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A Journey toward Origins's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Correlation to theme | #17 | 4.292 | 4.292 |
| Impression | #34 | 4.104 | 4.104 |
| Overall | #35 | 4.081 | 4.081 |
| Composition | #36 | 4.188 | 4.188 |
| Quality | #55 | 4.135 | 4.135 |
| Creativity | #188 | 3.688 | 3.688 |
Ranked from 96 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Judge feedback
Judge feedback is anonymous.
- There is a lot of great material here-- a consistent theme that I noticed was a careful attention to expressive performance that isn't overly snapped to a tyrannical grid. Really lovely writing throughout and consistently great instrumental and compositional choices that kept me interested the whole way through. Good work on keeping the music itself varied too-- I was a bit concerned that the style wasn't going to quite vary enough, but then "Origins" begins with that beautiful cello solo and pizz. strings just bounding along and I found myself smiling. The opening track too is notable for its quiet, restrained beauty-- the piano avoids over-quantization and a wonderfully rubato human performance, which I think is key for what you are going for. The music in "In the Middle of Bubbles" made me smile because of its beauty. I see that you are intending for this to be implemented by cutting up these tracks into loops, which is a great thing to have in mind from the very beginning. In this case there is a lot of material that can be used to do that, and I think the result would work very well. I do, however, feel like there should still probably be a bit more material in each track, and each track should be shaped a little more to tell its own individual story, as these aspects tend to really help out the implementation process by presenting a "one true canonical version" of each tracks' story that is just a bit more extended than what is presented here. Still, that's a great bit of feedback to get-- I loved it so much that I'd like to hear even more!
Description
Hi everyone ! Here is my submission for OST Composing Jam #7. If you're interested, I made a little story below that image the moods of the tracks. Enjoy!
The type of the Game:
It is a 2D atmospheric platformer (inspiration: GRIS).
Compositional aspects:
In game, each track would be divided into a few loops that would change accordingly to zones, situations or cinematics happening.
Synopsis:
An amnesic little girl, wanting to discover more about her and her origins, begins a journey through a colorful world full of bubbles.
Tracks:
1. "In the Middle of Bubbles"
This is the beginning of the journey through this strange world filled with floating and illuminated bubbles . They sound like carillons and seem to lead the little girl through her progression.
2. "Where no Bubble dares to dwell"
The little girl lost herself in this damp and dark place where neither light nor bubble are allowed. She encounters a strange man that shows her the way out.
3. "Interlude"
4. "Origins"
The little girl feels that the end of the journey is near and that she will soon find answers to all her questions. The bubbles are all around her, guiding her toward a human shape in the horizon.
Artwork by @kawaakar._ (https://www.instagram.com/kawaakar._/)
Message from the artist
Thank you for this opportunity, I loved to compose this during this week! :D
Theme
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://soundcloud.com/kagegona/sets/a-journey-toward-origins
Number of tracks4
Genre
Soundtrack use permission
Any non-commercial project
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Comments
Awesome work. It was a very sweet entry. I liked the last track quite a bit.
Thank you!!
The piano work is amazing on this. Everything reflects the story really well, and the more minimalistic approach works really well here.
Glad you liked it!
Solid work on the strings and piano on all tracks, especially on Where No Bubbles Dares to Dwell! My favorite track was Origins, it's so enchanting and bright. Nice job!
The celesta high speed pattern was the first thing I did when beginning to work on this jam and I found it was relevant as the conclusion of a journey!
Super solid submission! I can really appreciate the more minimalistic approach, which absolutely plays into the GRiS inspiration. Arrangements are never overtly busy and instead err on the side of less-is-more both in choice of active instruments and leaving space between elements to really let them breathe and evolve.
The piano throughout is lovely and tender. Great articulation in the playing, dipping into harder velocities only where necessary and then weaving beautiful softer lines throughout. String work was great too - flows wonderfully when it comes to the forefront.
I think my favorite piece of the bunch, and this is by no means an easy task to pick just the one, is In The Middle of Bubbles. The slow crescendo of various elements into the gorgeous swelling of the entire mix at around the 1:06 mark is so beautifully done. Delightful listen, great job! Great execution of the theme.
Thanks a lot for your kind words :D
The piano work throughout this entry is phenomenal, and I love your chord choices! Certain parts of Where No Bubble Dares to Dwell really made me feel like I was playing Hollow Knight again lol. Overall, your composition and the cohesiveness of your sound is fantastic.
Great work!
