Hey everyone! I’m Nobuo Uematsu, and I had the pleasure of composing the soundtrack for Fantasian Neo Dimension.
When Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi approached me about working on Fantasian, I made a personal decision that this would be the last video game soundtrack I would take on by myself. Knowing it was my final project of this kind, I wanted to put every bit of passion and creativity into it. I even went as far as transforming my office, which was previously filled with things for fun and not work, into what I called “Fantasian mode” to really push myself creatively. I poured months into this project and have zero regrets. I hope you enjoy Fantasian Neo Dimension, which is the crowning piece of my over-three-decade-long journey in creating video game soundscapes!
Now, let me take you through five tracks from the Fantasian Neo Dimension soundtrack that are really close to my heart.
### 1. Main Theme of Fantasian
Crafting the main theme for a game can be quite challenging. I often strive to make it better than anything else I’ve ever done, but sometimes this mindset can make progress a bit sluggish. Often, creativity starts to flow when I simply trust my instincts and remember that this is what I do best. That’s how it happened with the Main Theme of Fantasian.
### 2. Prickle and Clicker’s Theme
This tune was inspired by the idea of a clunky, outdated robot that’s not quite up to speed — one that’s incomplete, with choppy speech, yet somehow charming because of these quirks. I wanted the track to reflect this with its somewhat awkward and jumpy rhythm.
### 3. Shangri-La
I have a particular fondness for this track. It features scat singing with a playful “lan lan~♪” tone. One day, it would be fantastic to arrange a live version that includes lyrics.
### 4. God Realm
I find myself pondering what qualifies as “proper” music. Does it have to be something with a melodious harmony and a pleasing tone? Or can it challenge conventions with an odd melody over strange chords, performed non-traditionally? After years in the music industry, these thoughts often come to mind.
### 5. Kina (Destiny) [featuring Yuria Miyazono]
Sakaguchi’s speed in writing lyrics has always impressed me. Often when I’d send him a finished melody, he’d have the lyrics ready in a day or two. For the track “Kina (Destiny),” I believe his lyrics came first, and I composed the music to match. It came together smoothly, and Yuria Miyazono’s vocals truly stand out.
You can experience all these tracks in-game when Fantasian Neo Dimension hits the PlayStation Store on December 5, 2024. Enjoy the music and the journey!
