I made a song for the game's score

[gzussturbo]

I noticed there is no music in the game (might be because I have the evaluation version only) but when I play this game I picture very tribal/ambient music for the score, so I made a tune and wanted to share it here to see what you guys think.

Now keep in mind, it is supposed to be for the score of the game, not a full blown song, so it will sound repetitive and minimal. Give it a try as you're playing the game and see how it feels. This is just one of many songs I'm willing to make for this game

http://soundcloud.com/themandalaproject/kenshi-demo-1


Feel free to leave me some feedback

[Santaissick]

Sounds pretty good to me... But as you said, it's pretty basic, very minimal.

Don't Geishas play some weird instrument? What about trying to add that to song? Since Kenshi gets lots of influence from the east it would fit well in IMHO. Now with only tribal drums it could be any little African tribe village or anything.

[gzussturbo]

Thanks for the feedback!

Funny you mention geishas playing an instrument, because I was playing around with a shimasen for this particular tune and decided it would best be added into another song. I also have an erhu which I want to add. I don't want the sound to be too oriental, because this game has more of a rugged tribal feel to it, so I'll add elements of asian culture in the music, but keep it more primitive and tribal.

Stay tuned for more

[Gates]

Def gona stay tuned for more. I liked your first pass at this, I agree it was minimalistic but as a background music you don't really need a whole lot and I could see that working. Look forward to hearing the next bit.

[Blxz]

I think for in-game music it would not work. but for start menu music on loading the game it could do a very nice job. I liked it. the simple repetitiveness and the casual flow of it really got me in the mood for kenshi (hence the reason it could make good menu music). Good job.

[lkenage]

I agree with Blxz, I think this would make for some pretty good title music, but I can't really see this in-game.

It might be because Kenshi is pretty much all desert right now, which is why your demo (which sounds more tribal) wouldn't really fit in-game very well imo.

Also, about your track itself:
- I like the ideas you have, but I feel that you might want to give the drums more accent and more weight.
- You have a pretty low bassline going on throughout the piece, maybe giving it a boost and sidechaining it to a low drum (is it a timpani?) could give the song a feeling of more weight.
- I really like your use of the higher percussion, I really liked it.

[gzussturbo]

Wow! Thanks for the feedback guys!

I think this tune would also make a good title screen track, but if that were the case I'd definitely go back and add a bit more to it to make it stand out (which I purposely left out trying to create a background score)

@Ikenage I used a korg wave drum for this piece, but I do have various synth and acoustic ethnic drums as well, i could add to spice up the percussion.

I'll play around with it and repost it so you guys can have a listen

Thanks again!

[Blxz]

I'll play around with it and repost it so you guys can have a listen

Looking forward to it.

[Scotterius]

OK, I really liked it. It is great ambient and it fits, sure you could add some elements to it but it is quite good. I think it would be great in game, I would like the title screen to have the main game score (ie Morrorwind, Deus Ex).

Kenshi is kind of hard to write music for because the post apocalyptic themes and Japanese medieval themes are so contradictory. I think you are on the right track with exploring the shimasen. You might want to explore other Asian instruments apart from Japanese examples. Particularly woodwinds. It is a difficult task to use these instruments without having it sound to folk, but folk enough. I would also play with some metal scraping and beating for the derelict post apocalypse feel. Electrical popping might work too.

[gzussturbo]

Thanks for the feedback! I have a Xiao, which is a chinese bamboo flute I could use for accents as well. And like you said, the main title screen music has to stand out so that when you hear it you know exactly what it's from, which will be fun to play around with. I'll repost when I feel I have something worthy

glad you like the tune posted

[Kanaro]

A movie to watch for some musical Kenshi inspiration: Dororo

[Santaissick]

Seems interesting movie... Is it originally manga/anime? I might have the time to watch it some day