Akira Yamaoka

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Akira Yamaoka

Background information
Born February 6, 1968 (1968-02-06) (age 40)
Origin Niigata, Niigata
Genre(s) Rock, Soundtrack, Ambient, Industrial
Occupation(s) Soundtrack composer, Guitarist, Silent Hill series' producer
Instrument(s) Guitar, keyboard, piano, Drum machine, Sampler

Akira Yamaoka (山岡 晃 Yamaoka Akira, born February 6, 1968 in Niigata, Japan[1]) is a musician and video game composer, having scored dozens of titles released by Konami. Yamaoka attended Tokyo Art College[2], where he studied product design and interior design. He joined Konami on September 21, 1993, after previously being a freelance music composer.

Contents

[edit] Biography

He is most well known for his work for the Silent Hill series of video games, for which he composed all the music and sound effects in the whole series (excluding Silent Hill: Play Novel for the Game Boy Advance and "Esperandote" in Silent Hill, composed by Rika Muranaka). Since Silent Hill 3, he is playing a more important role as the series' producer, also continuing with his music composition working.

Yamaoka's sound commonly contains strong melancholy undertones and generally identifies with the dark ambient, industrial, and trip-hop genres. Since Silent Hill 3, he also started working in collaboration with Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and Joe Romersa for vocal compositions.

Much of his work from previous titles has been compiled for the 2006 Silent Hill movie adaptation, directed by Christophe Gans.

His music from Silent Hill 2 was performed live in 2005 at the third Symphonic Game Music Concert in Leipzig, Germany. Yamaoka also performed music from Silent Hill at the world-premiere of PLAY! A Video Game Symphony on May 27, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, and accompanied the orchestra with an electric seven-string guitar. He also composed songs for KONAMI's Bemani series, which has also featured tracks from Silent Hill.

His first original album, iFUTURELIST, was released in January 2006.

[edit] Personal life

Before working as a video game composer, Yamaoka initially sought a career as a designer, but instead became a musician after studying product design at Tokyo Art College[2].

In 1993 he joined Konami to work on the game Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2[2]. When Konami began searching for a musician to compose Silent Hill's score, Yamaoka volunteered because he thought he was the only one capable of making the soundtrack. [2]

[edit] Influences

Yamaoka cites among his influences Angelo Badalamenti (best known known for his soundtrack work with David Lynch), Metallica, and Depeche Mode.[2]

When asked if his studies at Tokyo Art College had helped him in his musical career, he replied[2]:

"At that time, Mick Karn of Japan, Steve Strange of Visage, and a lot of other musicians combined the notions of Art and Music with their own new style. I got really influenced by that. Therefore, every time I write songs, I try to combine Art and Music."

[edit] Credits

Game Title Year Console Role Comments
SmartBall
also known as Jerry Boy		 1991 Super Famicom Assistant Composers Unsure of this credit.
Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 1994 Sega Mega Drive Composer Akira Yamaoka's first project at Konami.
With Kazuhiko Uehara, Masahiro Ikariko, M. Matsuhira and Michiru Yamane.
International Superstar Soccer
also known as Perfect Eleven		 1994 Super Famicom Composer Konami requested a break beat club sound like The Prodigy.
Snatcher 1994 Sega CD Sound Design
Vandal Hearts 1996 PlayStation  ? Did some sound design???
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997 PlayStation Drum Programming. Received a Special Thanks in the credits.
Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus 1997 PlayStation Sound Producer Possible composer of DEMO MOVIE and/or Title Screen?
Kensei: Sacred Fist
 1998 PlayStation Composer Name mentioned in the credits.
Road Rage
also known as Speed King		 1998 PlayStation Composer Was originally assigned to port the arcade game's music, but instead composed all new original music.
Dance Dance Revolution 2ndReMIX 1999 Arcade, PlayStation Composer Composed "Love This Feelin' (Remix)".

"Love This Feelin'" was remixed by U1-ASAMI under the pseudonym of Chang-Ma.
Silent Hill 1999 PlayStation Sound Director
Sound Producer
Music Composer & Arranger		 With Rika Muranaka (composed "Esperándote").
beatmania IIDX 4th Style 2000 Arcade, PlayStation 2 Composer Composed "250bpm", "Diamond Jealousy", "Love Will..." and "Minimalian".

"Love Will..." was composed under the pseudonym of riewo.
"Minimalian" was composed under the pseudonym of Detroian.
Gradius III and IV 2000 PlayStation 2  ? Possibly composed the "DEMO MOVIE1" and "DEMO MOVIE2" music???
beatmania IIDX 5th Style 2001 Arcade, PS2 Composer Composed "In My Eyes" and "Rislim".

Both songs were sung by ric.
Silent Hill 2 2001 PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC Sound Director
All Music & Sound Effects
Contra: Shattered Soldier 2002 PlayStation 2 Sound Director
Music Composer
Sound Effect Design		 With Sota Fujimori (music composer).
beatmania IIDX 7th Style 2002 Arcade, PlayStation 2 Composer Composed "Bring Her Down", "i feel..." and "Love Me Do".
beatmania IIDX 8th Style 2002 Arcade, PlayStation 2 Composer Composed "Bit Mania" and "Dancer".

"Dancer" was composed under the pseudonym of De Vol.
DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX 2002 Arcade, PlayStation 2 Composer Composed "i feel...".
beatmania IIDX 9th Style 2003 Arcade, PlayStation 2 Composer Composed "昭和企業戦士荒山課長" [Shōwa Kigyō Senshi Arayama Kachō], "ライオン好き" [Lion Suki] and "Rislim -remix-".

