Interview with Sleepy Emp
Name: Dmitry Ferentsev
Songs: To Lands Unknown, The New Beginning, The Story Begins
Emperor helped kick off the project with To Lands Unknown, and will have the honor of closing it as well.
1. When did you first play / why do you like Chrono Trigger?
When did I first play CT? I can easily tell the date. November 25, 2003. It was the date when I stumbled upon OCR for the first time. I started downloading songs like a maniac and I could not help but notice the amount of Chrono Trigger remixes. The next logical step was to go out and get CT for myself. The game was good - a fine example of the so-called "japanese RPGs". And of course, I thoroughly enjoyed the music.
2. Have any prior experience with or an affinity for orchestral remixing?
I had no experience when I started remixing game music. And once again, I can tell the exact date: I started remixing on November 26, 2003, the next day I saw the OCR and VGMix communities and heard the remixes the people create. So I decided to try to write music myself. I decided to go orchestral simply because it is the kind of music I like to listen to. Unfortunately, I still know little about music theory and orchestration to create perfect mixes. But I'm trying to do my best to make them sound interesting.
3. What do you use to mix?
Modplug Tracker. It was one of the first programs I downloaded when searching for the one that I could use to start. People keep telling me I should switch to something else, more suitable for orchestral remixes, but I'm too lazy to study another program now.
4. 'To Lands Unknown' is a mysterious and moving piece. Anything in mind when you composed it?
I tried to create the feeling of the journey, the "lands unknown" waiting for the characters ahead. The two voices in the piece - the high and low strings, high and low brass - are Marle and Crono. Separate at first, they start flowing together in the middle of the song. You might also notice the two climaxes in the mix. These were to reflect the actual scene, where Marle first, then Crono step through the teleporter and disappear. An attentive listener might notice the Magus' theme used in the middle of the mix, as a break between the two climaxes - it is a hint on the future events. And in the finale the music just hangs there - unresolved and uncertain, leaving us, the spectators, wondering about what will happen to the characters next...
5. Any musical figures you'd like to cite for inspiration or influence?
The works of Danny Elfman, Alan Silvestri and Jerry Goldsmith.
6. How do you plan to take on 'Final Goodbyes'?
It will be a soft and emotional piece, reflecting both the joy of victory and the sadness of goodbyes. Like with my Chrono Trigger intro theme "The Story Begins", I'll be using several CT tracks here and cite some other tracks as well.
Thank you for the questions, Z. I'm sure of success of this project and I am happy to be a part of it.
~7. How did Final Goodbyes turn out?
I'm satisfied with the result, which does not happen often. "Final Goodbyes" was one of the most emotional scenes of the script and I spent days trying to grasp the ideas that would make the listeners actually "see" the scene in their minds. So here we are, back at the Millennial Fair, where the joy of victory and the sadness of goodbyes mix in the eyes of Crono and his friends. This story is over, but we feel that it is not the end. In another world, in another time, another boy will embark upon a quest of the inner self. So this is just a beginning.
8. Plan to work in another project?
Time will tell. Mixing for Chrono Symphonic was quite an experience, both enjoyable and difficult.... In other words, I loved it! So yes, I'd be happy to participate in another project.
9. How's it feel being part of a Chrono OCR site project now that it's complete?
Oh god, it feels incredible, really! Like other CT fans, I'm eagerly awaiting the release. Like other remixers, I'm proud of becoming a part of it. And now that Chrono Symphonic is an OCR site project, I'm happy that our joined efforts made this project become a contribution to the whole game remixing community.
10. Anything you'd like to say to Chrono fans?
There's still no "official Chrono Trigger movie" in existence. Maybe that's a good thing, because imagination is the man's most powerful tool. Imagine, and you'll meet Crono and Marle at the Fair. Imagine, and you'll travel through time. Imagine, and you'll beat Lavos with them. Just imagine. Happy 10th Anniversary!
Author Comments on Tracks
To Lands Unknown - I tried to create the feeling of the journey, the "lands unknown" waiting for the characters ahead. The two voices in the piece - the high and low strings, high and low brass - are Marle and Crono. Separate at first, they start flowing together in the middle of the song. In the finale the mix just hangs there - unresolved and uncertain, leaving us, the spectators, wondering about what will happen to the characters next...
The New Beginning - The battle is over, Guardia is celebrating. But Crono has to say goodbye to the people he loves. And then we hear a new song, a song calling for a new adventure. A mix of emotions, a mix of feelings - that's what I tried to create here. From uncertainty to joy of victory. From joy to sadness of goodbyes. And from sadness to hope for a new story.