58 - Female Game Composers: A Primer

They aren't always the first names that come up when talking video game music, but some amazing women have been creating VGM for decades. Here are just a few!

Show Notes

They sing, they form bands (and companies), and several of them play piano so well it will knock your socks off. And that's just what they do in addition to writing music. In this episode, Alana, Eva, and Hilary delve into the rich and unique world of game compositions from female composers. From the incomparable Yoko Shimomura to Persona guest composer/vocalist Elisha La'Verne, get ready for a wonderful journey! We hope this episode serves as a good starting point that garners them some recognition — they've been contributing since the '80s, after all — and that it inspires you to learn more about them and their work.

Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Alana Hagues, Eva Padilla; Edited by Mike Salbato

Further reading and related links

• RPGFan Episode Post
• Final Fantasy XV at Abbey Road Was A Beautiful Experience
• DummyMag: he 10 Best Female Video Game Composers, according to Lena Raine
• Polygon: The unsung women of video game music
• Wired: The Women Who Invented Video Game Music
• Billboard: Female Composers in Games Industry See Gender-Based Pay Penalty, New Study Finds
• Sony UK: The 6 Best Video Game Music Soundtracks for EDM Fans
• DummyMag: The 10 Best 32-Bit and 64-Bit Era Video Game Soundtracks, according to Etch

Tracklist
0:05:58 - Change Your Way (Elisha La'Verne) - Persona 2: Eternal Punishment OST
0:10:24 - U.B. (Yoko Shimomura) - Parasite Eve Original Soundtrack
0:30:23 - Mutant Species 1 (Saori Kobayashi) - Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga 20th Anniversary Arrangement Soundtrack
0:33:45 - Endings and Beginnings (Yoshino Aoki) - Breath of Fire IV OST
0:49:24 - Riding (Night) -(Arranged by Manaka Kataoka) - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Original Soundtrack
0:51:12 - Starry Moonlit Night ~Arrange Version~ (Kumi Tanioka) - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles OST
1:22:02 - Alana's Bonus Track!

Bonus background tracks
1:12:09 - Lament of Innocence ~Leon's Theme~ (Michiru Yamane) - Castlevania: Lament of Innocence OST
1:16:28 - The Battle for Your Soul (Yuki Kajiura) - Xenosaga III Original Sound Best Tracks
1:18:34 - Parting Ways (Yukiko Takada) - Stormblood: Final Fantasy XIV OST

Album Links
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment Original Soundtrack
Our Review
VGMdb

Buy/Stream:

• iTunes Store / Apple Music
• CDJapan

Parasite Eve Original Soundtrack
Our Review
VGMdb

Buy:

• CDJapan

Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga 20th Anniversary Arrangement Soundtrack
Our Review
VGMdb

Buy/Stream:

• Bandcamp
• iTunes Store / Apple Music
• Spotify

Breath of Fire IV Original Soundtrack
Our Review
VGMdb

Buy:

• Steam (!?)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Original Soundtrack
Our Review
VGMdb
Buy/Stream:

• CDJapan

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles OST
Our Review
VGMdb

Buy:

• CDJapan

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