Hey everyone! I’m Nobuo Uematsu, and I’m thrilled to share my work on the Fantasian Neo Dimension soundtrack with you all.
When my long-time collaborator, Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi, reached out to me about Fantasian, I had already decided it would be my swan song for video game soundtracks – the last one where I pour my heart and soul into every note and melody. Knowing this was my final project of its kind, I went all out. I revamped my office, tossing out all the non-essentials and personal distractions to create what I like to call my "Fantasian mode" – a space dedicated to pure creativity. I spent months engrossed in the composition, and now, looking back, there are absolutely no regrets. Fantasian Neo Dimension stands as the pinnacle of over 30 years crafting complete video game soundtracks, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it!
Today, I’d love to talk about five tracks from the Fantasian Neo Dimension soundtrack that are particularly close to my heart.
1. Main Theme of Fantasian
Coming up with a main theme for a game is always a daunting task. I often start with the intention to outdo my previous work, aiming for a masterpiece. But this approach can stall progress if I take it too seriously. It turns out, my creativity sparks when I just relax and remember, “this is what I do best.” That’s exactly how the Main Theme of Fantasian came to life.
2. Prickle and Clicker’s Theme
This tune represents a charmingly clunky, old model robot with fragmented speech – it’s all about embracing imperfections. I wanted the music to match the quirky, bumpy charm of the character’s personality. Can you feel the off-kilter rhythm in the tune? It just brings that lovable awkwardness to life, doesn’t it?
3. Shangri-La
This track is one of my personal favorites. It features scat singing with playful “lan lan~♪” vocalizations, adding a whimsical feel. I’ve often thought how delightful it would be to perform this piece live with actual lyrics one day.
4. God Realm
What makes music “proper”? Is it only when a beautiful melody meets stunning chords with a perfect tone? Or does a jumbled melody on strange-sounding chords played haphazardly become improper? These are questions I ponder after such a long career in music. Sometimes, it’s these oddly constructed pieces that make us question and appreciate the art form even more deeply.
5. Kina (Destiny) [featuring Yuria Miyazono]
Sakaguchi can whip up song lyrics faster than anyone I know. There were times I’d send him a melody, and he’d have the lyrics ready almost overnight. For this piece, however, the roles were flipped – his lyrics came first, and I composed the melody to match. Despite the change, this track came together seamlessly. And Yuria Miyazono’s vocals? Simply stunning.
Experience these tracks in their full glory when Fantasian Neo Dimension hits the PlayStation Store on December 5, 2024.
