Shout-out to the Riot Music Team!

BurnSnake·Jun 25, 2016·59 votes·7,667 views

It recently hit me just how hard the team that writes the music for League must be working. Especially the login themes. The tahm kench login theme is unforgettable. Kindred's theme is very reflective of their personality with the lofty high piano and the growling bass notes. The Jhin theme is meticulous in its 4 beat pattern and how it reflects at the start of a game. The dark star theme seems bothersome at first but when it gets to the string section it nails it. The melodies are conflicting and dissonant while still being a pleasant (i use that word loosely) experience. The feeling of hopeless destruction is very well portrayed. I just want to say GOOD JOB THERE RITO give yourselves several pats on the back(s)!

43 Comments

Ed the ConquerorJun 25, 201629 votes

Thanks so much, guys! It's an absolute pleasure writing music for League, and your warm comments make the experience even more rewarding!

Ed the Conqueror

ZacsterJun 25, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ed the Conqueror,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Hzs7OTQF,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2016-06-25T21:56:06.302+0000)

Thanks so much, guys! It's an absolute pleasure writing music for League, and your warm comments make the experience even more rewarding!

<3

Ed the Conqueror

Do you compose every login theme?

Ed the ConquerorJun 25, 20165 votes

{quoted}

Do you compose every login theme?

Nope! There's four of us.

ZacsterJun 25, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ed the Conqueror,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Hzs7OTQF,comment-id=000300000000,timestamp=2016-06-25T23:09:53.109+0000)

Nope! There's four of us.

Keep up the great work!

zSkeletoRzJun 25, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ed the Conqueror,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Hzs7OTQF,comment-id=000300000000,timestamp=2016-06-25T23:09:53.109+0000)

Nope! There's four of us.

Why is it so easy to get Reds to respond to compliments but no one can seem to take notice of the racist rants people are being subject to in game?

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/player-behavior-moderation/32x64mHc-welcome-to-the-league-of-racism-postimageorg

Ed the ConquerorJun 26, 201612 votes

{quoted}

Why is it so easy to get Reds to respond to compliments but no one can seem to take notice of the racist rants people are being subject to in game?

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/player-behavior-moderation/32x64mHc-welcome-to-the-league-of-racism-postimageorg

zSkeletoRz,

Thanks for your comment. To be fair, this is the music/story/art section of the forum, and, while we try to respond to as many threads as possible, we're not really around the player behavior forums (talking strictly about us, audio people). I can assure that if you had a problem with our music and voiced your opinion in a constructive manner, we would respond, just like we respond to positive critiques of our work.

Regarding hate speech, I am as annoyed as you are. The best thing to do is to report in game. Our player behavior reporting tools keep improving, and you'd be surprised how effective they are :)

Finally, there's always the mute option for toxic players - it's like a Chogath perma silence and will let you play in peace.

Again, sorry that you have to face such players, but rest assured that our teams are on it and doing a pretty effective job at finding them and take action against them.

Thanks for playing!

DaxterrJun 26, 20161 votes

I liked the ekko theme the best by far, it really stood out to me. Anyone else agree?

zSkeletoRzJun 26, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ed the Conqueror,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Hzs7OTQF,comment-id=00030000000000010000,timestamp=2016-06-26T00:47:32.572+0000)

zSkeletoRz,

Thanks for your comment. To be fair, this is the music/story/art section of the forum, and, while we try to respond to as many threads as possible, we're not really around the player behavior forums (talking strictly about us, audio people). I can assure that if you had a problem with our music and voiced your opinion in a constructive manner, we would respond, just like we respond to positive critiques of our work.

Regarding hate speech, I am as annoyed as you are. The best thing to do is to report in game. Our player behavior reporting tools keep improving, and you'd be surprised how effective they are :)

Finally, there's always the mute option for toxic players - it's like a perma silence and will let you play in peace.

Again, sorry that you have to face such players, but rest assured that our teams are on it and doing a pretty effective job at finding them and take action against them.

Thanks for playing!

No offense mate, but it seems a lot more to me like you all avoid anything that puts you in a negative light.

Seems to be a common theme over the years.

Your in game reporting system is garbage. I'm doubtful this toxic team up was even punished, despite being reported by our entire team.

This games dead anyway, so I honestly don't know why I even have any interest in the issue.

DrahcirJun 26, 20163 votes

Why should they, the audio/art department, concern themselves with something they aren't even paid for.

zSkeletoRzJun 26, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Why should they, the audio/art department, concern themselves with something they aren't even paid for.

