Nobuo Uematsu, renowned video game music composer best known for his work on the Final Fantasy series, has indicated that he may not compose entire game scores in the future. Read on to learn more about the composer and what he had to say.
Nobuo Uematsu Expresses Doubt About Composing Full Game Scores
He Does Not Have the Strength Anymore
In an interview with German publication Zeit Online this week, Nobuo Uematsu, best known for his compositions for the Final Fantasy series, shared his thoughts on composing full video game soundtracks again. He expressed doubts and set expectations for fans, stating that he doesn't believe he has the stamina to undertake such a demanding task anymore.
Uematsu highlighted the intensive nature of composing a game's entire soundtrack, which, he shared, often requires years of dedicated effort. "You would have to give it full throttle for two or three years. And I don’t think I have the physical and mental strength to do it anymore," the composer said.
"As far as Final Fantasy is concerned, I’m still involved by writing the main themes for the games," Uematsu explained. "But I don’t think I’ll compose music for a whole game again." His latest work will be featured in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as one of the game's main musical themes.
Will Focus on Orchestra and His Band Uematsu Nobuo conTIKI
While Uematsu stated that he continues to contribute main themes to the Final Fantasy games, he prefers focusing on other projects he loves, such as his orchestral compositions and his band, Uematsu Nobuo conTIKI. "I think I’d rather use the time I have left to work on other projects that I love. Such as compositions like Merregnon or my band Uematsu Nobuo conTIKI."
His last full game soundtrack was for Fantasian, an Apple Arcade exclusive RPG developed by his long-time collaborator, Hironobu Sakaguchi, game designer and director likewise known for his works on the Final Fantasy series.
Uematsu reflected on the challenges and creativity that came during his early days in video game music composition. He noted the evolution of sound quality in video games over the years but expressed nostalgia for the simpler times when composers had to work with fewer resources.
Uematsu shared, "When I started back then, I only had three electronic sounds at my disposal. You work within those limitations and at first I thought it was difficult. But when I started composing, I began to enjoy developing ideas. I saw what you can do with just three sounds."
"There's been a huge leap forward in sound quality and that's great," he continued, "But when it comes to when it was more exciting to compose, it was probably more interesting to have those limitations and work with just three sounds. I think the more limitations we have as humans, the more we can use our brains."
Uematsu will perform his orchestral masterpiece, Merregnon: Heart of Ice, at the BASF-Feierabendhaus this week.
Uematsu on Games He Likes and Listening to Other Game Composers
When asked about his gaming habits, Uematsu mentioned that he does not have much time to play but enjoys titles from developer Amanita Design, nonetheless. "I buy most of their games for mobile, for example Machinarium, Creaks and Samorost. They are very original and fun."
He also shared his admiration for fellow composers like Koji Kondo and Yoko Shimomura but admitted that he avoids listening to their work to prevent being influenced on his own compositions. Uematsu shared, "They all do a fantastic job. And I'm afraid that if I were to listen to their music and particularly like some of it, I would be influenced by it. That would be painful."
However, Uematsu cited Elton John as a significant role model for his versatility and experimentation across different musical styles. "When I was younger, I listened to so much music that today I think I'm influenced by all kinds of artists from all kinds of genres," he offered. " But I only realized this some time ago: Elton John played a particularly big role for me. I was always deeply impressed by how freely he tried on one style after another."
Source:
Zeit Online:
Final Fantasy music legend Nobuo Uematsu doesn’t think he’ll ever compose a whole game again
