Visual mediums like film and television are often scrutinized for their visuals first and foremost. However, audio is just as important, with institutions like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizing broad categories like Best Sound as well as more granular Sound Mixing and individual songs during its Oscars award ceremony. Video games are no different, with every genre from shooters to horror thriving on the immersive atmosphere created by their soundscapes. Heroish composer Phill Boucher has experience across the entertainment spectrum.
Boucher got his start playing trumpet, then took an interest in guitar. He pivoted to entertainment when he realized he probably couldn't make a living with his "mediocre metal band" in high school, going on to study Film Scoring and Music Production & Engineering at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. This led to a job at Remote Control Productions, a film scoring company created by Hans Zimmer, where he racked up a list of credits including multiple Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Game Rant spoke to Boucher about the differences between working on film and television scores versus video games like Heroish, Fortnite, and Civilization 6.
Orchestral Music in Heroish
Though the decision to study film scoring came partially out of a love for movies, Boucher had an interest in writing story-driven songs with his early metal. Working in entertainment also seemed like an alternative to writing for more traditional orchestras, which he thought he would never be able to do because he lacked a "classical background." Yet Boucher enjoys classical writing and "spent a long time studying and writing to get my chops up," opening opportunities to learn, grow, and get better. He doesn't feel it's a necessity for all musicians in 2022, though.
"I think it's much less important than ever to have that background. There's a lot of very talented and successful composers working now who have no background at all with the orchestra."
A lot of Boucher's work as a composer is done by himself, often with just a keyboard. He said he loves to get away from his computer and put his hands on live instruments though, and a number of his projects have been performed by orchestras. For example, he said he has been in the room with 100-piece orchestras on Pirates of the Caribbean, and Boucher saw his own music performed live for the first time working on Fortnite Chapter 1, Season 8.
For the Apple Arcade castle-defense game Heroish, Sunblink Entertainment sprung for a 64-piece orchestra and multiple soloists, creating "something unique" in the space. Boucher himself played acoustic guitar, small drums, and medieval instruments on Heroish's soundtrack.
Music as an Aesthetic Experience
Epic Games has invited Boucher back for a number of Fortnite Seasons, and he enjoys exploring the "wonderful sandbox," but said it's challenging to create a cohesive soundtrack blending the game's internal lore and crossover franchise themes - when rights holders allow them to use that music. "To justify all those things existing in the same space is a personal challenge I have," Boucher said.
Yet "game" and "film" music aren't as difficult to blend as one might imagine. "Good music is good music, and every project is different with its own needs and style," Boucher said. The major difference comes in how music is implemented for various entertainment ventures. According to the composer, films have a more finite beginning and end, and there tends to be a basic cut to watch and develop scores with. However, in Boucher's experience on games like Robot Entertainment's ReadySet Heroes, "A lot of times I'm lucky if I get concept art." Developers sometimes discuss a general tone, and the game can change radically, so there's more rolling with the punches.
For his money, Boucher said "the grass is always greener." Film scores tend to offer instant gratification because it's clear how the sometimes bombastic music will play to any given cue. However, movies also cut to new scenes on a dime and interrupt musical phrases, with game loops having lesser intensity overall but combining to create something more complete. "Whether it gets heard that way is another matter, but at least it can be conceived that way."
"So you write the music differently, I'd say, even if I hope the end result doesn't sound like 'game music' or 'film music.' It should all just be music."
Heroish is available now through Apple Arcade.