Press release:
SEATTLE – October 17, 2019 – Materia Collective is thrilled to make available the Sole (Original Game Soundtrack) by composer Nabeel Ansari.
Making his debut as a videogame composer, Ansari demonstrates exceptional growth and skill in the crafting of this mesmerizing orchestral journey which accompanies a surreal adventure centered on the mysteries of an ancient civilization using a clever darkness and light gameplay mechanic. Sole (Original Game Soundtrack) is now available wherever digital music is sold:
Sole (Original Game Soundtrack) on All Storefronts
“Writing the score to Sole has been a long personal journey, and very much parallels the narrative mechanic of the game itself,” reflects composer Nabeel Ansari.
“The direction and tone have changed drastically throughout the five year process, ironically settling back onto the initial vision we had long ago, which was to create a work paying tribute to the renaissance of aesthetic-driven or ‘art’ games like Journey, whose composer, Austin Wintory, served as a mentor to me throughout the scoring process.
I also delved deep into my personal philosophy, re-examining my notions of artistic merit, originality, perfectionism, and self-acceptance. I think I definitely needed those many years of growth and self-discovery in order to finally make the full circle and make this score my own.”
Key themes include the bouncy river sequence, “Memories Rushing By,” featuring live performers Michaela Nachtigall on violin, Kristin Naigus on bass flute, oboe, and english horn, and Laura Intravia on alto flute, flute, and piccolo.
The mountain region littered with ruins from an ancient civilization is accompanied by the contemplative “Scholars Long Gone,” also featuring Intravia, Naigus, and choral singing.
Sole is a surreal adventure game where players become the only source of light in a world shrouded in darkness. Wander through uninhabited environments, painting the land with light, and uncover its mysterious past. Explore the remnants of great cities and discover the history of an ancient civilization on a journey to restore life to an abandoned world. Sole is available now on Steam.
About Nabeel Ansari
Nabeel Ansari was born and raised in suburban New Jersey. He first interacted with music creation when he was ten years old.
He honed his skills throughout his high school years in videogame music fan-community at OverClocked ReMix, and went on to attend Philadelphia’s Drexel University to study music and mathematics.
Now based in Columbia, Maryland, he produces an eclectic blend of musical colors in an ever-evolving melting pot of organic and electronic flavors. He lives with his cats and spends his work hours as a music technology software developer for Impact Soundworks.
Addicted to chasing the novel and new, always hungry for learning new styles and sounds, he believes in one principle: all of music is a singular, unified human experience, an experience which contains a boundless spectrum of diverse expressions.
Learn more: http://nabeelansari.audio
About Materia Collective
Materia Collective is a Seattle-based videogame music publisher and label, representing an international array of renowned video game musicians, composers, and songwriters.
The collective supports its members with the financial, legal, logistical, and creative aspects of bringing videogame music into the forefront. The company has become known within the industry as a representation of highly innovative game music endeavors that move and inspire.
Learn more: https://www.materiacollective.com
Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround
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Tags: Game soundtrack, Indie games, Materia Collective, Nabeel Ansari, Sole, Video game music, Video games