203.13551.htm

Nice Interview on my score for BioShock

http://news.filefront.com/gaming-today-qa-bioshock-composer-garry-schyman/

BioShock, the video game I scored, is perhaps the most anticipated title of the year. It will be released on August 24th and I have been asked to do a number of interviews about my work. I have pasted some of the links below.


Team Xbox interview

http://www.teamxbox.com/

http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/2030/BioShock-Garry-Schyman-Interview/p1/

http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/2030/BioShock-Garry-Schyman-Interview/p2/

http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/2030/BioShock-Garry-Schyman-Interview/p3/


Official Xbox 360 Magazine

http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=1059

Score Notes interview

http://www.scorenotes.com/interview_audio/schyman/garry_schyman.mp3

Music 4 Games

http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=156

Game Daily Biz

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=17042

I am pleased to finally be able to announce that I am happily working on Destroy All Humans3. There are two versions of the game I am scoring, one titled "Path of Furon" is for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The other "Big Willy Unleashed" is for the Wii.

The two games take place in the 1970's and will have a score from that era. Yes lots of wah wha guitar. Additionally, I will be recording the score with a large orchestra here in Los Angeles.

I am enjoying this gig immensely and can't wait to record with the orchestra!

For those of you who enjoyed Matt Hardings Dancing Video that I scored last year (over 5.5 million views to date on youtube - making it one of the most streamed youtube videos of all time) Matt and I have teamed up again to produce - Dancing Outtakes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT8jA_pps3o

I hope you enjoy it.

I am pleased and honored to announce that my score for Destroy All Humans! 2 has been nominated for MUSIC OF THE YEAR 2006 by the Game Audio Network Guild.

This nomination is truly appreciated as it is voted on by the leading composers, musicians and audio directors in the video game industry.

Winners will be announced at the 5th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards ceremony, taking place on March 8, 2007 in San Francisco, California during the Game Developers Conference.

I will be part of a panel on January 16th discussing my work as a film, TV and game composer. Having worn all three hats I look forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences with those attending the California Copyright Conference (CCC).

Description of event:

As video games become increasingly complex and engaging join us for an evening exploring the interesting crossover occurring in music for Film, Television and Video Games. Three esteemed composers who have worked in all three genres will discuss the differences and similarities in composing for these different media.

Three composers who have tons of credits in both games and film/tv...

Guest Speakers:

- SHAWN CLEMENT (Open Season, The Sims, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Idol, Batman: Vengeance)
- LAURA KARPMAN (Masters of Science Fiction, Taken, Everquest 2, Untold Legends Dark Kingdom)
- GARRY SCHYMAN (Destroy All Humans 1 and 2, Full Spectrum Warrior Ten Hammers, BioShock, Mortal Fear, Spooky House).

Destroy All Humans 2 has garnered the top awards this year given by the Game Developers Association Of Australia.

The awards include:

Best Audio, 2006 (which includes music!)
Best Console Game, 2006
Game of the Year, 2006!!!

From Music Mania

http://www.mania.com/52733.html

The result is an amazingly crafted and resoundingly effective score that mimics, pays tribute to, and re-energizes the inventive clarity of 1960s horror scoring. There is still plenty of the 1950s style that defined the first DAH gamescore, but DAH2 is a little more progressive in its musical palette. and pervasive chords rage in colorful battle while other moments brood in reserved rage, biding its time. Tunguska Disguised harkens back to the impenetrable requiems of Akira Ifukubes Gojira scores, with their irrepressible sadness and funereal cadence. Moon Base Hunted, which closes the CD, is a brilliant amalgamation of Barry and Bernstein and Bernard Herrmann.

Film Music Monthly

This score continues to offer up that homage to the music of 1960s sci-fi explored in the previous score. Furon Theme, the opening score cue, is just that updated sound most closely resembling a cross between a Barry Bond score mixed with the theremin-tinged Herrmann sci-fi sound with nods to North By Northwest and The Day the Earth Stood Still. One might also hear in the score tracks an extension of Elfmans music from Mars Attacks! (the Hollywood homage to 1950s sci-fi.) Bay City Disguised is like a cross between Schifrin and Goldsmith taking a page from Mission Impossible along the way. The result is still interesting if not at times amusing. This cue abruptly ends and sounds as if it continues in Bay City Hunted interrupted by the licensed material. The score is a fun companion to Giacchinos The Incredibles of which it is a kindred spirit in intent if not in compositional style.

