Artists from Japan
Saori Kobayashi
Panzer Dragoon Saga, Panzer Dragoon Orta, NiGHTS into Dreams, Crimson Dragon, Sonic Drift 2, AKANE
Akari Kaida
Resident Evil, Mega Man Battle Network, Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, Breath of Fire III
Takahiro Izutani
Metal Gear Solid 4, MGS: Peace Walker, Bayonetta, Yakuza 2, Shinobi 3D, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
Ryuichi Nitta
Ryuichi Nitta started his gaming career at Tecmo, where he co-composed the original Ninja Gaiden alongside Keiji Yamagishi (using Yamagishi’s sound driver), and then went on to compose the soundtracks to Ninja Gaiden 2 and Solomon’s Key 2.
Yuzo Koshiro
Yuzo Koshiro is a Japanese composer and sound programmer. He is often regarded as one of the most influential innovators in chiptune and video game music, producing music in a number of genres including rock, jazz, symphonic, and various electronic genres such as house, electro, techno, trance, and hip hop.
Harumi Fujita
Fujita started her career at SNK in 1984 with Mad Crasher, but her following years at Capcom ended up defining her as a stellar composer. She was one of the few who worked on the NES, arcade, and the Game Boy simultaneously, contributing to games like Ghosts ‘n Goblins, Bionic Commando, Strider, 1943 Kai, Final Fight,
Yoko Shimomura
Shimomura’s name is one of the most recognized in video game history, and her compositions are some of the most beloved. Since graduating from Osaka College of Music in 1988 as a piano major, she has contributed her music to some of the most renowned video games, such as those within the Kingdom Hearts, Mario & Luigi, and Street Fighter II series.
Keiji Yamagishi
Ninja Gaiden (NES), Tecmo Bowl, Captain Tsubasa Vol. I, Captain Tsubasa Vol. II, Dynasty Warriors, Onimusha Tactics
Manami Matsumae
Matsumae is best known for composing the legendary music for the original Mega Man (1987), including its iconic “Game Start” jingle. Following her departure from Capcom in 1991, she became a freelance video game music composer.
Artists from the West
Tim McCord
Bassist of Grammy-winners Evanescence
Monomirror
Octahedron, Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom, Producer of Flutlicht, S.H.O.K.K, DJ Tatana, DJ Energy
Chipzel
Super Hexagon, Dicey Dungeons, Cadence of Hyrule, River City Girls, Spectra, Interstellaria
Eirik Suhrke
Spelunky, Ridiculous Fishing, Hotline Miami, Super Crate Box, Subaku
ap0c
Steve ‘ap0c’ Lakawicz is a classically trained musician with a Master’s degree in Music Performance, specializing in orchestral tuba. Lakawicz has toured with brass quintets and performed with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, and lately has taken an interest into crafting and emulating authentic chiptunes.
Smoke Thief
Smoke Thief is the alias of George Art Baker, a British composer with a Master of Arts in Music Performance. Formerly a professional jazz bandleader and composer, he was drawn to create a style incorporating ambient, jazz, and hip-hop.
David Wise
Donkey Kong Country, Star Fox Adventures, Yooka Laylee, Battletoads