A short Bio

I am an award-winning music composer based in Italy and I have been writing a lot of music that ended in some very popular games.
I had a big interest for video game music and electronic instruments since I was a kid. I took my first fumbling steps with computer music in the late 90s, by using a cheap Bontempi toy keyboard and a MIDI sequencer. During the same period, I was also taking piano lessons and learnt how to play an electric guitar.
In the early 00s, I found myself writing music for small PC games and other multimedia projects, and released a couple of personal albums. Only in 2008 I finally started working for games as a freelancer, while also having a daily job as a web designer.
In 2010 I founded my own music licensing website called PlayOnLoop.com, which has been providing original and exclusive royalty-free music for media and games since then. Through my catalog, my compositions have found their way into hundreds of indie games and I've been hired many times for writing custom music for Apps and games.
In 2023, I was awarded in “Best Game Music - Audience Favorite” at the Game Audio Awards (Finland) for my score to the BAFTA “Game of the Year” Vampire Survivors. Other credits include writing music for the popular Hill Climb Racing mobile game series, surpassing 2 billion of players worldwide in 2022.
Filippo Vicarelli
2008
Marche, Italy
Check out some of my best works
Behind the Scenes of the
Before diving into music production, some time is spent with the game art director or producer to analyze music from well-known video games that share a similar vision. I can then start sketching out ideas, and make audio / video mockups with the actual gameplay. This initial step is invaluable for understanding how different genres, styles, and production techniques can influence both the aesthetic and the story telling of a game. Additionally, it also inspires and motivates the whole team to give their 200% to the project.

Once I’ve collected enough references, I begin composing melodies and themes by playing them on a real instrument (piano or guitar) or writing them directly into my DAW, where the track’s structure gets laid out. The process is deeply creative: my goal is to write beautiful and catchy melodies that stick in listeners’ heads, and experiment with harmonies and chord progressions, always making sure that the music is still enjoyable to wide audiences while offering something intriguing for the music nerds as well.

Arrangement and instrumentation decisions transform a basic composition into a complete piece. My personal style heavily influences the arrangement, as I enjoy borrowing elements from different genres and putting them together to make the composition unique, fun, interesting, and impactful. I focus on the structure, the groove, and all the key elements that form the core of the composition. I pay close attention to song sections and loops, ensuring they fit well together and can be listened to repeatedly without becoming tiring.

Programming instrumental parts and recording live instruments are crucial aspects of music production. Although I primarily use synths and sound libraries nowadays, I still enjoy performing and sketching out main parts on a real keyboard or electric guitar, using drum pads, and occasionally live percussion. Depending on the project, I involve studio musicians to add their talents and exotic instruments to my music. For the most grand compositions, hiring a live orchestra is also an option and a unique experience.

Music production, especially for games, involves more than just composing. It also involves sound design, audio editing, sound manipulation, and creating elements and effects that can shape the whole soundtrack’s soundscape. During the mixing stage, individual tracks and recordings get properly balanced and enhanced to achieve a powerful, cohesive sound. These techniques require both creativity and technical skills, and transform a plain piece of music into a professionally crafted composition.

Preparing the final mix is the final step before release, and typically handled by an external studio in a properly treated room and with A-grade gear. The mastering engineer works on the mixed tracks to enhance and polish the overall sound, balancing the dynamics of the tracks, and making sure all the tracks will sound loud, exciting and consistent between each other. During this finalization process, we also make sure the music translates well across all playback systems, from mobile devices speakers to hi-fi sound systems.

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