Neva Lead Producer Talks Music and Sound Design, Recording a Real-Life Husky

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Neva Lead Producer Talks Music and Sound Design, Recording a Real-Life Husky

As a dedicated fan who has traversed through the emotional landscapes of Gris and witnessed the transformative power of its enchanting soundtrack, I eagerly anticipate the arrival of Neva. The fact that Nomada Studio is once again collaborating with Rubén Rincón, the mastermind behind Gris’s captivating sound design, only serves to heighten my excitement.

As a passionate admirer, I’d express it like this: “I’ve found myself deeply immersed in Gris, the captivating indie platformer crafted by Nomada Studio. This game takes me on an emotional odyssey, using breathtaking visuals and mesmerizing orchestral music to tell a story about a woman navigating through the five stages of grief. The art, soundtrack, and animation are all integral parts of this narrative, and turning off the music significantly alters the experience because its sound design is just as crucial as its aesthetic appeal. Now, I eagerly anticipate Neva, another heart-wrenching adventure where I’ll nurture a wolf named Neva.

Game Rant recently chatted with Roger Mendoza, the lead producer of the game ‘Neva’, to delve deeper into its music and sound effects. If you’re curious about this aspect following your appreciation for ‘Gris’, this might interest you. Mendoza also shared insights about the sound design techniques employed in ‘Neva’, such as capturing a real husky’s barks and even a baby’s heartbeat during the production process.

A Real Husky Created Neva’s Sounds

In their creative process, Nomada collaborated with Rubén Rincón, the same musician and sound engineer who contributed to the game ‘Gris’. Rincón’s recording methods significantly shaped the subtly designed audio within the game. However, it was his dog that produced the sounds for Neva, the main character in ‘Neva’. It remains to be seen if the lifelike depiction of Neva’s sounds will aid players in forming a stronger emotional connection with her, as Nomada stated.

As a fan, I found one of the unexpected yet thrilling aspects of this project was that its creator has a husky. Many of the sounds for the character “Neva” are actually his own husky’s recordings, which added an authentic touch to the production. Typically, in sound design, we aim for subtlety to ensure nothing stands out – neither the music, nor the art, nor the animation. The goal is to maintain a harmonious flow throughout the project, so it was a unique and satisfying experience to incorporate these distinct husky sounds subtly into the mix.

Additionally, Rincón shared on Twitter that he was recording his niece’s baby’s heartbeat for Neva, which Mendoza deemed “beautiful” and commended Rincón’s exceptional sensitivity as fitting for the game. Despite some distinctions between Gris and Neva, such as its wolf companion, combat, and certain elements of its visual style, it might provide a sense of consistency with its heartfelt and emotional treatment of music and sound design.

Neva’s Seasons Have Their Own Music Themes

Although the trailers for Neva have offered brief glimpses into its musical elements, Mendoza pointed out several aspects that are crucial to the development and characterization of Neva’s music. To quote Mendoza, these elements play a substantial role in shaping the melodies and progression of the music within Neva.

Here, we feature not just two main characters essential for the game’s music, but also the distinct seasons. The game includes a total of four seasons, with each having unique musical themes that correspond to them.

Moreover, Mendoza noted that while developing Neva, he collaborated with the orchestral musicians of the Bafta-nominated Berlinist, who was involved in creating the soundtrack for Gris. Players will eventually get to immerse themselves in the full musical experience of Neva once it’s released. These details offer a sneak peek into the game’s themes, and the idea of seasonal music promises a beautiful listening experience.

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2024-10-09 16:36