Schymans music is really an exciting listening experience filled with engaging musical lines and accomplished and polished orchestration. All the things that separate the merely interesting from the above average are on display here. The music has rhythmic vitality that falls into the same category as Goldsmith, a wide harmonic palette and moves freely, though not distractedly, between its purely orchestral sound and the addition of electric guitars. The orchestration is also varied and superbly crafted.
Pro-G

an impressive score (once again from Garry Schyman) is perfectly in keeping with the 60s setting and the feeling of the game.

http://www.pro-g.co.uk/xbox/destroy_all_humans_2/preview-268.html?commentpage=1

I am pleased to announce the release of the "Destroy All Humans 2" soundtrack, which includes over 40 minutes of my orchestral score for the game. DAH2 (the game) will ship to stores on Tuesday October 17th, as will the soundtrack. The soundtrack will be available in most major retailers as well as iTunes.

Thanks to Pandemic Studios and THQ for making such a great game and for giving me the opportunity to write such cool music!

Garry was just recently interviewed by Brian DiDomenico on Game Music Radio and discussed his scores for various games - especially his score for Destroy All Humans 2 which comes out the week of October 16th.

Listen at:

http://www.gamemusicradio.com/

Garry has scored the new trailer for BioShock. Take a look, as it gives a flavor of what this awesome game will look, feel and sound like.

http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/3679/X06-BioShock-Trailer/

Garry has scored Matt Harding's amazing world travel dance video. The score is in a pop-rock style with vocals from a traditional lullaby from the Solomon Islands entitled "Rorogwela" as sung by Afunakwa and recorded by Hugo Zemp in 1970.

Watch the video at YouTube.

Garry has begun scoring an amazing new game- BioShock. BioShock is the spiritual successor to one of the most innovative games all time System Shock.

BioShock has received multiple nominations in the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Game Critics Awards and to date has won 17 E3 awards including a sweep of Best of Show awards from IGN, GameSpot, and GameSpy.

"BioShock is a stunningly beautiful and interesting game and the score will be unique and innovative. I am enjoying work on it immensely" said Garry.

I am very pleased to announce that I am now a client of The Gorfaine Schwartz Agency. The agency represents the most highly acclaimed composers working in today's entertainment markets including film, television and video games. The composers include John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, Thomas Newman, Michael Giacchino, Ennio Morricone, James Newton Howard, Randy Newman and others.

My new agent's contact information is:

Cheryl Tiano
The Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency
818-260-8530
ctiano@gsamusic.com

http://e3.teamxbox.com/2006/awards/

"BioShock was exactly that- a shocker to the editors who had a chance to witness its juxtaposed art styles, including the most photo-realistic water effects on the planet. The gameplay demo was just as freaky. Plasmid-induced player character seeks revenge on crawlers and other mutations out for the kill.

But it was the soundtrack of BioShock that got the most attention- at least at this stage of the game. Irrational is actually using audio clips as plot drivers instead of the tried-and-true but somewhat played out cut-scene cinematic. Couple the spooky, well-written dialogue with an equally riveting musical score, and the result is one of the most visceral experiences in console gaming coming at ya’ in the very near future."

Garry has begun work on Destroy All Humans 2. Set in the 1960's the score will be an ode to the scoring of that era and the orchestral score will be recorded in Hollywood with L.A's best orchestral musicians.

Listen to Garry's Destroy All Humans! interview with NPR

Garry's 1950's sci-fi score for the game "Destroy All Humans!" was nominated by G.A.N.G (the Game Audio Network Guild) in three categories for this years audio awards.

MUSIC OF THE YEAR 2005
BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE RECORDING
BEST ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL

The Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G. - www.audiogang.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of game audio.

Nominating are working composers and audio professionals in the games industry.

