Akira Yamaoka is the music and sound producer of the Silent Hill series and came to Stockholm June 2 to perform with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra on two Play! A Video Game Symphony concerts. We talked to him some hours before the first concert was about to begin and although it wasn't long before it was time to get on stage, he seemed very relaxed.
Have you had time for any sightseeing in Stockholm?
- Not this time around. I was here about three or four years ago, for an event for Silent Hill 3 and then I was at the harbor, it was pretty beautiful, close by. But no sightseeing this time around.
What was it that made you decide to participate in Play in Stockholm?
- I had a lot of fun last year, in Chicago at the opening event (the first Play concert). And I think the audience loved the different take on game music, with symphonic orchestra. And that’s why I decided to come again, to Stockholm and I hope that the fans here will enjoy the show today.
Do you feel comfortable performing with an orchestra?
- Actually I should be more nervous, but I’m very relaxed. And I can’t wait until I get on stage. I’m only going to play one Silent Hill song, but I really want to play all of the songs. So I’m excited!
In our interview with you 2002 we asked if you had any favorite game music composers. Do you remember what you answered?
Yamaoka laughes and apparently remember what his answer was to that question (check the old interview to find out). We ask him what his thoughts on this are now, five years later.
- I personally like our friends, Uematsu-san and Koshiro-san. It’s not that we are enemies or anything, but I think when being a creator, you have to keep in mind that you are professional as well as a competitor - you can’t be a fan of other composers. But we are all friends and I respect everybody’s music.
Which kind of music of later years has influenced you in your work?
- I can’t really think of any artist in particular, but I like the current trend of mashing up music and mixing up a lot of different styles. Recently I’ve been in Los Angeles a lot and I feel that the hip hop in the US is very different from the one that comes into Japan. I like that style compared to the one that is played in Japan.
Do you have any plans on collaborating with international artists?
- Yes, I do have a strong desire to work with a multinational artist. Three years back I collaborated with the Swedish band Interlace and it was a great experience and I would like to keep doing that. So yes, I still have that desire.
Are you happy with the way your music was used in the Silent Hill movie?
- Mmmmmmmm (laughs). Honestly, I’m about 70 percent satisfied. There was some room for improvement, but overall I am very happy.
Tell us about an ordinary day in your life.
- On weekdays at daytime I go to work. I like to cook so when I come back home, I cook my own meal, eat it, checks the Internet and goes to sleep. On weekends and holidays, I go to the marketplace, buy a lot of food and cook it myself and then I’m going to sleep. That’s my usual ordinary day.
Niklas plays in a band and asks Yamaoka if he is interested in producing an upcoming album for them. Yamaoka laughes and then we get the answer we want:
- There is a very high possibility!
What do you think of Machinae Supremacy?
- Actually I didn’t have a chance to listen to them yet. I’m very interested in what kind of sound they produce. Do you know?
Kind of rock music with video game influences.
- I want to stand on stage with them. With four guitars then!
What are you looking forward to the most with today’s concerts?
- I hope that the people, the fans who gather here, have a kick out of this show. I’m very anxious to see their feedback once I get on stage.
You did about 200 footstep sounds for Silent Hill 2. How many will there be in Silent Hill 5?
- That’s a very clever strategy to get some information out of Silent Hill 5! To camouflage the question: the next-generation hardware is pretty sophisticated so you only need like one or two footstep sounds!
Speaking of Silent Hill 5, can you tell us anything about how the music in the game will sound?
- Can I ask you a question first: have we announced Silent Hill 5 yet?
No.
Yamaoka laughes and then we get kind of an answer:
- It is still so far ahead so I have nothing in mind!
Do you have any plans on performing live, except on Play concerts?
- Besides Play, I intend to have a live concert event with Uematsu-san and Koshiro-san in July (Extra ~Hyper Game Music Event). It will not be with a symphonic orchestra, it’s more of a rock show, with DJ'ing, bands and so on.
Would you consider writing music for a role-playing game, or is it just not your style?
- Yes, I would like to do so very much. Maybe I won’t stick to the traditional orchestration style, but maybe with a different approach. Hopefully in the future.
If you could choose any type of game to write the music for, what would it be?
- I would definitely choose a FPS game!
Do you have any favorite Swedish bands?
- The Cardigans, and I have always thought that HIM was a Swedish band but learned that it was Finnish yesterday. I thought the style of HIM was Swedish, but I guess I was wrong!
What would you say about moving to Stockholm?
- Actually we are discussing that right now, but the tax in this country is pretty high compared to Japanese standards so we are pretty shocked! Is everybody here in Sweden okay with the tax rates?
We have gotten used to it and have to live with it.
- Besides the tax, I think the weather, the history and the atmosphere creates a special blind, just like with the music. I think it is something special and something that I am really interested in.
