Akira Yamaoka

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Akira Yamaoka
Akira Yamaoka at the Game Developers Conference in 2010
Akira Yamaoka at the Game Developers Conference in 2010
Background information
Born (1968-02-06) February 6, 1968 (age 56)
Niigata, Japan
GenresRock, ambient, dark ambient, industrial, trip-hop
Occupation(s)Composer, sound designer, sound director, video game producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, keyboards
Years active1993–present

Akira Yamaoka (山岡 晃, Yamaoka Akira, born February 6, 1968) is a Japanese video game composer, sound designer, sound director, and video game producer who worked for Konami since 1993 until his resignation in 2009. He is best known for creating the music in the Silent Hill series; he also worked as a sound director and producer on the series as well as serving as a composer and producer of the Silent Hill feature-length film and its sequel.[1][2]

Biography

Early life

Yamaoka attended Tokyo Art College,[3] where he studied product design and interior design.

Career

On December 2, 2009, it was announced that Yamaoka was leaving his long term employer Konami.[4] On February 3, 2010, it was announced that Yamaoka has joined Grasshopper Manufacture and will be working with Goichi Suda and Shinji Mikami on their psychological-action thriller game, Shadows of the Damned, in partnership with Electronic Arts.[5]

Personal life

Before working as a video game composer, Yamaoka initially sought a career as a designer, but instead became a musician after studying product design at Tokyo Art College.[3]

In 1993 he joined Konami to work on the game Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2.[3] and then shortly thereafter worked on the music for the PC Engine and Sega CD versions of Snatcher. When Konami began searching for a musician to compose Silent Hill's score, Yamaoka volunteered because he thought he was the only one capable of making the soundtrack.[3]

Yamaoka stated in a 2009 interview that his favorite game creator is Suda 51 and his favorite video game is No More Heroes.[6]

Musical style and influences

Yamaoka cites among his influences Angelo Badalamenti (best known for his soundtrack work with David Lynch), Metallica and Depeche Mode.[3]

When asked if his studies at Tokyo Art College had helped him in his musical career, he replied[3]: "At that time, Mick Karn of Japan, Steve Strange of Visage, and a lot of other musicians combined the notions of Art and Music with their own new style. I got really influenced by that. Therefore, every time I write songs, I try to combine Art and Music." He has also stated that he derives much of his influence from baroque styles common throughout the 18th century.

Discography

References

  1. ^ "A New Silent Hill on the Way From Konami".
  2. ^ "Director's Blog - Silent Hill 2 Composer".
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Interview with Akira Yamaoka". spelmusik.net. 2002. Retrieved 2007-07-16. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Remo, Chris (December 2, 2009). "Report: Silent Hill Composer Yamaoka Leaves Konami". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  5. ^ "Silent Hill composer Yamaoka joins Suda 51's 'video game band'".
  6. ^ Nintendo Power, Volume 248

External links

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