Awakening's composer did not follow the shadow of Hans Zimmer

Although it certainly has a large number of unforgettable visuals that are holding his fans, the sound Dune It may be equally important and has the same big impact. The music of franchise films and game adaptations has become one of the defining features of the atmosphere they create, which affects how players and spectators experience the harsh deserts of Arrakis. But if it comes to Dune: Awakening“There are more sound accompaniment than most players could expect.

In a recent interview with Game Rant, Dune: Awakening Composer Knut Aventstroup Haugen shared a story for his approach to the music of the game as his process developed alongside the rise Dune Movies and what it means finding its own sound in the world that has already been claimed by another composer. Fortunately, while Haugen might have been in contradiction with the work of the legendary film composer Hans Zimmer, he was lucky enough to do something of his own with little pressure to imitate.

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As Dune: Awakening's composer balanced his own voice with the influence of Hans Zimmer

Haugen started working on Dune: Wake up before Dune (2021)

Cannot deny the influence that Hans Zimmer had on Dune Franchise sound after his work on the latest films. For many, Zimmer's work has become an essential part of Arrakis because films are still successful. However, Dune: Awakening The composer Knut Avenstroup Haugen did not actually follow Zimmer's leadership. In fact, Haugen was still deep into shaping the musical identity of the game before the films when they arrived. As explained:

“I started first before, so I had to develop an identity before any of us heard the music of the movies. So I was pretty nervous before I first listened to music, because if it was too far from what Zimmer did, people would say – well, included funcom and legendary and tencent Dune Music already. “Fortunately, I wasn't too far away from what he decided to do.”

Although Haugen's music for Dune: Awakening It sounded more like Zimmer's work than he expected, there is still an equalizing act. Players who were also fans Dune Of course, films would naturally hear the connection, but Haugen still wanted to maintain his own voice. So the challenge was to find a space where he could do something unique without moving too far from what the fans now associate with the sound Dune'With arrakis.

Haugen's signature differs from Zimmer in a unique way

Dune: Awakening reveals big changes to the end game

In the end, Haugen led to his own style, especially in terms of sound design to distinguish his work. Its creative procedural layering of synthetic sounds with acoustic instruments ways they gave Dune: AwakeningSound accompaniment a significant feeling that he still paid homage to Zimmer, while he sounded more like Haugen's signature. The composer continued:

“I see that in some places my music is closer, more similar and in other places it is different and I think there are many things that are very different. I do a lot of sound design and there are plenty of sounding sounds such as acoustic instruments that I also manipulate sounds, and deaths, as well as alive sounds. And I also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live, and also live. I live, and I also live, and I also live, and I also live, and I also live, and I also live, and I also live.

One thing Haugen emphasized was his emphasis on melody. While Zimmer usually relies more on the surrounding sounds that can fill the room, Haugen feels his trademark in Dune The space consists of melodies that excel more explicitly. In addition to these melodies, Haugen feels that his orchestra preferences would put him on another ladder from the usual work of Zimmer, with Celli and vocal soloists front and center Dune: AwakeningSound. Came to the conclusion:

“And the other thing I think distinguishes me from the scores of the movies is that I use a lot of melodies. I write very long melodies. Dune: Awakening For example, it continues for a minute, long melodic lines in strings, or vocals, which is quite different from what you hear in the movies. There are plenty of motifs, but you don't hear the same long melodies. I also gave the orchestra a little more in front and Wednesday to emphasize that Celli plays these long lines in the orchestra and I wanted to hear it clearly. And the same with soloists like singers. ”

Even with these differences Haugen explained that his intentions with Dune: AwakeningThe score should never have overtaken Zimmer's influence on IP just to keep him from watching. Dune: AwakeningThe soundtrack still carries a sound that feels faithful to Arrakis of the Dune Movies, all in creating a space where it can be heard and understood separately.