Culture
Karen Dalton: We Hardly Knew Ya
Of all the artists that grew out of the fertile Greenwich Village folk scene of the ’60s, Karen Dalton has somehow remained in the shadows of firmly established stars like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. It’s not for a lack of effort on the part of Dalton’s friends and fans. In the years since her death in 1993, her two studio albums — 1969’s It’s So Hard To Tell Who’s Going To Love You The Best and 1971’s In My Own Time — have been reissued multiple times, and several posthumous collections of her home recordings are now available. Dalton has also been namechecked as an influence by many of today’s musicians that fall under the folk umbrella. In spite of all that, Dalton is still an unknown entity to most and even forgotten by those folks trying to keep the world’s listeners connect...
Listen to the Dying Light 2 Stay Human Theme from BAFTA-Nominated Composer Olivier Derivière
In 2015, Techland set a new standard for zombie games with the release of Dying Light. Almost 7 years later, we’re finally nearing the release of the much-anticipated (and delayed) sequel that promises to expand on the undead-parkour gameplay that so many fans fell in love with on the first release. But as we inch closer to the February 4 launch date for Dying Light 2 Stay Human, we’ve got an exclusive first peek at the main theme for the game. Created by BAFTA-nominated French composer Olivier Derivière (A Plague Tale: Innocence, Vampyr, Greedfall), the “Run, Jump, Fight” sets the intense tone for the post-apocalyptic title. “Dying Light 2 is by far my most ambitious game music project to date,” Derivière says in a statement. “It has been an amazing journey working with Tec...
Indie Composer Max LL Is the Musical Mastermind Behind Thunder Lotus Games Like Spiritfarer
If you’ve ever played a title by Thunder Lotus Games, you know that there’s really nothing else like them. If you haven’t and you’re into surprisingly complex hand-drawn video games, you should. The Canadian indie studio’s third game, Spiritfarer, continues that unique trend that made Jotun and Sundered both cult favorites. Appropriately described as “a cozy management game about dying,” the player takes on the role of the ferrymaster of the dead — meaning that your job is to transport them to the afterlife and make sure they’re comfortable in the process. It’s a relatively chill and relaxed gig, all things considered, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get a little hectic at times. Of course, regardless of how happy or miserable your passengers are in Spiritfarer, the game looks and sounds li...
10 great outdoor destinations – and their British twins
From Alpine-esque peaks to Basque-country beauty, there’s a world’s worth of wonder right here at home It’s strange that in a place literally named ‘Great’, we the British like to self-deprecate. We as a nation tend to regard blind ambition and gaudy success with a sense of mild distaste. We value modesty and restraint and seldom shout about our strengths. It’s understandable then why so many of us forget the vast and varied beauty right here at home. From crisp mornings on snowy peaks to fiery sunsets in easy reach, Britain rivals some iconic outdoor destinations. Whether you opt for camping, glamping or holiday cottages in the UK, there’s a mini-adventure that will almost certainly surprise you. The hardest thing to do is choose. 1. Alpine views in the north of Wales Dramatic mountains a...
Ramin Djawadi and Brandon Campbell Bring Their Blockbuster Composing Talents to Amazon’s New World
When Amazon decided they wanted to get into developing video games, a lot of the gaming industry wasn’t sure exactly what to make of it. Sure, they could buy out studios, build their own platform, and basically sink unlimited resources into just about any aspect of game creation they want, but would endless pockets be enough to create a game that people actually want to play? Well, we’ll find out next week when Amazon Games launches its first flagship MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game, like World of Warcraft), New World. Players will venture to the continent of Aeturnum Island, where they’ll be responsible for battling, crafting, and exploring their way through a world filled with all kinds of creatures, both real and imaginary. So who does one of the biggest companies...
Lane Moore Sweetly Swipes Locals on Tinder Live
Ever see that clickbait ad that says, “Hot Singles in Your Area Want to Talk to You?” Imagine that ad coming to life. Oh, you didn’t ask for that? Well, that’s because you didn’t know it could be so entertaining. Luckily, multi-hyphenate and expert Tinder swiper Lane Moore knew. And boy, are we glad. As a child, the lifelong entertainer amused family and friends with impressions, short films, plays, and singing. As an adult, these skills and ideas parlayed her into someone who was destined to bring originality to a stage. Her fun-loving “cool chick from next door” vibe and monster motivation also made her perfect for sharing her findings, albeit compassionate or hilarious, to the masses in a relatable way. From her band, It Was Romance, being named one of the year’s best by Bust Magaz...
