Andrea Bellucci is an experienced composer who has built up an impressive body of work over the course of his career, working in both films and games of all genres. Most notably in the gaming world, Bellucci has worked on the soundtrack for Riot Games' legendary MOBALeague of Legendsas well as Hi-Rez Studios' hitsSmiteandPaladins, though he has been credited dozens of times in various other indie games, films, and television programs that cover a broad spectrum of musical styles.
In an interview with Game Rant, Bellucci expressed a particular interest in darker-sounding soundtracks when it comes to his personal tastes. Although he regards himself as a generally happy person, Bellucci noted that dark musical themes tend to inspire him the most, and it’s a mood that he feels he could work on for hours at a time. That’s not to say he doesn’t thrive when working with other styles, as Bellucci’s works range from silly, lighthearted themes to sci-fi and even classical piano and orchestra, but every artist has a soft spot. Bellucci provided a few examples of games that he feels exemplify the darker side of musical scores, and he also weighed in on what he feels makes a “good” soundtrack in the first place.
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Resident Evil and Bloodborne Have Excellent Dark Soundtracks
Bellucci had high praise for theResident Evilseries' soundtracks, particularlyResident Evil 2, and for good reason. AlthoughResident Evil’s soundtracks lean toward typical dissonant horror-movie orchestral stabs and moody atmospheric numbers, they also venture into some unusual styles. “Credit Line of Whole Staff” fromResident Evil 2, for example, is a devilishly groovy rock tune with a head-nodding bassline and shredding guitar solos. As the series toes the line between straight horror and intense action, the soundtracks tend to be quite varied while still maintaining a coherent darkness throughout.
To me,Resident Evil 2has probably the most balanced soundtrack, but also the more action-oriented soundtracks ofResident Evil 3andResident Evil5, not to mention the latest ones likeResident Evil7andResident Evil 8. There’s less music, but when it’s there, it’s there.
Also,Bloodborneis another great one for me. It felt connected to a very good horror movie, Bram Stoker’sDracula, so you understand that there’s a sort of inspiration, and it’s very beautiful to see that kind of style in a game.
Bellucci was also impressed byBloodborne’s unique take on FromSoftware’s subdued approach to music. Like FromSoftware’s other games, the music tends to only kick in during boss fights, and each “boss theme” is highly memorable.Bloodborne’s haunting soundtrackhas a strong gothic horror style that stands in stark contrast to the dark fantasy themes ofDark SoulsandElden Ring, and the presentation effectively skyrockets the intensity of the game’s already horrific boss encounters.
Bellucci also offered some insight into exactly what makes agreat game soundtrack. On the technical side, he feels that it’s critical that great care is taken when it comes to the overall production quality. High-quality sounds, a balanced mix, thoughtful use of effects, and a well-rounded arrangement are the foundation of a good-sounding score, but that’s only scratching the surface.
From a superficial point of view, I would say the production quality: how any single instrument sounds and how the whole thing sounds all together, including the sound effects and the speech as well. When you experience the game, it’s not like you’re just listening to its music, you’re listening to the whole thing.
From a deeper point of view, I would say I have to hear the composer’s inspiration. I have to, in a way, hear their way to have fun with that project. To me, it’s the same as when I have fun composing something. It’s clear to everybody that when you don’t have fun for any reason, the music isn’t as fun. You can hear it, and you can feel it. Whenever I hear something, I can tell if the composer had fun producing that music, just like I do.
Perhaps most important of all, Bellucci says that composers must approach their music from a place of joy. If they aren’t inspired or aren’t allowing themselves to have fun while working, it’ll show in their work. When people talk about “soul” in music, this is where it comes from, and Bellucci can recognizewhen a composer is truly inspired. Bellucci clearly practices what he preaches as he’s demonstrated over the years by creating high-quality music for major projects while having a blast no matter what style he’s working on.
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