Because in a properly structured, legitimate business, when a customer tells you that your system is being abused, you pass word along to make sure that issue is dealt with.

You don't carry on ignoring that issue. Makes you look like lazy con artists who have no interest in maintaining your integrity. Not that anyone who lacks that sort of professionalism should be viewed as having any integrity.

Ariel the CruelJun 26, 20162 votes

A new thread is made about this almost daily in the proper sub-forum. Relaying an already well known message between departments is a waste of time and resources. If you want to complain, then do it where your complaint can sound exactly like hundreds of others without bothering uninvolved parties.

zSkeletoRzJun 27, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ariel the Cruel,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Hzs7OTQF,comment-id=000300000000000100000001000000000001,timestamp=2016-06-26T16:42:40.134+0000)

A new thread is made about this almost daily in the proper sub-forum. Relaying an already well known message between departments is a waste of time and resources. If you want to complain, then do it where your complaint can sound exactly like hundreds of others without bothering uninvolved parties.

So...

Post in the sub forum which is ignored by Riot. Along with the hundreds of other daily complaints of racial slurs and such used in game. So Riot and the few high schoolers who still play, won't have to read about how big of a turd, the smelly turd they defend, is?

You are right though. Riot won't ever do anything other than try to get money out of kids who don't know any better. Not much point trying to change something that won't ever change.

Maybe it's best their servers just get destroyed?

Malicious MetalJun 25, 201620 votes

Four?! Jhin Heavy breathing Perfection!

LasslowJun 25, 20163 votes

Can we have a song of about the journey of Grave's cigar? I feel like it would add so much to the lore!

Apostle of LightJun 26, 20161 votes

I'm a musician myself and am very critical of music in general but I'm constantly impressed by the awesome stuff you guys put out. Keep up the great work!

Ed the ConquerorJun 28, 20162 votes

{quoted}

I'm a musician myself and am very critical of music in general but I'm constantly impressed by the awesome stuff you guys put out. Keep up the great work!

Thanks, will do!

VedagrJun 26, 20161 votes

Do you have any info on when the themes will be available on streaming services? Again, thanks for making such amazing music, you guys are awesome!

Ed the ConquerorJun 28, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Smashing in Top,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Hzs7OTQF,comment-id=00030003,timestamp=2016-06-26T05:32:22.274+0000)

Do you have any info on when the themes will be available on streaming services? Again, thanks for making such amazing music, you guys are awesome!

Yeah, uploads on streaming services have been a little slow and erratic, but we're working on improving that.

LudovicoJun 26, 20162 votes

On that "note", will we ever see a second documentation about you guys?

I absolutely loved the first one (the 45 min. one), and even if that one already showed much of the way you work, I´d simply like to see more examples!

Pretty please?

Ed the ConquerorJun 28, 20161 votes

{quoted}

On that "note", will we ever see a second documentation about you guys?

I absolutely loved the first one (the 45 min. one), and even if that one already showed much of the way you work, I´d simply like to see more examples!

Pretty please?

Hey Ludovico,

To the best of my knowledge we don't have another documentary planned for the near future. That being said, we're exploring the possibility of releasing shorter, dev blog-style videos to our players.

LudovicoJun 28, 20161 votes

That being said, we're exploring the possibility of releasing shorter, dev blog-style videos to our players.

That sounds so cool! Even if you don´t provide much context (like in-depth explenations or the like), just hearing possible gigs that were around for certain champs/skins would be awesome.

Getting the music to sound right and fit the charakter is a highly iterative process after all, so there have to be songs/themes that were awesome, but just didn´t make it in the end. Listening to those could be an awesome experience^^.

F.e. wasn´t there a whole log-in screen for dunkmaster darius that never went live?

PokladnicaZlaJun 26, 20162 votes

By making DS Thresh,did maybe have inspiration from the Penny Dreadful intro? Either way it's beautiful.Thank you :D

Ed the ConquerorJun 28, 20162 votes

{quoted}

By making DS Thresh,did maybe have inspiration from the Penny Dreadful intro? Either way it's beautiful.Thank you :D

Nope! Both pieces are very different IMHO. Composer Abel Korzeniowski is badass, I will embrace the comparison just for that! :P

Skeem689Jun 27, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ed the Conqueror,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Hzs7OTQF,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2016-06-25T21:56:06.302+0000)

Thanks so much, guys! It's an absolute pleasure writing music for League, and your warm comments make the experience even more rewarding!

<3

Ed the Conqueror

What does it take to be in your orchestra?

Ed the ConquerorJun 28, 20161 votes

{quoted}

What does it take to be in your orchestra?

