Ori - A Musical Perspective with Gareth Coker

Join us as we speak with composer Gareth Coker to gain insights on how he approached writing music for Ori and the Will of the Wisps, discussing everything from melody to boss fights to its evolving environments.
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[@AutismFamilyChannel]

Will of the Wisps has one of the most transcendent soundtracks in all of gaming. My playing of the game caused a ripple effect: My wife started humming the music, then my kids started humming the music, finally my wife decided she wanted to play the game. Well done!

[@TheOlly95]

im guessing lupa pool? it it the best in my opinion

[@cactusowo1835]

Unfortunately for me, the only person I had to share Ori and music was with my little brother, and he just rejected it :/

[@AutismFamilyChannel]

@@cactusowo1835 sorry to hear that. Well you’re among friends here 😄

[@cactusowo1835]

@@AutismFamilyChannel Yeah, Ikr, One of the things I allways wanted to do was teaching my brother music and playing instruments, guess everybody just have different things to get insterested on. But anyway, thanks mate!

[@wanwood360]

@@cactusowo1835 same with my sister, shes into tranqulity types of games but when i showed her ori and the blind forest she was like nope and i dont know why

[@f25mart]

Gareth's music is a damn treasure. The soundtracks of Ori 1 & 2 are some of the best music in gaming ever, IMO. Just transcendent. Luma Pools is just perfection and made me love a "water level" for the first time. I blame playing Sonic 2's water level as a kid growing up lol. EDIT: He addressed this exact notion in the video haha 25:00

[@cactusowo1835]

11:11 I got really surprised by it, the woodlands theme was so genuinely composed, especially with the instruments, It's like if the instruments themselves were crying, that will allways stick to my heart, thanks Gareth

[@highspy4045]

Mora the Spider's theme is hands down one of my favorite songs of all time. Something about it just clicks in my mind, and I find myself infatuated every time I hear that final two minutes of it. Absolutely incredible.

[@ryderrr08]

My life is a fight against depression for years and the Ori’s soundtrack help me a lot dealing with it. Thanks Gareth for your work, thanks Moon Studios for this awesome game.

[@TheMone22]

I'm the same. And really incredible music and games like Ori (1,2) really do help. I wish you happiness and good health. All the best to you. 💚

[@Interyou25]

Hope ur ok

[@Coreyahno]

I love a lot of video game music but rarely buy the soundtracks. Ori and the Will of the Wisps was one of the very few games that made me hand over some cash so I could enjoy the music outside of the game.

[@kudzaidhodho]

That multiphase music on the bosses was one of my favorite things, the first time meeting the bosses is so intimidating and scary and so is the music but as you fight on and persevere that uplifting Ori theme starts to creep up encouraging you to keep holding on. Simply amazing the emotions I felt were indescribable. Mr Coker you really outdid yourself. Loved the game, loved the music. I haven't played the game in a while but the music I still listen to. I really hope u get the recognition you deserve

[@Dd-fb2tj]

Will of the wisps has some of the best music I've ever experienced. Really made the game unforgettable.

[@th4t1dud3]

The most pleasant of surprises. So cool you got to put this together!

[@297fihsy]

My partner hardly touches video games but she regularly returns to the Ori soundtracks, such is their quality

[@ctd_audio]

Amazing composer. Ori's soundtrack is sublime.

[@gryzlaw]

The fact that this guy went from straight out his studies to ori BLOWS MY MIND

[@turkisubaie8277]

This was amazing. Thank you Gareth and Bloodworth

[@DzMM88]

Will of the Wisps is one the best soundtracks I've heard this last decade, and hearing Gareth talk about his work in a more in-depth way, explaining how many individual tracks came to be created was simply beautiful!

[@sbubbyjubby9743]

I love the Ori soundtrack and cant wait to hear his take on the Halo soundtrack in Halo Infinite

[@pyxylation]

I know right!? Maybe he can give Halo what its been missing since Marty O'Donnell stopped composing for it.

[@elessar6950]

holy shit he's doing that? Can't wait!

[@SchubertDipDab]

The Luma Pools melody is insanely beautiful. Piece of genius, that!

