Dear Jenova, Sunni, Vincent, Robert, and whoever else will read this,
Aloha!
I grew up in Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii – literally a big rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – where there wasn’t always a whole lot to do. So I spent most of my time doing two things: playing the ukulele/keys, and playing Nintendo games (when my parents didn’t make me go outside or to the beach to play). The games transported me to another world, where I could be lost for hours. I realized a big part of why I loved the games was the music (even though at that time, it was all 8-bit). I love how the quality of music, artistry, and story telling has evolved over the years. When I first played the original Halo on Xbox, I couldn’t believe how great the score sounded – the gaming industry was entering a whole new level. And more recently, the first time I played Star Wars Battlefront II, I was completely blown away by the score. I recently learned from the composer, Gordy Haab (who I’ve met and chatted with a couple times), that he used the same orchestra (the LSO) and even the same mic setup in the same room that John Williams used on the scores for the original Star Wars Trilogy! The first time I heard The Legend of Zelda with full orchestra, I was moved to tears and taken into that realm all over again. I realize the importance of music in story-telling, simple or complex, and I absolutely love how ThatGameCompany values this. The first time I saw someone play Flow, I was entranced. The animation, the color, the sounds...it's beautiful. You guys do fantastic work, and I'd love to be a part of it. I love to create music and sounds, which will draw and transport the listener deeper into the story…to a completely new place.
My studio and recording experience in Amsterdam, Turkey, Hawaii and Los Angeles has given me a unique background in the world of composing, audio engineering and recording. I’m flexible as a composer, arranger, and orchestrator, having worked on projects ranging from orchestral film scores, to on-trend pop, to arrangements for blues/jazz albums, and more. Through these experiences I have developed several skill sets that increase the ease and productivity of the music creation process. I’m well versed in Logic and Pro Tools, including setting up complex 5.1 surround mixing sessions in Pro Tools, and have over 15 years of experience in MIDI sequencing, acoustics, and audio aesthetics, as well as other DAWs. Working with a film score mixer for a major studio has acquainted me with the high-pressure, deadline-oriented environment of the entertainment industry. Writing rock or indie songs and tracks for music libraries with a quick turnaround, usually twenty-four hours or less, has honed my ability to identify and recreate the “sound” of existing tracks, as well as be creative on a tight schedule. As a performing musician, I can pick up the guitar, ukulele, bass guitar or other instruments whenever they’re needed in a recording session. More recently, I have done the Film Scoring Program at UCLA Extension to further my training in scoring for film, games and TV, and studied video game music more in depth under Lennie Moore. I'm currently on the board of directors for the Academy of Scoring Arts, a non-profit LA community (with chapters in Toronto, NY, and overseas) that's dedicated to the art of scoring media and music's relationship to picture. I really enjoy working as part of a team, either remotely (which I have done for several films and projects), or working hand-in-hand with a team as I contribute to a friendly and relaxed atmosphere so the people I work with can enjoy what they do. There’s nothing like collaborating with talented people to tell a story that people have never heard before, and that’s why I would love the opportunity to work with ThatGameCompany.
I understand that you don't actually have a job opening for a composer right now, but if you're in need of additional composers to provide any number of assets, or have a project you think I would be a good fit for, don't hesitate to text or call me at (310) 430-2226 or email me at daniel@bnprods.com. Also, if you’d like to hear more samples/tracks that aren’t on my site, www.danieljstimac.com/composition, or in the link I posted, or if there is any further information you need, I’d be happy to provide it. I hope to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Daniel Stimac