Musical Inspiration While Working

Today I want to share some of the music that is inspiring me as I work on my main project, which doesn't have a name yet. I've always had a story about an ancient warrior in my head somewhere. A landscape of a the world in the distant past: castles, ziggurats, temples, villages, stone monuments, A dark forest, a bitter mountain top, a desert wasteland, a creepy underground. All environments filled with atmosphere and meaning. To get into that visionary state it's helpful to have an appropriate soundtrack. Some of the videos may not work. You can always click through to youtube if your into it. Anyway I hope to have some cool updates coming from my studio account soon. Like everyone else I wish I had more time for personal work.

If I'm thinking of something epic. Nothing beats the epic music from Conan the Barbarian. The best score Basil Poledouris has made, in my opinion. The film has little dialogue and the music does the talking along with the visuals.

Conan the Barbarian Soundtrack

For something I consider closer to classical fantasy I mix in The Dark Crystal Soundtrack. Listening to this takes me back to being a kid with my eyes glued to the screen. I was totally blown away by this movie and it started my interest in dark fantasy. The soundtrack is whimsical, cheerful, sorrowful, scary, and hopeful. Full range of meaning and beautiful.

The Dark Crystal Soundtrack

For something sobering and completely transporting I turn to anything by Wardruna. Although the world I'm building isn't necessarily Norse. I have found this use of old/natural instruments and ritualistic chants to be mind altering.

Wardruna is a Norwegian music group dedicated to creating musical renditions of Norse cultural and esoteric traditions.

Wardruna make significant use of Nordic historical and traditional instruments including various percussion, flutes, kraviklyra, tagelharpe, mouth harp, goat horn and lur. Non-traditional instruments and other sources of sound like trees, rocks, water and torches are also used.

Wardruna - Listen to it all

I'll add a few bonus videos as well.