Interview and Giveaway: Composer Giovanni Rotondo Chats With Zelda Dungeon About His New Remix Album “The 8-bit Time Capsule”!

Composer Giovanni Rotondo, in collaboration with Enjoy the Ride Records and Magic Deck Records, released his newest album The 8-bit Time Capsule last month. The third installment in Rotondo’s 8-bit Time Adventures collection, which includes 2015’s The 8-bit Time Machine and 2018’s The 8-bit Time Paradox, The 8-bit Time Capsule tells a “story of imagined, long-lost chapters of famous game franchises” through a collection of “what if” scenarios.

The 8-bit Time Capsule features tunes inspired by various game franchises, from Grand Theft Auto (with a prohibition-era theme) to Portal (this track has an incredible vocalist!!), and it spans a wide range of musical genres including hip hop, jazz, metal, 8-bit “chip tune,” and everything in between. Tracks that should stand out to Nintendo fans are “Flying Egg Island,” a beautiful and whimsical orchestral track based in the world of Yoshi’s Island, and “Old Man Mario,” which features a mix of 8-bit sounds and some of the more synth-driven orchestration from the Nintendo 64 era.

Zelda fans will definitely want to check out the album’s third track, “Curse of the Ocarina,” which ponders a “what if” scenario in which Skull Kid teaches Link a new song on the ocarina that transports our hero to the various eras of the Legend of Zelda series. This scenario gives the composer the opportunity to span various music styles and instrumentation used in Zelda over the years. When listening to this track in particular, I feel the jump from the original NES Legend of Zelda up to many of the current 3D iterations!

Zelda Dungeon recently had the opportunity to chat with Giovanni Rotondo about his new vinyl release, his musical philosophies, and his experiences in the music industry. It was an absolutely fantastic conversation!

And to make the occasion even more exciting, Giovanni is giving away something special to readers of Zelda Dungeon. You’ll find more information about that directly following the interview below!

 

Zelda Dungeon: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career? How did you get into music and composition?

Giovanni Rotondo: Music, for me, has always been a constant companion and a source of joy. My journey began when I was just four years old, playing notes on the piano, captivated by the melodies I could create. Those early experiences paved the way for a lifelong love affair with music that has taken me across multiple dimensions of the industry.

Over the years, I’ve been privileged to contribute my compositions to an array of fascinating projects, like a BBC One special to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, prime-time TV movies aired on RAI 1, Italy’s national television network, and a few popular shows on Netflix.

My heart always found its rhythm in the rich tapestry of game and film music. This passion has ultimately guided my career in composition, leading me to explore and create within this incredibly vibrant and imaginative field.

How did you get started in video game-inspired compositions?

Reflecting on the culmination of two significant film and TV projects in 2014, I found myself yearning to venture into a new artistic direction. Drawing from my love for both music and video games, I embarked on a unique endeavor, the 8-bit Time Machine project. The idea was a nostalgic voyage, a place where modern game tunes were magically transformed into charming 8-bit melodies.

Interestingly, the inspiration for this project was sparked by the talented cover artists I’d encountered on YouTube. Their creativity and passion for bringing something new to well-loved songs resonated with me. This inspiration took a full circle when I had the opportunity to collaborate with some of these very artists later on while developing the second chapter of the project, The 8-bit Time Paradox.

The journey to bring this vision to life wasn’t without its hurdles, but thanks to successful crowdfunding campaigns, we managed to cover the licensing and production costs. What initially started as a single project soon unfolded into a captivating series that spanned nearly a decade. This musical journey found its expression in three albums, each representing a unique sonic exploration, and released across various physical formats.

Your latest album, The 8-bit Time Capsule, released a few weeks ago. And the album’s tracks take the form of “What if” scenarios within various game series. These “What if” scenarios are quite creative! What led you down this path of creating original music with these alternate versions of classic games we all know and love? 

As the development of “The 8-bit Time Adventures Chapter 3” was in progress, I found myself wishing to add a more personal touch to the project. I aimed to create an even deeper connection with my listeners, and introducing more original music seemed to be the perfect avenue for that.

I presented a handful of concepts to Enjoy The Ride Records, each featuring varying degrees of original compositions, with The 8-bit Time Capsule standing at the forefront. At its core, the idea was designed to transport listeners on an immersive narrative journey, much like the video games that had first sparked my passion. This wasn’t just about the music; it was about creating an entire world for the audience to explore, complete with clever narrative devices and evocative sound effects that would bring the adventure to life.