[@jaylynbrooks7684]

I love when the allies reach out for these projects

[@CowhandFudca]

Gareth "the GOAT" Coker

[@bamboozleberry2786]

🙌🙌🙌

[@BengalBoy16]

These games are the most emotional coasters I have ever had in games. The soul in these games, visually, audibly and the story is pure passionate artwork. Thankyou.

[@yeahiprotest]

The stars aligned for this game - the music, the visuals, the gameplay

[@morkmon]

Love how in depth this interview goes, great job!

[@xsoujirox]

Super awesome content

[@meegel]

Well deserved recognition for Gareth! It makes me glad to hear that he has been getting more work for his beautiful contribution to Ori. I was so moved by Will of the Wisps that I went out of my way to purchase the OST. Cheers!

[@luckywallace]

Just finished Ori & The Will of the Wisps and loved it - awesome game with a beautiful soundtrack. Great interview by Blood, much appreciated.

[@sebastianvonp1467]

this game made my sister try videogames again. She played FF8 (first 2 discs) when it came out, so its been a while. I enjoy talking to her about it and listen because I am waiting for a switch release. Listening to the soundtrack on bandcamp is a treat!

[@rowegardner9673]

Would LOVE more composer interviews. This was fantastic! Thank you Blood and Gareth. All of the insight was so interesting.

[@mrt.7146]

Sitting here listening to the intro song to Will of the Wisps --- so hauntingly beautiful, don't even need to start the game to be transcended 🤩

[@sdmugabe]

Ori music was absolutely amazing especially during those escape sequences

[@Master-Mo]

An amazing soundtrack to an equally amazing game. I consider the first Ori to be among my top 4 ot 5 2D Metroid-like games. Outstanding stuff! Very informative Interview. Thanks!

[@angelolima4811]

So descriptive about his composition of music love that and that he is so well related with gameplay mechanics that he can make the game even thought provoking

[@blakeandcamp]

This is great. I'd love to see you guys do more interviews like this.

[@hiraethgamer2819]

This is an amazing interview, and quite surprising too. Hope to see more of this type of content down the road. As for Ori 2. The first game's OST was already amazing, but Ori 2 just hits it out of the park, and out of the park next to that one. It's absolutely stellar. In recent years I've felt that game OST's have gotten a bit...muddy in terms of listening. Not necessarily clearly identifiable melodies (which is what I like) but more like...just music, or should I say 'sound'. Ori 2 has that touch of something IMO. And when the main theme started playing I slumped in my chair with a relaxing and succumbing "Aaaahhhhh". That's the power of Ori 2's OST. It might actually be up there in my top-10 fav OSTs of all-time, I think it's _that_ good.

[@rawrss]

Ori (1 and 2) is such an underrated game. If you have an Xbox, Switch or PC, please give it a try.

[@dolfijnfan27]

Thank you so much for this interview guys 👏👏👌

[@lordbeerus3383]

This guy is a legend just like Marty O Donald.

[@HayaJi]

Thank you for doing/posting this 🤗

[@Hazearil]

Be it Ori or Ark, I love Gareth's work so damn much!

[@franjaff6919]

So cool! Ori's music is fantastic.

[@az-ek2vp]

Such a legend! Gameplay and the storyline is magnificent and the music just makes it that much better.

[@thenerdbyrd7026]

It's funny I was planning on going to USC for film compistion and then I heard this. Gareth, Hans Zimmer, and John Powell are my biggest inspirations.

[@misterwu7233]

Great video! It addressed the three themes that I found the most impactful - Silent Woodlands, Shadows of Mouldwood and my favorite of the entire game, Luma Pools - and it provided a beautiful insight on how the music was composed and on who is Gareth Coker as well. Well done, really!

[@psychofunksoldier02]

Excellent music and soundtrack!!!

[@angelolima4811]

Thats amazing you composed for all the different instruments wish everyone would do that so much variation

[@Guatdefunk]

😱😱😱🤯🤯🤯 Kudos. Keep this amazing content!!!!!

[@danhall5253]

I came here to see the man behind the greatest gaming soundtrack of all time. Bravo

[@reubenb660]

Fascinating interview! LOVE this format! Way to go Bloodworth - not to be the guy who begs for for even more content from you guys, but there’s definite series potential here!

