Gaming | Game Development |

Using Music to Set the Mood of Your Writing and Why I Love Eluveitie’s Music for Game Development

Music speaks to our souls, and we must reconcile the past to thrive in the present

From Instinct to Understanding

“I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new.” — The Last Samurai

A few years back when I was at University for my Game Design program, I had sat down for feedback on a project I had worked on. The project was to create a “game book” — a gamified choose-your-own-adventure which we had a month to work on. We were not required to build anything in the engine, but feeling comfortable with Unity, I decided to take on the challenge. It was short, but I had wanted to develop something that would immediately catch interest. The idea of a dense city block rather than an empty sprawling city. It was my first time implementing sound and I had set up dynamic music and sound effect triggers based on what element of the story was occurring and how players would take branching paths. The “feel” would evolve depending on the accumulation of choices. Think in an RPG: when you level up, you distribute your stats. For this, based on your choices, those stats accumulated behind the scenes, and the “feel” would be assigned depending on where the stats were, delivering different music as well as the branching story paths.

I was praised for my delivery of atmosphere in that short project and was asked about what I used to establish tone, and maintain tone, but also to evolve the feel through the experience that was dictated by the player. I explained the above. Music does not always effectively match the experience, especially in longer development when the music comes later and the writing, as well as the game experience, were handled long before. My answer may not work for everyone, but in my experience, this has helped me in game development and has also helped with traditional writing.

The answer is: to use music to manipulate my mood to what it is that I am writing.

Curating Music to Your Desired Feel

Music speaks to our souls. We know this inherently through life experience and this is scientifically proven. One example is a study available on Psychology Today. Its key points;

Music is a tool that can ease negative emotions and enhance positive emotions.

Music can help people cope with stress or distract them from a bad mood.

Many people use music to trigger their memory and remind themselves of important past events.

When writing, I put together focus playlists. I heavily curate the tracks to make sure they match the experience that I am working to convey through my writing. A few examples from a current personal project I am working on that I am freely able to share.

This is a playlist inspired by the literary works of Cormac McCarthy, primarily The Passenger/Stella Maris and Blood Meridian and Nolan’s film Oppenheimer. It is to convey dark overtones — the beast in the shadows that also lurks in the hearts of man.

The Valkyrie are battle-maiden goddesses — the “Choosers of the Slain”, to carry great warriors who have died in battle to Odin’s Hall Valhalla. “Hail the victorious dead”. This is meant to convey specifically Nordic-inspired victory. No sadness in death.

“It gladdens me to know that Odin prepares for a feast. Soon I shall be drinking ale from curved horns. This hero that comes into Valhalla does not lament his death! I shall not enter Odin’s Hall with fear. There I shall wait for my sons to join me. And when they do, I will bask in their tales of triumph. The Aesir will welcome me! My death comes without apology! And I welcome the Valkyries to summon me home!” — Ragnar Lodbrok

Triath nan Eilean translates from the Scottish Gaelic to “King of the Isles” and is the title held by the ruler of the old Norse-Gael sea kingdom, The Kingdom of Mann and the Isles. This sound is meant to represent the unique qualities of those people. The Scottish and Irish Gaels were originally Druidic Pagan, the beliefs of Christianity that were introduced with the Roman conquest, and the eventual invasion, settling, and integration of Norse rulers and their own Pagan beliefs.

Eluveitie

Triath nan Eilean’s focus as a sound meant for something very unique. I was able to find some tracks that fit the feel that I wanted to convey, but it wasn’t until I discovered the band Eluveitie that really brought the correct feel together. I have become obsessed with their sound, their talent, and what they represent.

Eluveitie is a Swiss band founded in 2002 with the intention of combining melodies of traditional Celtic folk music with melodic death metal. Yes, this means the presence of incredible instruments; mandola, whistles, bodhran, harp, bagpipes, and the hurdy-gurdy playing alongside the electric guitar, bass, and drums. You have to hear it to believe it and the styles accentuate each other incredibly well. I’ve been putting together a YouTube playlist of my favorite live performances. Check it out, I highly recommend it.

Their lyrics consist of many Celtic texts; either inspired from, direct druidic/pagan prayers, as well as teachings. The lyrics are either growled by Chrigel like a rumbling tempest or sung beautifully and powerfully by Fabienne like the rainfall or deceptive red sky at morning. Like the blend of the two musical styles, these two voices accent each other perfectly.

If you have favorite playlists that inspire your writing, please share them in the comments, I’d love to hear! What is your favorite moment charged with emotion in a game? The soundtrack? If this is not a technique you use, I hope that you will give it a try.

To Eluveitie: my genuine thanks and appreciation. The blend of your musical style, your sound, and the soul of your music lends to and inspires my own craft.