When Enjoy The Ride Records responded with enthusiasm and approval for the pitch, my heart swelled with joy. It was clear they resonated with my detailed vision, and I couldn’t wait to bring it to life. This project, in its ambition and its novelty, is an opportunity to push my creative boundaries and deliver an unforgettable experience to my fans.

When writing songs for The 8-bit Time Capsule, what was your approach to writing the various tracks? Did you pick a game that you really like and expand on an idea, creating a new extension of the game? Or, did you write the piece first, then come up with the “what if” scenario?

For each composition, I adopted the perspective of not only a composer but a passionate gamer as well. I dove headfirst into the intricate universes of my favorite games, indulging in their lore and narratives as if they were vast, uncharted landscapes. Through this deep immersion, I began to conceptualize the “unseen” aspects of these game worlds that I’d absolutely love to explore as a player. The wishful thinking of “what if these games had these additional chapters?” became the core inspiration for my music.

This creative process was wonderfully enhanced by a rich collaboration with Enjoy The Ride Records. They were instrumental in crystallizing the visual and thematic identity of the project. The fruitful exchanges saw us discussing and refining several of my initial ideas for the album’s title and artwork. Their valuable input, often coupled with creative suggestions of their own, enriched the entire process, giving the project an added layer of depth and dimension. The final goal was bringing to life a concept that seamlessly blended music, art, and narrative into a unique album experience.

The 8-bit Time Capsule covers so many genres and eras of game music. The Zelda-based track “Curse of the Ocarina” alone features at least five different musical styles. Considering that range, can you share a bit about how this album was performed and recorded?

Absolutely, this album is a vibrant tapestry of styles and themes, which is a distinct characteristic of my creative approach. The real challenge lay in ensuring that this diverse medley of styles felt coherent and flowed naturally within the album.

In order to bring these various musical landscapes to life, I had the privilege of collaborating with some truly exceptional musicians. They include Massimo del Pezzo, who plays the beautiful jazz drums in “Prohibition Town;” Joe Joe John’s, who sings along with my nephew Leonardo Rotondo in “Red Dead Metal,” and Federica Savarese, who impersonates both Chell and GladOS [from Portal] in “The Cake is Real.” However, I didn’t just remain behind the scenes; I also dusted off my woodwind skills to personally record parts on this album.

I had a particularly delightful experience playing and recording with a penny whistle, a recorder, and my collection of Budrio ocarinas, which range from soprano to alto and tenor. These beautiful clay instruments have a distinctive timbre that brought a unique color to the musical palette.

But the album’s reach goes beyond a simple exploration of musical genres; it’s also a journey through the annals of gaming history. Some of the tracks span different gaming eras, from the rudimentary bleeps and bloops of the NES and Game Boy eras, through to the richer, more complex soundscapes of the SNES and Nintendo 64 periods and the vibrant modern orchestrations. All of the above in my opinion concur in taking the listener on a nostalgic trip through time further adding to the uniqueness of The 8-bit Time Capsule.

We were quite impressed with the promotional media produced for the 8-bit Time Capsule release, such as this amazing introduction video. The “ancient PC” with old-school font and 80s movie-style score really help capture that diving nostalgic feel. Can you share a bit about how these promotional videos were produced? 

Working as a media composer, I’ve been fortunate to acquire a plethora of skills outside my primary area of expertise. I’ve become proficient in photo editing and compositing (using tools like Photoshop), video filming, editing, visual effects, 3D design, and even web design. However, the further I venture from my core proficiency, which is music, the more time-consuming these tasks become.

I believe in maximizing my output without compromising the music, which is always my core focus. Therefore, for this particular project, I mixed my skills in video making with strategic use of available tools. To craft the “ancient PC” look, for example, I combined my own custom animations with additional resources that I tailored to our specific needs.

Speaking of nostalgia, The 8-bit Time Capsule is only available on vinyl right now. Vinyl is certainly back in a very big way! What made you decide you wanted this to be a vinyl release?

There are two main reasons that drew me to release The 8-bit Time Capsule on vinyl.

First, as a composer and an avid music enthusiast, I have a deep appreciation for vinyl records. There’s a certain charm in the physicality and the ritual of playing music on vinyl, not to mention the sheer delight of holding your own music on a record. The vinyl format also provides a larger canvas for album art, which lets listeners visually connect with the music. For me, being able to share my music on vinyl feels like a significant achievement, given its resurgence and its growing community of listeners and collectors.

Secondly, with the advent of digital streaming services, there’s been a drastic shift in how musicians earn from their albums. For medium to small artists, a digital release now often translates to lifetime earnings of just a few hundred dollars. This has led to many musicians reducing their output. However, formats like vinyl and cassettes provide a more sustainable revenue stream for artists, allowing us to invest our time and creativity into producing quality work. The choice of a vinyl release, then, is a nod to both the past and the future, a way of keeping the art of music creation alive.