Good question!

With very few exception (soloists mostly), we work with Los Angeles musicians when we need players.

Here's what I would do: be a fantastic musician; move to Los Angeles; become acquainted with contractors (the people who assemble the cast of musicians for a particular project).

Hope this helps!

Ed the Conqueror

DwarvenGiantJun 25, 20167 votes

Jhin's theme is so amazing and fits so perfectly with him as a character. The four guns-sounds, to the beautiful, passionate violin part that represents his "artistic side", to the calm choir part that leads to the short sad part with the violin & the choir combined (Reminds me of his quotes which hint that he does suffer to an extent), then the violin rising again as if he's shaking himself up and reminding himself that it's showtime soon, and then it's like the grand finale with last two, fast violin parts.

Incredible.

(Also Kindred, Aurelion Sol and Tahm Kench's are amazing. Taliyah's is really beautiful as well and I really like Illaoi's theme's feel. Ekko's is also so awesome and always reminds me of his teaser, Ekko: Seconds.)

-_-

TL;DR- Shout out to the music team, that makes incredible pieces and Jhin's theme is so freaking deep (at least with my interpretation, but I like to think that this is what the team were aiming for). :D

Lilly MayJun 25, 20167 votes

I was about to gush over jhins theme too but you beat me to the punch! I absolutely love his theme, it's perfect for jhin who has become my favorite champ since I began playing league again

Ed the ConquerorJun 25, 20165 votes

[{quoted}](name=Lilly May,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Hzs7OTQF,comment-id=00010000,timestamp=2016-06-25T23:24:52.587+0000)

I was about to gush over jhins theme too but you beat me to the punch! I absolutely love his theme, it's perfect for jhin who has become my favorite champ since I began playing league again

Thanks! Jhin was really fun to work on :)

Your Final ExamJun 25, 20166 votes

Played a boatload of ARAM just to hear the stage 3 music (when an inhib is open/destroyed). It's just INTENSE.

TBH the music is one of the biggest reasons i play any other map/gamemode besides SR

GhaelWindsJun 25, 20165 votes

Yes! Yes! Triple yes. The Riot Music team is my favorite of the riot teams. They do such hard and good work. And if they are responsible for all the sounds in-game then they are just amazingly dedicated to their work (even if they aren't though they are still hugely dedicated.) From Pentakill to Warsongs to every single log in screen it's been amazing.

TheFrozenBlaze13Jun 25, 20162 votes

I love the art team so much :). It's so impressive how good they are.

SeaWyrmJun 26, 20162 votes

Aurelion Sol's theme was my favorite recent theme, with its cosmos-arpeggios and all.

Though, I'm listening to the Dark Star theme at this very moment, and I think I haven't been giving it enough credit. Man, these strings...

Project omenJun 26, 20162 votes

I still get goosebumps when I hear the season 6 login theme. Same with Dragon Trainer Tristana's theme.

Dr PoroJun 26, 20162 votes

4 Riot comments. Ed is not going to comment again.

BurnSnakeJun 26, 20162 votes

I would like to just add that the Get Jinxed music video was amazing. I still get that song stuck in my head!

Theiki KayleJun 26, 20161 votes

AurelionSol login theme is also incredible.

PoohsJun 26, 20161 votes

Don't forget the older ones such as Vi and Jinx ones, those were incredible as well! Personally the one thing the attracts me the most is the soundtracks and art of a game, and in League it's abosultely nailed, it's truly amazing. Each soundtrack fits the champion concept perfectly as well.

CavemanteroJun 26, 20161 votes

Well at least that's something good they haven't broken yet....

IpressbuttonJun 26, 20161 votes

Sorry to the Riot music / art team, I disabled menu music and animations since season 1 [zombie-nunu-bummed]

NiyumiJun 26, 20161 votes

Haha, I actually have DT Trist, Lulu, the GP rework, Braum and Snowdown 2014 and 2015 on my iPod. xD I friggin' love the stuff they compose at Riot -- if only that kind of quality could translate over to the rest of the game hint hint nudge nudge.

30204484_DELJun 27, 20161 votes

To be honest, I never thought the music was nothing special (exempting Darius' login theme, which is fucking incredible) UNTIL I heard the Bilgewater theme. I was so upset that we cant get it back on summoners rift. Will you guys ever be able to bring it back?

SakuczyaJun 28, 20161 votes

Aurelion Sol's Login theme....I cried because of this beautiful music, also at Kindred's theme it is fitting in every possible way <3 item 3070 AurelionSol Kindred