We’ve been delighted to collaborate with Daryl Barnes Music to bring an all-new soundtrack to Timecrest with 24 amazing new tracks as part of the Timecrest 2.9 update coming in early March. We sat down to understand the creative force behind the magical music of Timecrest.
Read this great interview, and be sure to check out a short sample of Ash’s Theme at the end!
When did you start composing and what or who are your biggest influences?
I started composing music when I was in high school, but it wasn't until after I graduated from college that I started studying it seriously by reading books and analyzing the works of my favorite composers. A couple of years later, in 2012, I started composing for games professionally.
I'm very much influenced and inspired by Japanese composers, most notably Hiroki Kikuta, Keiichi Okabe, and Yuki Kajiura. I've also taken some influence from a Korean pianist named Yiruma, and also from the film score of The Neverending Story - I'd say this movie was the first time I fell in love with a film soundtrack.
What’s your process like, and where do you start with a piece?
My process can be pretty different for each piece. For some tracks like "Ash" and "Timecrest Guild", I start with the melody, and build the rest of the song around it. With other tracks, like "Aurumhalla" and "Kingdom of Valdor", I start with a sort of repeating "riff" motif, and then construct the melody around that. Once this general direction is established, I usually draft a few different ideas for the various sections throughout a track. I often work out of order, writing different parts of the song, and eventually piecing it together in a way that flows well.
Which track are you most proud of on the Timecrest soundtrack?
I love each track so it's hard to say! But I think I'm most proud of Ash's theme - it's a track that is dear to me, and I think it reflects Ash's personality well. Or at least, my perception of Ash's personality!
Can you let us in on your creative intentions with some of the details in Ash's theme?
I see Ash as a very warm, genuine, and passionate person with big hopes and dreams. I wanted the theme to have a yearning feeling while also sounding bubbly. The motif in the first half of the track is played staccato (short and quick), and pauses a lot, which I felt reflected Ash's curious but sometimes indecisive nature. My favorite part of the track is the outro section - the melody keeps ascending, which I interpreted as Ash's yearning (as if the melody was trying to reach up for something). The melody here also has echoing callbacks, which I included to represent Ash's relationship with the player.
Were there any challenges or benefits to composing for a primarily text-based game?
This was my first time composing for a game that is almost completely text-based, so I actually wasn't sure what to expect, but I found that the absence of visuals (outside of the UI) allowed me to focus more intently on the story, character development, and narrative flow. I think that part of the charm of Timecrest is the room it leaves to the player's imagination - this was actually a bit of a challenge in and of itself, because while I had a lot of fun interpreting the narrative and characters in my own way, I didn't want the soundtrack to steer in a direction that might be too far removed from how longtime fans interpreted the story. Fortunately, you (Sneaky Crab) know the story and player base exceptionally well, and collaborating helped me nail the right sound and feeling for each track.
Timecrest started was originally scored with tracks from royalty-free music libraries. Did having that legacy pose any creative challenges for you?
I don't think it posed many challenges creatively, but I think it did put on a little pressure to make sure the new tracks would resonate with the fanbase.
Who’s your favorite Timecrest character and why?
I initially liked Riley and A.C. the most, but as of now, I think it's a tie between Elise and Ash, for opposite reasons. I'm drawn to mysterious and secretive characters like Elise, and I think that characters who harbor deep secrets are complex and interesting. On the other hand, I like Ash because Ash is such a genuine and vulnerable character, and Ash's friendship with the player feels so real that I actually find myself feeling worried for Ash whenever Ash gets into a precarious situation (which, as you know, is pretty often)!
What’s some advice you wish you got when you were starting out?
For composers starting out, I encourage experimenting in a lot of styles to build versatility but eventually settling on a niche that you're strong in. This niche could be a genre, but a niche built around a unique approach to composing will almost always be stronger than a niche built on a specific genre. Lastly, compose as much as you can, even if it isn't for any specific project - this is the only way to improve your craft.
Where can our audience find out more about you?
The best way to hear my latest work and get in touch is at my website, darylbarnes.moe I'm also active on Twitter (@StarlightDaryl) so feel free to say hi!