Are there any plans to release these tracks digitally?

There certainly were plans to make these tracks available digitally, and this was achieved through the release of the album on Magic Deck Records card. This unique format allows listeners to unlock streaming and digital downloads of the album, in addition to accessing a portal full of interesting information, images, and even a bonus track related to Tears of the Kingdom. While we had initially made the cards available solo, I’m thrilled to say that they are now sold out. A few cards still remain, which can be acquired by purchasing the Collectors Bundle that includes the three albums in both vinyl and cassette formats. It’s my hope that I can expand on this format in the future, and potentially make it available to other artists and bands, enabling them to reclaim the value of their digital releases. However, as of now, I don’t have plans to release The 8-bit Time Capsule on traditional streaming services.

As a musician and composer whose focus is, in part, on video games, what advice would you give to someone who is interested in video game music as a career?

Being a part of the video game music industry can indeed be a tough journey, particularly if you’re just starting out. While I’ve worked on a few indie titles, my primary experience lies elsewhere. However, I can certainly share a few insights that could be beneficial. One important thing to note is that many positions in this field require expertise in both music and sound, so honing skills in both areas is a definite advantage. Additionally, apart from proficiency with your DAW (the software used to compose and produce music), it’s crucial to learn audio implementation software like WWISE and FMOD. And never stop learning and expanding your musical vocabulary – that’s the secret weapon for any composer.

Just for fun: What’s your history with The Legend of Zelda? Do you have a favorite game? 

The Legend of Zelda series has had a significant influence on my upbringing and my musical journey. I remember being absolutely captivated by Koji Kondo’s magnificent score during my initial playthroughs on the NES, and I think the role-playing aspect of the early games owes a lot to the music, which immersed players so deeply in the world of Hyrule. I’ve played and completed most Zelda games, and while I have many favorites, The Wind Waker holds a special place in my heart. Its art style didn’t impress me at first, but once I started playing, my perception completely changed. And the score! It was so beautiful that I even included an 8-bit rendition of it in my first album, The 8-bit Time Machine. That said, Tears of the Kingdom might potentially dethrone The Wind Waker as my favorite, but I’ll hold off on that verdict until I’ve beaten the game!

Do you have any future projects in the works that you can discuss right now?

I do have some exciting future projects in the pipeline that would be absolutely perfect for this conversation, but unfortunately, I can’t disclose much at this point. However, I can share that there will be a super cool release of my space music album Exoplanets coming up very soon, which I promise is going to be literally out of this world!

Where can readers go if they’d like to hear more of your work?

For those who’d like to hear more of my work, the best place would be my website. Here you can listen to a vast array of music that I’ve composed, learn about my upcoming and past projects, and even get in touch to say hello.

Thank you so much to Giovanni Rotondo for taking the time to chat with us and for, of course, putting together these creative compositions and this beautiful vinyl release!

The 8-bit Time Capsule and the rest of the 8-bit Time Adventures collection are currently available from Enjoy The Ride Records’ storefront. Check out the listings below!

You can also hear samples of tracks from all three albums on Giovanni Rotondo’s website right here.

We’re Giving Away Five 8-bit Time Capsule Interactive Music Cards!

Giovanni has kindly provided Zelda Dungeon with five signed 8-bit Time Capsule Interactive Music Cards to give away to our readers!

These “innovative, interactive premium collectible [cards]” feature an “NFC chip that, when tapped to your smart device, grants access to high-quality streaming and downloadable music from the album.” The cards also feature an exclusive bonus track: “a chip-tune rendition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, only available with this release.”

To enter for a chance to win, you just need to comment below and tell us what classic Zelda theme you’d like to hear on a future 8-bit Time Adventures release. You’ll have until 11:59 PM Central Time on August 1st to enter. We will randomly select five winners from the comments and announce the winners on August 2nd.

The giveaway is unfortunately limited to United States residents only.

An album of The 8-bit Time Capsule‘s scope that can so tightly stay to the theme and work as a cohesive concept album is an incredible achievement. I can only wonder what games and franchises Giovanni will explore in the future, and of course what other “what if” scenarios he will come up with next.

What are your thoughts on the newest album by Giovanni Rotondo? What is your favorite track? Make sure to leave a comment below and tell us what classic Zelda theme you’d like to see on a future 8-bit Time Adventure release. You might just win a signed 8-bit Time Capsule Interactive Music Card!

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