The Modern Composer (Video Games and Immersive Art with Patrick Hart)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton
Guest: Patrick Hart
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Topics discussed
Host note
Patrick Hart is a composer who has scored more than ten feature films, including ESPN's 30 for 30 documentaries The U, Broke, and The U Part 2, and HBO's 537 Votes, alongside commercial work for McDonald's, Microsoft, Best Buy, Google, and Nike. He holds a master's in composition from McGill and started with piano lessons as a kid, the kind of beginning he says he mostly moved through without overthinking it.
We trace his path from a first film score in college through advertising and into video game composition, where he now uses game engines like Unreal to build music that's interactive rather than fixed. He's blunt about the job's economics ("the number one goal is just to make stuff, make money, but also make money") and about where he lands on AI: a tool alongside the belief that everyone should be making music, rhythm or none.
Selected moments
- Exploring music creation 1:43 Patrick discusses algorithmic and procedural music for games and art.
- The journey of a musician 3:04 He shares his beginnings with music and the first instrument he picked up.
- Moments of realization in music 4:21 Patrick reflects on when he knew he wanted to pursue music seriously.
- Education and skill development 8:25 He explains his educational background and how it prepared him for a career in composition.
- First gigs in music composition 12:47 Patrick recounts working on his first film score during college.
- Transition to video game music 18:26 He discusses how he started composing for video games and the challenges of that medium.
- Using game engines for music 20:56 Patrick talks about innovative uses of Unreal Engine for interactive music.
- The role of AI in music creation 46:46 He shares his perspectives on AI's impact on the music industry.
Selected excerpts
The number one goal is just to make stuff. Make money. But also make money.
I started taking piano lessons when I was a kid and kept doing that. That was the beginning.
I think it was a weird thing. I think I did a lot of it without thinking about it that much.
I mean, I learned a ton and I met a lot of people who I still work with today.
I felt like I was a kid and playing in a punk band and making ridiculous music for commercials.
Game engines have become one of the best tools for making interactive art and music.
I believe every human should be a music maker, even if you don’t have rhythm.
FAQ
What is Patrick Hart's approach to composing for video games?
Patrick Hart discusses the unique challenges and creative opportunities he encounters when composing for video games, including the use of procedural music tools.
How has AI influenced Patrick Hart's work as a composer?
Patrick shares his insights on how AI is changing the landscape of music creation and composition, offering both challenges and tools for innovation.
What can we learn about the modern composer's journey from Patrick Hart's experiences?
Patrick outlines his journey from a music-loving child to a professional composer, highlighting the personal and professional developments along the way.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. An automatic transcript is on the Spotify episode.