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By Banxy
The Frank Klepacki Interview (02/04/07)
Frank Klepacki's music defines a genre and a generation of games for everyone who has heard it. He's done a bit of everything, from creating the soundtracks to the Command and Conquer games to the music for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Banxy interviewed him.
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My next Interview is with a man that should need no introduction. Any gamers worth their salt who has been captivated by the musical scores from Command and Conquer, Command and Conquer: Red Alert, Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun, Command and Conquer: Red Alert II, Star Wars: Empire at war, Star Wars: Forces Of Corruption, Dune II, Dune 2000, Lands of Lore 1, 2 and 3, plus many more, already know of this man, and no doubt already love his music.
Ever watched "Ultimate Fighting Championship"? Chances are you've heard his music.
Ever heard the voice of the Commando in Command and Conquer or House Harkonnen in Dune II and 2000? Then you've heard his voice.
I have had the pleasure and privilege to interview a living legend and all round nice guy,
Frank Klepacki.
Banxy : What inspired you to begin composing music?
Frank : Being a drummer and not being able to communicate with other band members on ideas I had for original songs. So I learned keyboard, guitar and bass and started recording my own demos.
Banxy : Though you have composed many styles of music, a lot of your tunes have an Industrial feel to them, where do you get inspiration for this from?
Frank : This largely began when I composed the first Command & Conquer game. Most of my influneces for industrial style at that time was Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, and various songs I would pick things out of. I've always had a big rock background, but it was more about combining most styles of music together for one game.
Frank's Cameo in Command and Conquer as a NOD Cyber Soldier |
Banxy : Your soundtracks always capture the essence of the game, and the action, how do you achieve this and is it difficult?
Frank : It isn't difficult for me, because action is what I feed off of. As a gamer thats what I want, so I naturally write music that reflects what I want to feel while playing.
Banxy : Are you a Computer gaming fan yourself? If so, what games are you currently playing?
Frank : Right now I'm focused on the game I'm currently working on, Universe At War. Besides that, I've only been able to play some of my favorite casual arcade style games.
Banxy : Of all the projects you have worked on in the past, which has been your favourite and why?
Frank : The Star Wars: Empire At War series, because it's a life long dream come true.
Banxy : You've appeared on screen and had several voice acting credits in a lot of the games you've composed for, such as Command & Conquer, Dune 2000 and Star Wars: FoC; Is acting something you would like to get into or something you would prefer to keep as a "side project"?
Frank : I'd love to do as much of that as I can, I suppose I just haven't pursued it as much as I would like to. It's easy to get wrapped up in game developement, particularly now, as an audio director also.
Banxy : Recently, you've moved into Television and been a featured recording artist on the "Ultimate Fighting Championship"; How does this compare with past experiences?
Frank : It's great. It's just different. With the UFC, although I've scored a handful of custom themes, they largely use licensed music form my solo CD's that are available on my website, which basically contuinue the C&C style where I left off.
Banxy : What music do you listen to (if any)?
Frank : All kinds, but my favourites are metal and 70's funk.
From the Morphscape CD |
Banxy : What is your favourite track from those that you have created so far?
Frank : I have too many to list! Hehe I've written like 75 albums worth of material in my career so you can see why that would be hard to answer... :)
Banxy : What's your favourite movie?
Frank : Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Banxy : If you could write a note to yourself in the past, what would it say?
Frank : It would say "Keep doing what you're doing, you know that thing you've been wishing for your whole life? It's gonna happen!!"
Banxy : Do have have any upcoming projects / albums, that you would like to tell us about?
Frank : Sure! Well I did mention earlier about Universe At War - this is the new all original game being developed by Petroglyph. All I can really say is watch their latest video podcast where I talk more about it and give some early examples. But my C&C fans out there definitly have a lot to look forward to! Not to mention my latest solo CD "Awakening of Aggression" has been out since last October and is my heaviest solo CD to date. I will likely have another new one out toward the end of the year.
Banxy : Frank Klepacki, thank you for your time and keep up the great work.
Frank : My pleasure - thanks for the interview!
Frank.
http://www.frankklepacki.com/
Offical website.
http://www.theconnextion.com/index.c...72&NoFrame=Yes
Frank Klepacki CD's and other merchandise.
http://www.myspace.com/frankklepacki
Frank Klepackis MySpace page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Klepacki
Frank as described at WikiPedia.
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