"Rislim" was remixed by Hisashi Nawata.
Dance Dance Revolution ULTRAMIX 2003 Xbox Composer Composed "In My Eyes" (downloadable by purchasing Ultramix Song Pack #1).
Received a Special Thanks in the credits.

Song In my Eyes remixed by Midihead in Ultramix Song Pack #2.
Song I feel... remixed by T.O.Y. in Ultramix Song Pack #2.
Silent Hill 3 2003 PlayStation 2, PC Game Producer
Sound Director
All Music & Sound Effects		 With Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (credited as Melissa Williamson. Vocals on "You're Not Here", "Letter - From the Lost Days" and "I Want Love") , Joe Romersa (vocals on "Hometown") and Interlace ("Rain of Brass Petals").

Game includes limited edition soundtrack CD.
beatmania IIDX 10th Style 2004 Arcade Composer Composed "Space Fight" and "システムロマンス" [System Romance].

"システムロマンス" was composed under the pseudonym of Hiroshi & Chiiko.
beatmania IIDX 11: IIDX RED 2004 Arcade Composer Composed "Awakening" and "Injection of Love".

"Injection of Love" was composed under the pseudonym of Akira Shintani, and featured Sanae Shintani as the vocalist.
Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME 2004 PlayStation 2 Composer Composed "You're Not Here" and "Your Rain (Rage Mix)".

"You're Not Here" originated from Silent Hill 3.
"Your Rain (Rage Mix)" is a remix of the song "Your Rain" from Silent Hill 4.
Rumble Roses 2004 PlayStation 2 Composer Composed "Pluck the Roses!" and "I'm too virtuous".
Silent Hill 4 2004 PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC Game Producer
Sound Director
Music		 With Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (vocals on "Tender Sugar", "Your Rain", "Room of Angel" and "Waiting for You ~ live at "HEAVEN'S NIGHT" ~ (unreleased tunes)") and Joe Romersa (vocals on "Cradle of Forest", music supervision and lyrics).

Pre-orders received soundtrack CD.
pop'n music 12 Iroha 2004 Arcade Composer Composed "April Fool's Song" and "Ryusei Honey".

"Ryusei Honey" was composed under the pseudonym of Akira Shintani, and featured Sanae Shintani as the vocalist.
beatmania IIDX 12: HAPPY SKY 2005 Arcade Composer Composed "Empty of the Sky" and "tant pis pour toi".
Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME 2 2005 PlayStation 2 Composer Composed "INSIDE YOUR HEART" and "INJECTION OF LOVE (HINA MIX)" a Karaoke version of the song "INJECTION OF LOVE" from beatmania IIDX 11 IIDX RED. Also produced arrangements of "I will Survive" and "Oops!... I Did It Again".
Rumble Roses XX 2005 Xbox 360 Composer Composed "My Rose", "Your Rose" and "I'm too virtuous (Spencer's Dream Mix)".

"I'm too virtuous" was remixed by Sota Fujimori.
iFUTURELIST 2006 n/a Composer Composed entire album. His first original album.
Silent Hill 2006 Film Executive Producer
Composer		 Music included in the movie was originally composed by Yamaoka for the Silent Hill games. Some of the tracks however were remixed for the movie.
beatmania IIDX 13: DistorteD 2006 Arcade Composer Composed "iFUTURELIST," a single from the iFUTURELIST album, and "Heavenly Sun" which was collaborated with a fan.
Dance Dance Revolution STR!KE 2006 Playstation 2 Composer Composed "iFUTURELIST (DDR VERSION)", a single from the iFUTURELIST album, and "INJECTION OF LOVE (e)" an English version of the song "INJECTION OF LOVE" from beatmania IIDX 11 IIDX RED.
pop'n music 14 FEVER! 2006 Arcade Composer Composed "popdod".
Silent Hill: 0rigins 2007 PlayStation Portable, Playstation 2 Game Producer
Composer		 Composed 26 original tracks
Silent Hill V (working title) 2008 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Game Producer
Composer
GuitarFreaks 3rdMIX / Drummania 2ndMIX Arcade, PlayStation Composer Composed "Love This Feelin'" and "POWER DUNKER 2000X".
Bugi PlayStation  ?
Winning Eleven PlayStation  ?
beatmania IIDX 14: GOLD' 2007 Arcade Composer Composed "Play back hate you" and "ヨシダさん" [Yoshida-san].
beatmania IIDX 15: DJ Troopers' 2007 Arcade Composer Composed "Shift" and "マチ子の唄" [Machiko no Uta].

[edit] Studio Gear

[edit] Hardware

[citation needed]

[edit] Software

[citation needed]

  • Emagic Logic Audio
  • Emagic EXS24
  • Emagic amt8
  • Phrazer Infinity.

[edit] Guitars

  • Ibanez UV-777-P-BK

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • He wrote the main theme of Silent Hill 2 "Theme of Laura" in just three days. [1]
  • Made over 200 different footstep sounds for Silent Hill 2 [1]
  • He also wrote the theme of 101%, the main show of the French TV channel Nolife.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Akira Yamaoka's IMDB profile. imdb.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Interview with Akira Yamaoka. spelmusik.net (July 2002). Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
  3. ^ Konami: The Silent Hill 4 Interview. games.kikizo.com (September 6, 2004). Retrieved on 2007-07-16.

[edit] External links