Naoshi Mizuta
Born:
January 24, 1972 Kochi Prefecture, Japan
Education: Chiba University, Law & Economy Major
Favorite Drink: Tomato Juice
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Game: Policenauts and Metal Gear Solid (I
hardly play games.)
Favorite Music: Brazillian
Favorite Movie: Blase Runner
Hobbies:
Watching Movies
Influences:
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Official
website: No
Personal Website
Squaresoft, TokyoPop
Soundtrax
E-mail: TokyoPop
Soundtrax
Credits:
Street Fighter Zero (Alpha)
Parasite Eve II
Naoshi Mizuta's interest
in music began to bloom when he "...was in the second or third
grade." Continuing his musical avocation throughout college,
Mr. Mizuta wrote his first song as a senior, while studying law
and economics. While working as a composer for CAPCOM, Mr. Mizuta
answered a Squaresoft recruitment advertisement in 1998, and was
subsequently signed on. His first assignment for SQUARESOFT was
to compose the music to the eagerly awaited Parasite Eve 2. Mr.
Mizuta has adeptly created a score that equals the immensely popular
soundtrack for the first game (by Yoko Shimomura).
RocketBaby:
How long did you work on Parasite Eve 2?
NM:
I worked on Parasite Eve II for about one
and half years. There were many requests, but I had quite a lot
of freedom.
RB:
How did you approach writing your themes and what did you use
as your influence?
NM:
I watched the scenario and the images repeatedly. I was influenced
by not only the action films but films of all different genres.
RB:
What were the hardest and the easiest aspects about arranging
Yoko Shimomura's original Parasite Eve themes?
NM:
The arranging was not difficult because Ms.Shimomura's original
tunes are clear and strong.
"I
think Mr. Mizuta's arrangements are very nice, because they are
sophisticated and have the appropriate mood. He used a lot of
phrases which I composed for the original Parasite Eve game, so
they remind me of my tunes and I'm glad."
~Yoko
Shimomura~
RB: Certain Parasite
Eve II compositions ( such as "Ghost Town") have an
alternative rock sound. Do you have any alternative rock influences?
NM:
I hardly listen to rock music. It's a very
interesting opinion that you think it has an alternative rock
sound!
RB: How do you
think Parasite Eve 2 compares to your other work?
NM:
It's hard to compare them, but I think I did a good job.
RB: How does it
feel to have your music officially released in the USA? ( Parasite
Eve II OST TokyoPop Soundtrax tpcd 0200-2)
NM:
I'm very interested in what kind of impression
my music makes on people.
RB: Why do you
create music?
NM:
When I listen to good music, I feel I want
to compose music like that.
RB: What are some
positive and negative aspects when creating music in Japan?
NM:
I've never worked in foreign country, but
I think it may not be such a big difference
RB:
Do you admire any video game composers? Who and why?
NM:
Because I hardly play games, I hardy have
a chance to listen to other game music.
RB: Square has
so many amazing composers. Did you feel any pressure when creating
the music for Parasite Eve 2?
NM:
Though I felt some pressure, I was encouraged by many people.
RB: What are the
positive and negative aspects when working for a company like
Square?
NM:
The Positives--- The quality of games are good. The Negative---
The tendency to stay indoors.
RB:
How do you think game music compares to other genres of music?
NM:
Fitting the music with images is very similar
to film scoring. But on the other hand it's quite different from
film scoring in that what kind of scene will the player go to
next.
RB:
What are the positive and negative aspects when creating
game music?
NM:
The Positives--- The images help me. The
Negatives--- The number of tunes tends to increase.
RB: Do you perform
your music live?
NM:
I don't think I'm fit to be a performer
of live music.
RB: What is your
next project?
NM:
It's a secret.
RB:
Any advice for people who aspire to create music?
NM:
I'm still training to make music. I don't
have enough experience to give advice to people!
RB: Did you ever
get any advice from Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy series)?
NM:
I've never had advice directly from him,
but I think I've gotten influences from the faith in his service.
Translation by Yuko
Takahashi
RocketBaby would like
to thank Mr. Mizuta for taking time to chat with us. Special thanks
to David Ponak (TokyoPop), TokyoPop Soundtrax, Squaresoft and
Square Sounds
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Naoshi
Mizuta image courtesy of Squaresoft
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