Composer Tom Salta Adds His Score to Deathloop’s Stylish 1960s Setting
If you’ve watched anything even remotely related to video games this year, you’ve probably seen a trailer for Deathloop. The latest game created by Arkane Studios (Dishonored, Prey) is undoubtedly one of the biggest titles to release this year, both as far as popularity and critical acclaim go. The colorful new title sees players stuck in a 1960s time loop on an island/former military base called Blackreef, where its eight inhabitants are looking to kill the protagonist before he can kill them. If the time loop mechanic of Outer Wilds and the modern Hitman trilogy had a stylish baby raised by the people who did one of the best first-person narratives of the 2010s with Prey, the result would be something like Deathloop — but not exactly. Along with the intricat...
The Reality Behind AR and VR
For the last decade at least, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have been touted multiple times as hot, emerging technologies on the cusp of going mainstream. They were supposed to become part of our everyday lives and a staple of our entertainment consumption. Except somehow they never did cross that magical threshold to become ‘must have’ experiences. But now, finally, massive advances in headset/glasses in terms of both weight and design, plus the arrival of LIDAR as standard on some top-end phones could be game-changers. LIDAR is a method for determining distance by targeting an object with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. Lidar can also be used to make digital 3D representations of objects. On top of that, thanks to artifi...
The ARC Music Festival Debut in Chicago this Weekend was a Tribute to House Music’s Colorful Origins
CREDIT:Kursza for ARC Music Festival ABOUT THE FESTIVALThe ashes of Disco’s black and queer culture in the late 70s laid the foundation for a new genre of dance music that was conceptualized in the clubs of Chicago, and thus house music was born. House is now a global phenomenon that can be attributed back to its Chicago roots and the decades-long careers of local DJs who pushed the genre in new directions. ARC festival was created to honor the invention of house in its birthplace and its debut on Labor Day weekend brought out locals and travelers alike. Perfectly timed in early September, the morning fog burned off into sunny days among well-decorated stages and impeccable sound systems. ARC Festival pulled off without a hitch, hosting local legends and some of the most well-known global ...
Ghost of Tsushima’s New Director’s Cut Upgrade Doesn’t End With Single-Player
After unquestionably being one of the best games of 2020, Ghost of Tsushima recently came back with a vengeance. Not only did it get a brand new expansion centered around Iki Island, but the Director’s Cut also added a true PS5 version of the game for those lucky enough to get their hands on the latest and greatest console. But aside from the new single-player content, the shockingly robust post-launch multiplayer mode known as Legends is getting a whole new revitalization as well. For one thing, Legends is now available as a standalone game for the first time ever, meaning that those only interested in teaming up with their friends for a samurai adventure won’t need to bog down their system or wallets with the full story of Jin Sakai as well. But whether you’re a new Legends convert or a ...
Sergio Ronchetti Went From Heavy Metal Bassist to Eldest Souls Composer
There’s no shortage of games that get lumped into the “Souls-like” subgenre of grueling and unforgiving RPGs that were inspired by Dark Souls, but few of them have a unique twist on the gameplay and mechanics like Eldest Souls. As the first title from the European indie devs at Fallen Flag Studio, Eldest Souls is a pixel art boss rush comprised entirely of chaotic and challenging battles against the mightiest of enemies. While not quite as bleak and gothic as the Souls games, the atmosphere in Eldest Souls can be every bit as intimidating as Lordran, thanks largely to the score from industry newcomer Sergio Ronchetti. SPIN caught up with Ronchetti via Zoom to discuss his heavy metal roots, adapting his musical skills to the video game world, and much more. SPIN: What would you want people ...
Peter McConnell Brought the World(s) of Psychonauts 2 to Life, Just as He Did the First Time Around
It’s been over 16 years since Psychonauts released and nearly 6 since its sequel was announced, and while fans got a bite-sized virtual reality adventure back in 2017 with Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, yesterday was the big day for those waiting on the next full-length adventure from Razputin Aquato and the rest of the Psychonauts. It’s the long-awaited release week of Psychonauts 2, and the folks at Double Fine Productions know how much the title means to some fans. That’s one of the many reasons they worked hard to keep the sequel as true to the original as possible in some respects — like bringing back veteran composer and Double Fine founder Tim Schafer’s go-to musical collaborator, Peter McConnell (Sly Cooper 2-4, pretty much every Star Wars/LucasArts game from the ‘90s and 2000...
