The SOCOM 4 Score
SOCOM 4 is the most exotic score I’ve composed, one that represents a striking step away from the usual tone of the shooter videogame genre. Though I was attracted to the idea of scoring a big military game with a unique sound, I wanted to ensure that fans of the classic SOCOM series would recognize the musical identity of the franchise. But, I also wanted them to experience new music for this new adventure. SOCOM 4 has a distinct tone that sets it apart from the other games, so its score had to stand apart as well.
As with all the other projects I’ve ever tackled, my first task was to figure out the style, instrumentation and language I would be writing in. There are three primary factions in SOCOM 4 so I decided to represent each with a different type of music: Traditional Eastern instruments represent the local insurgents, Western Symphonic writing represents the heroic main character while Electronic Music signified the private military company Clawhammer. (more…)