OST Composing Jam 8

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A jam submission

Dear Hero (LR Jam 8)View project page

The memory of one summer’s night, when a hero rose and the world felt just a little brighter.

Submitted by Rowan Brooks — 8 hours, 21 minutes before the deadline

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Dear Hero (LR Jam 8)'s itch.io page

Results

Criteria	Rank	Score*	Raw Score
Storytelling	#234	2.429	2.733
Composition	#245	2.725	3.067
Impression	#248	2.666	3.000
Quality	#252	2.606	2.933
Creativity	#252	2.666	3.000
Overall	#255	2.618	2.947

Ranked from 15 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Description
Dear Hero is a pop-inspired album composed for a game like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where players step into the role of a hero confronting darkness while exploring a magical, vast world. The music is meant to blend heroism, hope, and light into a story of courage and triumph.

The opening track, Dear Hero, represents the start of the journey, capturing hope, courage, and anticipation. It conveys both the hero’s determination and the heartfelt encouragement of those who believe in them. The finale, Heaven’s Hope, represents the hero’s ultimate triumph over evil, expressing joy, awe, and the sense that courage and light can overcome even the darkest obstacles. Together, the tracks tell the ends of the story, but leaves space for the player to make their mark on just how that journey unfolds.

All music was composed in Cubase 13. Album art was composed in Procreate by me.

Message from the artist
Hi all!

This album was actually meant to be four songs (and will be after the jam!). Due to being sick, I had to focus on the most important songs. What makes this album special to me is it is meant to serve as a gift to a dear friend of mine.

I hope you all find the heroes in your life, and can be a light in their lives for them too.

Theme

One Summer Night

How does it fit the theme?
The Dear Hero album embodies the theme “One Summer Night” by guiding listeners through a hero’s journey, where hopeful beginnings lead to a triumphant ending, set against the magical and reflective atmosphere of a single, fleeting summer night.

Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://on.soundcloud.com/DgHUTMCciG3MDE1SOP

Number of tracks
2

Genre

Pop

Other

Soundtrack use permission

Yes (Game Jams)

For game jams only

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Comments

RizziSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

I felt that sense of a little hero striving to become legendary at the beginning. I would have liked it to develop a bit more, but aside from that, i really liked it!!

Submitted

La Ciudad de los Reyes

Grunt.Submitted1 year ago(+1)

This was a neat little submission you've put together - feels pretty reminiscent of summer.

My main feedback to you is that I would've preferred the two tracks to be a bit more different, harmonically speaking. You've nicely described story you wanted to tell with this submission, but I don't quite feel like there's been any thematic or tonal changes between where the story begins and ends. It almost feels like we haven't really moved in the first place.

Maybe next time try to write some variations of your original theme to be used at a later part of the submission, or play in a more-noticeably different key. That way the listener has something familiar to latch onto, but also gives the impression that the hero has gone through some kind of change in their journey.

Thanks for sharing this - keep up the good work :)

Submitted

Rowan BrooksDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

Thank you! I appreciate the summer vibe came through. Definitely also felt I fell short of distinguishing the two tracks thanks to being pretty out of it. As I revise and finish this album post-jam, I’ll be pulling some motifs to sprinkle in, and implementing your advice. Thanks for your super helpful feedback ^^

JofesSubmitted1 year ago

Short and sweet!

The instruments used in Heaven's Hope, specifically some of the synths, were really pretty sounding!

I do think that even with the extra tracks you weren't able to make, it's a little lacking in the theme connection. I think there should be more that just it taking place in a summers night as a setting to connect to the theme.

Submitted

Only As Good As The Last Day

Rowan BrooksDeveloper1 year ago

Haha, yes short indeed. I’ve definitely got some favorite synths that I think fit pretty well well. In terms of your comment, I think Heaven’s Hope probably has the most connection to the theme, but being sick sucked the energy I had left to at least give my Dear Hero track a full chance to shine. I’m not entirely sure if your interpretation of the theme was at all similar to mine, but I had fun with the idea of its connection to a heroic journey. I plan to work on the album and finish it post jam, and will be sure to connect the tracks more together with a working brain now on my shoulders, haha. Thanks for the feedback!

FourthStrongestSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

I don't think these songs were able to really bring me where you wanted me to go, unfortunately. You've done a great job on talking the light aspect of your concept, but for light to shine there also needs to be the contrasting darkness. I know you didn't get to finish how you wanted, so I can sympathize with that. I'd love to hear what the final product is whenever you get to finish it!

Submitted

At the End of All Things

Rowan BrooksDeveloper1 year ago

Ha yeah ^^”, I really had a vision for it but was burdened by sickness the whole jam. I’ll be completing this album outside and the jam, and *do* have plans for that contrasting darkness you mentioned :). Alas, telling a 4-song story with one well polished song and a partially polished one wasn’t enough, but I can’t wait to finish this album and give my full energy to the next jam. Thanks for the honest feedback, I’ll work harder >:D

FourthStrongestSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Being healthy is more important so I hope you were able to get good rest!!! Please feel free to let me know when you finish the OST; I'd love to hear it all done proper!

Rowan BrooksDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

You're definitely right, and I did get some halfway decent rest :). I'll be sure to give it a share, and appreciate your kindness friend o7!

DoozybootzSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Really calming. I really like Heaven's Hope. I can picture a character exploring to this song during the early hours of the day.

Submitted

Indigo Stars & Indigo Haze

Rowan BrooksDeveloper1 year ago

Thank you!! Definitely shared similar imagery when I was first putting it together, so I’m ecstatic it came through!

The Symphonic SquirrelSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Hey, this is cool! I really like the feel and vibe you got. It does fit the sort of journey game you picked. Heavens Hope was my favorite song of the two! Just the way it shimmered and popped. It really worked out for me! Great work here.

Submitted

Chasing Fireflies | OST Composing Jam #8

Rowan BrooksDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

Much appreciated friend! Definitely Heaven’s Hope is my pride of the only 2 I could get done. I’ll be adding two more songs and revising Dear Hero, so I hope to match HH’s quality and performance ^^

The Symphonic SquirrelSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Your welcome! That sounds great! Do it!

wt64Submitted1 year ago (1 edit) (+1)

I like your approach! Nice sparse tonal percussion, and I like the chords you use in heavens hope, I feel that is a heroic sound. I might also suggest adding some 7th or 9th notes to create additional harmony - breath of the wild and jrpg tend to us a ton of those! Instruments like orchestra or faster rhythms may be able to help further intensify things too. Great work!

Submitted

Dance of the Fireflies

Rowan BrooksDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

I'm glad someone else found my percussion to be neatly woven ^^. I'm still working on the side to get better at midi'ing in percussion, rather than just adding loops, so sparse (but hopefully impactful) percussion has been my aim :). In terms of 7th and 9th notes, you are *absolutely* right. I wrote down to use more 7th/9th chords (as they are my favorite) but totally forgot about them when improv'ing potential melodies ;v;. I'll note the more orchestra and faster rhythms! I definitely need some tempo changes for my next jam attempt

samdgoffSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Great work here! It sort of reminds me of the Stardew Valley soundtrack, both in how it sounds and with the emotional core you managed to create. My favourite track is Heaven's Hope, I really like the breathy sounding instrument that comes in at some points.

Submitted

Palace of Dreams

Rowan BrooksDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

Much much thanks :D! That is very greatly appreciated <3