Interview with Tee Lopes
When it comes to the arts, the idea of progress is a slippery concept. Is Miles Davis' music better because it is more complex than Louis Armstrong's? Is the latest Pixar movie better than the Disney classics? The answers are more complicated than you think. I thought about this when listening to Tee (Tiago) Lopes' music for the recent Metal Slug Tactics. Unlike some recent scores, Tee's music is completely digital, with no studio musicians or orchestra in sight. By intention, Tee's music for Tactics and his previous Sonic the Hedgehog scores are intentionally heavy with synths and samples and full of happy energy.
Tee Lopes was born in Portugal and developed an interest in creating music using early PlayStation games and apps, such as Music 2000. He eventually created remixes of classic Sonic music on YouTube, which led to him co-founding PagodaWest Games and partner with Sega. in 2017. Tee has written dozens of scores for Sonic games and assorted other titles. I had the opportunity to speak with Tee about his recent work on Metal Slug Tactics.
More than the retro boy
Although Tee has written music for some classic (and classically inspired) games, his interests are broad. “I love retro games and music; they've had a big influence on me, but it's not my only focus,” Tee said. “I am equally passionate about modern music, exploring new techniques and trends and finding ways to incorporate them into my own creations. While many of the most well-known projects I've worked on rely heavily on that retro vibe (and I completely understand why that label exists), I would still find it limiting to be seen exclusively as a 'retro music guy'. “
Listening to Metal Slug Tactics' music, I was immediately struck by how much texture and variety there was in almost every track. In part, this was to keep the music consistent with the original Metal Slug. “Metal Slug's original music constantly changes moods, from chaotic battle themes to almost playful jazz moments. I also focused on maintaining that fun, high-energy feel, with prominent brass, guitar riffs, and dynamic rhythmic changes. I leaned toward the intense rhythm and some of the chord language of the originals, keeping the instrumentation and mix in a more cinematic way.”
Choose favorites
Listening to Tee's music outside of the game, I was excited by the variety of styles that ran through even a single cut. Perhaps my favorite track on Metal Slug Tactics is Trigger Happy, a kaleidoscope of energetic rock, jazz-funk and powerful percussion. “The song was actually inspired by the energy that many arcade character select screens had in the '90s, with frenetic bass and an over-the-top funky jazz fusion vibe, which of course included an improvised electric piano solo.”
For this song, I took the melody from the title screen, layered it over a funky beat, and rearranged the chords so they don't sound heroic and are more relaxed, as the characters are just hanging out and getting comfortable in their base. Building a track like this is always about how I want the player to feel: it's energetic but also diegetic to a certain extent, like it's a natural extension of the environment.”
studio magic
I have yet to meet a game composer who doesn't have a wide range of influences and Tee is no exception. Tee's journey into game music was perhaps less academic and more organic. “I am primarily self-taught, but I have always listened to a wide variety of music and love creating in different styles. On the pop side, I'm inspired by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince and Bruno Mars. In EDM, I admire Disclosure, Kaytranada, Skrillex and many others. Then there are Japanese VGM veterans like Yuzo Koshiro, Michiru Yamane, Nobuo Uematsu, and Koichi Sugiyama. I was also exposed to a lot of Latin music growing up in Newark, New Jersey, which has greatly influenced my rhythm and energy.” In other words, if it's good music, Tee Lopes has probably absorbed it into his vocabulary.
Gearheads and tech nerds might be surprised that Tee's studio setup is relatively accessible. “My studio is quite simple. I use FL (Fruity Loops) Studio as my main DAW and almost everything is done digitally. For Metal Slug Tactics, I relied almost exclusively on the Roland Canvas VST module, which I chose as the sonic identity for this soundtrack. It helped me capture that retro-inspired arcade tone while keeping everything cohesive. The percussion sounds also come from the Roland Canvas, with additional adjustments to enhance their impact and adapt to the intense rhythm of the music.”
Challenges and rewards
All artistic endeavors contain problems to solve and challenges to overcome. It's part of the fun! Tee said: “The biggest challenge was balancing the nostalgia of the original METAL SLUG series with the new tactical approach of Metal Slug Tactics. I had to honor the fast-paced arcade roots while also creating something that fit the more deliberate pace of a tactical game. Finding that balance was a fun challenge and seeing it all come together in the final product was incredibly rewarding.”
Special thanks to Tee Lopes for this interview.