[@DulithMutucumarana]

I've spent a lot of time, playing the game and testing the game, to make sure the moments where we want to have peaks, have the right music playing. - Gareth Coker ❤

[@quaidrowan]

In my top 3 of video game OSTs. And really one of the few that makes me want to keep playing, and not give up - its like the score is encouraging you the whole way.

[@ConnorJudeMusic]

it's a shame this kind of content won't get many views, but i really think it is some of the best y'all put out. love to hear from the actual creators behind games, great stuff Blood

[@phewd]

I can't even hear a bar of anything related to Shriek without bawling my eyes out. One of my favorite scores ever...

[@Pico_444]

Sometimes I boot wotw just to sit on the main menu for 30 minutes. Incredible job!!

[@mrchiefbs]

He followed the great Marty O’Donnell rule. Call back familiar themes in your music. There is a lot of emotional weight in a theme to call back to for the structure of a narrative. Any great composer knows this!

[@j3ssicajj112]

I miss this game and its beautiful music

[@MonsterMJ]

wow what an amazing video blood i love music and video game music omg what an amazing video thx

[@anrkist]

More music interviews please Bloodworth! This was great.

[@cinnabonbons]

Still hoping and praying for this game to release on the Switch one day. In the meantime, I'll enjoy this beautiful soundtrack. Awesome that you were able to put this together, Blood! I hope we get to see more of this kind of content in the future.

[@funkymonkey7022]

What do you know, it's on switch now

[@cinnabonbons]

Bryce F AHHHHHHHHHH

[@Pat43489]

Kwolloks Throne room and baurs reach are some of my favorite tracks in ori 2

[@mnieuwhof]

The music on both Ori episodes is epic... sometimes it even distracts from the game because it's so nice to listen to it...

[@jogymogy3691]

I freaking love his Shriek Theme. The Battle Themes are also outstanding.

[@steodoyne]

My favourite game this gen.

[@vsl5455]

Ori is definitely my number 1 favorite game. In a weird way the soundtrack reminds me of the soundtrack of pokemon mystery dungeon, which has similarely incredible capabilities of stirring up emotions

[@VideoGems117]

Loved Ori and the Blind Forest, but The Will of The Wisps somehow managed to surpass it in every way, especially the soundtrack. I’m so excited to see what he does with Halo Infinite, hopefully the supervisors don’t cramp his style too much!

[@Kanthu907]

Ori has the best soundtracks ever

[@The_RedVIII]

I hope Will of the Whisps will get the accolades it deserves at the end of the year. It was easily one of the best games of the year, if not the best.

[@charoleawood]

With the title "A Musical Perspective" I was expecting it to be a Jones joint! Anyway, good work Bloodworth :)

[@Jimbo.Ori.]

The name Ori haddock a deeper meaning. You should look it up I love the soundtrack I bought it on iTunes

[@angelolima4811]

Please come to chicago Garreth and perform ori and ark and immortals please

[@Stavr0no]

just imagine if there was a "Ku and the [ insert idea for game maker here ]".

[@LucasNascimentoGT]

Goty 2020

[@angelolima4811]

Will there be an ori 3

[@apps9129]

Moon is working on an mmo right now I think.

[@angelolima4811]

@@apps9129 of ori

[@angelolima4811]

Or legend of dragoon remake

[@InnerRise]

Game unavailable on switch so havent played it yet so cant watch this😭

[@InnerRise]

@@_yusuf3553I've come to accept this. And I'm too stubborn to switch up platforms.

[@InnerRise]

@Jonah Laining 😱 What happened?! I havent watched the direct yet! I heard a new Ori was coming to switch! WAS THIS THE GAME THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT! Oh my god somebody put me on the hospital and knock me in a coma I'm going home! LET'S GOOOOOOOO!⚰

[@InnerRise]

@Jonah Laining Oh my god thank you *shaking&crying*

[@angelolima4811]

He never talked about immortals

[@kingping8370]

"if you're switching in and out of combat music it feels very gimmicky" *Ark: survival evolved has entered the chat*

[@charoleawood]