Read This interesting article entitled "Hollywood Sound: Part One" on Gamasutra.com which includes an interview with Garry

Source: Gamasutra.

Garry has started composing the score for Pandemic Studios/THQ's new game "Full Spectrum Warrior Ten Hammers". The project is a combat strategy game and is the successor to the very successful "Full Spectrum Warrior".

Destroy All Humans musical score is stellar. The fabulous soundtrack drips with a drive-in movie aesthetic.

Source: USA Today.

Not many individuals get to make a living by paying homage to 1950's sci-fi films and honoring their musical heroes (in this case the legendary Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann). Garry Schyman, however, is one of these lucky bastards, a man who has risen up through the ranks and made a name for himself scoring television, film, and now videogames. The game most recently in question, in terms of Schyman being able to craft music that bows gently to the memory of classic films like The Day The Earth Stood Still, as well as the musical legacy of Herrmann, is the comedic alien invasion action/adventure Destroy All Humans.

Source: IGN.

The game features a perfectly fitting score that plays it surprisingly straight (with a few exceptions, like the end credits music that is worth sitting through the credits for) with orchestral old school sci-fi film style music that perfectly compliments the action.

Source: xboxworld.

At least the audio makes up for it, with appropriately spine-chilling music that could have come straight from a fifties movie

Source: trustedreviews.com.

The music itself reeks of an old school B movie with flying saucers attached to strings and people running from a giant ant. It's got the creepy music you'd expect from an old alien movie, fitting the game like a glove.

Source: Xbox Advanced mn.

Sound: 10/10 Brilliant B-Movie score

Source: PlayStation 2 Official Magazine-UK

The mixture of melodramatic orchestral music with a heavy dose of Theremin is just perfect for what the game is going for.

Source: Gamespot.

the music plays a major role in ensuring the atmosphere throughout the game is spot on. The dynamic soundtrack helps to build up a certain sense of tension when the action heats up

Source: totalvideogames.com.

With the release of Destroy all Humans! just around the corner, we thought it would be an opportune time to learn a bit more about the 50s style sci-fi soundtrack that accompanies this unique title. We sat down with composer Garry Schyman (Voyeur, Voyeur II, Off World Interceptor), who gives us insight into retro movie soundtracks, writing music specifically for videogames, and working in accordance with Pandemic on Destroy all Humans!

Source: teamxbox.

Garry Schyman Scores Destroy All Humans!

Composer Garry Schyman, whose experience outside of videogames includes feature films, television movies, and series television, has created the original orchestral score for the upcoming videogame Destroy All Humans!

Source: teamxbox.

THQ grooves, Destroys All Humans!

Publisher announces Garry Schyman will score game; promo CD features 1950s songs remixed by today's DJs.

Source: gamespot.com.

SoundtrackNet occasionally likes to take a peek at what is going on in other media, and so we took an opportunity to talk with composer Garry Schyman. Garry has just completed work on the zany alien-invasion game (in which you play the alien) Destroy All Humans, and we wanted to talk with him about his work on this project - which resulted in a rather unique and old-fashioned sci-fi score.

Source: SoundtrackNet.

"The audio portion of Destroy All Humans has passed the TXB pre-build inspection with flying colors. An eerie and overly dramatic instrumental track fits perfectly into DAHs mid-50s sci-fi flair. Throw in some ancient electronic organ effects and you have the complete, suspenseful soundtrack for a game about 50s Zenophobia."

Read more at IGN.

Welcome to Garry's new website. Please check back soon for new additions!

XBox World Australia interviewed Destroy All Humans! game director Brad Welch in January, and Brad took the opportunity to praise Garry's original music:

Q - How important is sound & music to the game? Nothing makes a good (or bad) sci-fi movie like surround sound and a killer soundtrack!

A - We took submissions from a variety of talented musicians who were all very keen to work on the game In the end we selected a chap called Garry Schyman, whose brain is doing a great job providing us with hours and hours of very cool and genre specific music. Bernard Herrmann was the influence, and Garry has done an awesome job of providing us with an original score inspired by that influence.

Source: XBox World Australia.

Destroy All Humans! is included as one of IGNs top 12 games of 2005.

Read more at IGN.