European folk performances of love songs from Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and Zelda courtesy of The Travelers VGM and Materia Collective.
Press release:
SEATTLE – October 6, 2017 – Materia Collective is excited to reveal Ode to the Lovers, a tribute to gaming’s great love themes performed in a fitting European folk style by The Travelers VGM. Selections from Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, The Legend of Zelda, Threads of Fate and UNDERTALE are featured across this ten-track love music collection that comes as the second full-length album by The Travelers VGM, comprised of arrangers Ian Martyn, Josh Barron, and Masha Lepire. Ode to the Lovers is fully licensed and available now:
Ode to the Lovers on Bandcamp
Ode to the Lovers on Spotify
“Love is a central theme in so many RPGs, games which have the time and space to really flesh out developed storylines,” comments arranger Ian Martyn. “There is always room for love even when the situation seems dire. Love, whether gained or lost, is also an important theme in folk music from around the world.”
“To bring about these warm, fuzzy feelings we decided to create nostalgic, heartwarming sounds,” adds arranger Josh Barron. “I decided to re-arrange ‘Troian Beauty’ from Final Fantasy IV to accommodate lyrics, written and performed by Julie Sakalys, and add accordion and viola to the mix. Additionally, I arranged ‘Song of Time’ from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for viola and guitar duet.”
The full track listing for Ode to the Lovers is as follows:
01. Suteki Da Ne (Tavern Mix) (Final Fantasy X)
02. Snowy/The Star Above the Garter/Out on the Ocean (UNDERTALE)
03. Troian Beauty (Vocal Version) (Final Fantasy IV)
04. Threads of Fate (Threads of Fate)
05. Seal of the Wind (Final Fantasy X-2)
06. Aria de Mezzo Carrattere/McKenna’s Ceildh/Trip to Casmalia (Final Fantasy VI)
07. Theme of Love/Winnie Hayes/The Legend of Lisalway/Delight (Final Fantasy IV)
08. Simple and Clean (Kingdom Hearts)
09. Song of Time (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
10. Home (UNDERTALE)
Learn more about Ode to the Lovers:
https://www.materiacollective.com/music/ode-to-the-lovers-the-travelers
About The Travelers VGM
The Travelers VGM cover game music favorites and obscure selections in folk arrangements of various styles from Celtic, Nordic, Slavic, Spanish, and even Asian traditions. Their membership includes players of a broad variety of instruments from many different parts of the world.
For those who love Yasunori Mitsuda’s Millennial Fair and his Xenogears CREID album, you will be treated to something that embraces the source yet presents something fresh in a live acoustic setting. Featuring members from the Materia Collective, Triforce Quartet, and Tetrimino, The Travelers are a supergroup of some of the most passionate performers and arrangers seeking to bring a unique acoustic experience unlike anything before. Since their inception, The Travelers VGM have released two major album releases (The Travelers and Ode to the Lovers), three EPs (Winterhearth, Prelude to a Fantasy, and Aontacht), contributed tracks to Patient Corgi’s Tribute Album 64, Materia Collective’s SPIRA: Music from Final Fantasy X Besaid Mix, and created an arrangement for Obsidian Entertainment in tribute to Pillars of Eternity.
Learn more: https://www.thetravelersvgm.com
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
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Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround
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Tags: Game music, Ian Martyn, Josh Barron, Masha Lepire, Materia Collective, Ode to the Lovers