6:14 This is why I turn the music off in most games, I HATE being told EXACTLY what to feel. I played through several of the Assassin's Creed titles recently and had the music off for all of them except Unity which has EXQUISITE music (composers Sarah Schachner and Chris Tilton --- Tilton also did the excellent score in the excellent Criterion game "Black" from 2006) that's more fun and playful in battle like the main character is. I'm also playing Age of Empires 2 right now and purposely installed the original music mod --- that original score is absolutely wonderful, done by one Stephen Rippy. I do not want big new orchestration, it simply doesn't fit the action on screen or the 1999 2D feel, I like that original score because no matter what's happening in the game I can zone out and tune in to the music. I've also been playing several of the Gears games and I'm happy to have the music set to OFF; I do not want to be told BE EXCITED IN THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW! It's perfectly enough that I play with the look sensitivity at its highest and without "aim assist" --- when the action's there then bombastic music is just a distraction; I already know the danger posed by a "drop shot" which will kill the player in one hit. It's just as bad when there's no action happening and yet music is playing telling me to be ready for a fight or to feel depressed or spooked or whatever. I like to let the character dialogue and controls and visuals and environment audio speak to me; when there's music telling me precisely what to feel I'm taken OUT of an experience rather than immersed in it. I started playing Final Fantasy Fifteen and had to quit because the music is so IN YOUR FACE. You can turn it down but the environment audio is tuned incredibly low and is quite barren and that's a damn shame, a big budget game like that should have FULL big budget environment audio. Squeenix doesn't get it, but at least Capcom does.

[@Ringofire280]

I think I understand your overall point, but I don’t understand the special treatment you give music over other forms of artistic communication. Any form of communication, from straight up dialogue, to visuals, to audio design can be anywhere on the subtlety scale. It sounds to me like you just want more subtlety in music that more so evokes emotion in a suggestive manner, rather than being obvious. I understand that, but subtlety isn’t necessarily an indicator of quality. There is plenty of fantastic music that is much more overt in what feelings they want to evoke. Perhaps it comes down to preference in your case.

[@charoleawood]

​@@Ringofire280 Well, I love Final Fantasy Twelve and it has the same problem XV does. I like the music in Twelve, but the ambient noise is practically non-existent, this was proved in the Zodiac Age version which allows us to actually turn the music down, a feature missing form the PS2 version. At some point I get tired of the music and I want the world to breathe, but they gave barely any consideration to environment audio whatsoever. Half the time when I'm playing Age of Empires 2 I have it muted and I'm listening to a podcast or something. Of course I love the original music, but it's just a looping playlist and the game audio without it just isn't interesting enough on its own. Now, while I agree that subtle doesn't automatically equal "good" it's also true that on-the-nose music doesn't automatically equal good. Yes, it's all a matter of preference. I love the movie Speed Racer, I think it's practically the best film ever (I feel this way about a couple of other movies too), and I love the music in it which is VERY on-the-nose, though occasionally it does pull away to let the rest of the audio have the spotlight.

[@nagihoko]

I'm only a few minutes into the video, but I really wish we got to actually HEAR the music being talked about. Right now it's just playing faintly in the background while someone talks over it. I can't hear anything!

[@EasyAllies]

Hm? There's one track that might be a little quiet in the beginning, but you should be able to hear it quite well for the most part. Headphones definitely recommended. -Bloodworth

[@Lenopop44]

Yeah i can definitely hear the music with earphones in.

[@reubenb660]

Arnesh Nagavalli the mix illustrates the conversation very well in my view

[@nagihoko]

@@EasyAllies My point is more that the music is always in the background, it's foregrounded very rarely in the video. So I'm trying to hear the different timbres and melodic transformations that Gareth is talking about but it's muddied by Gareth talking (esp with the artifacts from voice recording in a non studio setting). To give an example, the low tones and percussion during the sand worm chase at 18:00 are muted and almost entirely lost. Which is a shame, because that's such a good part of that song! For reference, I'm listening on a pair of Sony MDRs. Not the greatest headphones, but they're industry workhorses for a reason. Either way, I really enjoyed the actual interview. Great questions and great answers. I just would have preferred if the music got more opportunities to speak for itself instead of competing with the voices the whole time.

[@EasyAllies]

I get what you're saying. In the past I've been a lot more meticulous about that sort of thing, but this time I decided to take a simpler, more raw approach and wasn't as hands-on with the edit. I do like how it turned out, but it's something to consider when working on future music-based pieces. Hopefully there won't be another 5 year gap before the next one. -Bloodworth