Right and Left (Austin Wintorys Aliens: Fireteams Elite Contest Submission) @zacharypinkham5890

Zachary Pinkham Here’s my entry for Austin Wintory’s “Aliens Fireteam Elite” contest!

If somehow you’re watching this without knowing about the contest, please check out Wintory’s announcement video if you’d like some wider context: youtu.be/ffBuy1vbW1A

This was originally inspired by Winslow Homer’s phenomenal painting “Right and Left” (tinyurl.com/ye5a9udx). As I worked the rhythmic motif Wintory laid out in his aforementioned video and built the piece, it slowly moved away from a literal interpretation of that image and focused more on the composition of the painting overall, just two disrupted subjects pulled away from each other.

What you’re hearing here is the...sixth iteration of the idea? I’m not entirely sure, I lost track somewhere between the attempt at forcing a bossa nova groove and the maximalist blow-your-head-off all-percussion version, ultimately being inspired by gagaku and settling on choosing to use winds and brass as a blunt tool while smaller percussion instruments do most of the leg work. I ended up fixating on Wintory’s rhythm pretty intensely, but with a focus on squashing and stretching how much time it takes up as opposed to writing more traditional variations (though there are plenty of those!). It’s everywhere--the winds and brass play it lazily or manically in their cloudy little sections, the timpani plays it very slowly, much of the auxiliary percussion is the rhythm slower, faster, and/or with some notes chopped out and the whole thing shifted a bit. It’s a lovely, simple motif that has a lot to give.

I was a percussionist for the first nine years of my musical life, and while that was certainly helpful, it didn’t make writing this track easy. Despite its short length, this track was a real bear to put together, but I got to stretch myself writing something outside of my comfort zone and I’m ultimately very happy to have had the opportunity!

Portfolio/Contact: zacharypinkham.com
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/zachary-pinkham
Instagram: instagram.com/zacharypinkham
Twitter: twitter.com/zachpinkham

updated 3 years ago

Right and Left (Austin Wintorys Aliens: Fireteams Elite Contest Submission)

Zachary Pinkham 2021-09-24 | Here’s my entry for Austin Wintory’s “Aliens Fireteam Elite” contest!

If somehow you’re watching this without knowing about the contest, please check out Wintory’s announcement video if you’d like some wider context: youtu.be/ffBuy1vbW1A

This was originally inspired by Winslow Homer’s phenomenal painting “Right and Left” (tinyurl.com/ye5a9udx). As I worked the rhythmic motif Wintory laid out in his aforementioned video and built the piece, it slowly moved away from a literal interpretation of that image and focused more on the composition of the painting overall, just two disrupted subjects pulled away from each other.

What you’re hearing here is the...sixth iteration of the idea? I’m not entirely sure, I lost track somewhere between the attempt at forcing a bossa nova groove and the maximalist blow-your-head-off all-percussion version, ultimately being inspired by gagaku and settling on choosing to use winds and brass as a blunt tool while smaller percussion instruments do most of the leg work. I ended up fixating on Wintory’s rhythm pretty intensely, but with a focus on squashing and stretching how much time it takes up as opposed to writing more traditional variations (though there are plenty of those!). It’s everywhere--the winds and brass play it lazily or manically in their cloudy little sections, the timpani plays it very slowly, much of the auxiliary percussion is the rhythm slower, faster, and/or with some notes chopped out and the whole thing shifted a bit. It’s a lovely, simple motif that has a lot to give.

I was a percussionist for the first nine years of my musical life, and while that was certainly helpful, it didn’t make writing this track easy. Despite its short length, this track was a real bear to put together, but I got to stretch myself writing something outside of my comfort zone and I’m ultimately very happy to have had the opportunity!

Portfolio/Contact: zacharypinkham.com
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/zachary-pinkham
Instagram: instagram.com/zacharypinkham
Twitter: twitter.com/zachpinkham

Oops! No Brakes!: More Oops Trailer

Zachary Pinkham 2021-08-31 | The official trailer for "Oops! No Breaks!: More Oops!", a game originally created for the Kenney Jam 2021, now receiving a significant post-jam update! Available to play now (for free!) at thejaspel.itch.io/oops-no-brakes.

Programming & Design by TheJaspel
Itch.io: thejaspel.itch.io
Twitter: twitter.com/thejaspel1

Music (and trailer) by Zachary Pinkham
Website: zacharypinkham.com
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/zachary-pinkham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacharypink...
Twitter: twitter.com/zachpinkham
Itch.io: zacharypinkham.itch.io

Oops! No Brakes! Trailer

Zachary Pinkham 2021-08-24 | The official trailer for "Oops! No Breaks!", a game created for the Kenney Jam 2021! Available to play now (for free!) at thejaspel.itch.io/oops-no-brakes.

Programming & Design by TheJaspel
Itch.io: thejaspel.itch.io
Twitter: twitter.com/thejaspel1

Music (and trailer) by Zachary Pinkham
Website: zacharypinkham.com
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/zachary-pinkham
Instagram: instagram.com/zacharypinkham
Twitter: twitter.com/zachpinkham
Itch.io: zacharypinkham.itch.io