Being compared to Christopher Larkin is an honor even if i'm only the hundredth of his genius!! Really glad you liked my compositions <3
Dude's amazing, so I feel you! lol
Maybe one day... In a century x)
Absolutely brilliant work! The first song is so anime/ghibli-core haha, and I think Origins is by far the closest song to the picture theme that I've heard. It really captures that joyful, playful and also wondrous, disney vibe. I think it sounds exactly like how it feels to be a child, experiencing the energy and liveliness of an imagined ocean world. I really hope you make it to top 20!
It's so kind of you!! Thank you for those warm returns, I'm glad my music pleased you :D
I like the chords and instruments. Especially in the second composition. So cool.
Thank you :D
Minimalistic but absolutely heart-wrenching. I was wowed by the opening track and how much space it was able to convey. The volume needs to be mastered a little better, as there are areas in which it is too quiet and then too loud. But excellent work!
Ty! Yes, I listened again to my tracks yesterday and was thinking that my volumes were en bit too extreme, principally the loud extremes! I'll correct that, thank you for telling me!
I love how you’ve used different instruments to represent the game, most notably the plucks of strings in the first song to represent the popping bubbles. I feel like you’ve also captured the joy and whimsy of the picture theme while also building onto it and imagining a full story. Overall, amazing job, this sounds incredible!
Thank you! The instrument that represent the bubbles is a celesta, I found out that it was the instrument that made me most think of popping bubbles!
Amazing stuff! The atmospheric elements were great. Loved the harmony and chord progressions as well. Super unique and interesting. And the strings sound incredible.
Thank you!!
In the mind of bubbles - I love this track because it actually made me feel like I am on a path where the bubbles are popping right in front of me and sounds like a perfect beginning to this game. Kinda wish it went for longer :)
Where no bubbles dare to dwell - took away the little bit of innocence which the last track established and the "negative space" @technocrepe mentioned really shines a lot here. I was listening to this track with the winds rustling the trees in the background and really made me feel a little bit sad. Just a little. Lovely track.
Interlude - was a great track would have loved for it to go on a little longer :) Guess it was a good interlude !
Origins - I love the little bit of oriental feeling in this song initially because I am definitely thinking of the picture theme here :) Feels like the journey has come to end for sure and the origins song give me a bit of a reminiscing feeling more than anything else and in a good way as the journey has ended.
Really like this submission ! The second song was a big favorite ! Could definitely see this being used in a game about the little girl in the picture theme, a story about innocence and coming to age. Great job !
Thank you for this detailed and kind review!
Loved the dynamics and use of the glockenspiel throughout this body of work. My favorite track is Interlude. It has such a calm vibe. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, I'll keep working hard :D
I really enjoyed how there was a lot of "negative space" in the first three pieces. It made all of the notes all the more impactful and meaningful
Yeah, I like to let the time erase what has just been played!
I adored the buildup to the climax in In the middle of bubbles it was really cool.
I also liked the instrument changeup for Origins. it kept things fresh instrument wise.
I did think that some of the parts in the second song were too abruptly loud following near silence but it was still pretty great!
Thanks! For this second track, I tried to enhance constrast between dynamics but I may have done it too much! The loud grave piano was representing the overwhelming environment while the shy response was the little girl progressing.
Absolutely loved the 2nd track "Where No Bubble Dares To Dwell". You captured the dread feeling so so well
Ty! That was a really fun track to make!
Love your instrument selection deeply! They all bring rich warmth into your mix, as solo or as accompaniment. A lot of clarity in your mix, so I can appreciate the expressions and dynamics more intensely! Your piano playing is wonderful to listen to with a lot of satisfying runs and chord tones! Nice job!
Thank you! I'm never sure of my mix as I haven't a lot of techniques yet!
Sound/instrument selection and carefully crafting the arrangement are some most essential steps for a good mix, so you're already doing pretty well!
The quality of your piano writing is fantastic, genuinely no complaints, just pure vibes :D
Ty! The piano is my main instrument, I improvise and search ideas :D Now I think, I should try to write things a little more in control of things x)
Ridiculous levels of talent... The writing is beautiful I have no words really! Beautiful is all i can muster! Followed and liked immediately!
Thank you for those kind words!
Beautiful piano writing, the composition is super strong! Interlude is so relaxing. Origins might be my favorite track, I love how the piano closes it out. Amazing work!
From someone who did such an amazing job, I can only say thank you :D
This was such a nice listen! You absolutely nailed the mood of this soundtrack and I can definitely see the GRIS inspiration. Your instrumentation is also lovely. Beautiful submission!
Really liked yours too, thank you :D