Video Game Music Mixtape
GameZone.com Interview with Billy and Joe

Phat Beats From No Sides Records
by Louis Bedigian

No Sides Records is gearing up for the release of their killer video game music compilation soundtrack, the VGM Mix Tape #8.

On November 11th, No Sides Records will release a new type of video game soundtrack. It’s called the VGM (Video Game Music) Mix Tape #8, and it includes more than 20 classic songs. The unique part is how each song is presented. Everyone knows what a remix sounds like, but have you ever heard a video game song that was remixed with game songs and sounds? In one song, explosions are used in place of a drumbeat. Up until now I was unaware of such a concept. But that’s just what No Sides has created.

With remixed tracks from artists located all over the world, the VGM Mix Tape #8 is non-stop listening goodness. If you grew up with games in the 80s or early 90s, you’ll be in awe when you hear these tracks for the first time. They’re instantly recognizable. I couldn’t even tell you where half of the games came from, but the songs never left my memory. That says a lot about the composers. They had limited funds, limited equipment and time constraints that were more severe than they are today. They didn’t have the luxury of using giant recording studios and full-piece orchestras either. Yet they still made their stuff sound good enough to leave a long-lasting impression.

The intro track is taken from the Atari system. It starts things off right by setting the mood for the rest of the soundtrack. I never owned an Atari (the NES was my first console). My friend had one though, so I still experienced the nostalgic feelings that many of you will experience when you hear the song for the first time.

Throughout the soundtrack you’ll hear a variety of sounds from a variety of systems. That’s a point I forgot to make before. The VGM Mix Tape #8 covers everything from Atari, to the NES, to the original Game Boy and beyond. It does not feature any tracks from the PSone, Nintendo 64 or any of the more recent game consoles. Music began to change when those consoles were released, and for the VGM Mix Tape #8, No Sides Records wanted a specific sound. They wanted it to fit right in with the style of music that gamers heard when the industry began.

Individually, these songs stand tall on their own. You could make a cassette copy of any of the tracks (contrary to the name, the VGM Mix Tape #8 is a compact disc), pop it in your car and enjoy your commute to work, school, or whatever required outing gets you out of bed in the morning. Of course, you could always make a copy of the whole CD, but then you might not want to get out of your car at all.

That's what's so great about this soundtrack. It doesn't have just one great song, or two great songs. The whole CD is worth listening to from start to finish. It’s the kind of thing you could put on while doing your homework, while surfing the web, or while playing a game. You may even be tempted to mute the television of the game you’re playing and listen to the VGM Mix Tape #8 instead.

Loving this soundtrack as much as I do, I decided to call up Billy Sides and Joe Majalca at No Sides Records. They told me all about their record label, how it got started, and gave us information on how you can obtain a copy of the VGM Mix Tape #8.


You have a company called No Sides Records. We know you're releasing a CD of video game music, but in addition to that, what is the company about? What do you intend to do with it?

Billy: No Sides Records is a label that does not cover any specific genre. We have done records for rock bands, progressive rock bands, electronic bands, a free jazz band. I did a 7” for a local hip hop group. Pretty much everything. I did a record for Joe’s group ROYAL SPACE FORCE, a three-inch CD-R EP. That was the first record I did of video game-related music. But the compilation stands and speaks for itself. It defines the genre. I think this is a record that needed to happen and I guess I’m just the right person in the right place at the right time.


How did this whole thing get started? How did you begin No Sides, and how did you end up doing a video game music CD?

Billy: Well, I worked for a record label called Skin Graft Entertainment. They were one of my favorite record labels as a kid. I worked there for a few years, but it wasn’t long before I was inspired to start my own thing. Skin Graft actually did exclusive distribution for my first two records.

Joe: The idea for a video game compilation was actually...the first idea was probably in like '99 or 2000. My friend Roy from ROYAL SPACE FORCE said, "You know, wouldn't it be great to have a video game compilation?" Everyone around the United States bringing their own individual styles for a mix tape. It's a lot of great artists joined together. And a lot more artists came on board and it became international.

Billy: The CD idea itself comes from one of the artists on the CD. I'm not gonna say which group, but another group on the CD I tried to do a record with, and it was a big disaster. That's where it first started though, so maybe it was a blessing. Also, Joe and I did a college radio show one night where all we played was video game music, and that was one of the first times I started checking out some of the artists that ended up on the CD. We played as much stuff as we could find. A lot of the artists on the CD I found on MP3.com actually, or video game music newsgroups. There are worldwide video game music hubs, like micromusic.net and vorc.org that we'd obtain information from.


Is this the kind of thing that could be done with the music of today's video games, or are the next-generation games too far beyond that point?

Joe: I think yes it could be done, but the point of this compilation (the VGM Mix Tape #8) is that it's got that 1980s sound. Original composers created those compositions and the sound reflected that style of our record. To something like that now, you could do it, but it's kind of saturated now. The market is very saturated. It's not a bad thing, video games have come a long way. Musically they have really progressed.

Billy: Musically, you can make a different kind of soundtrack for the games of today. But to me the music is totally different. Now it's kind of cinematic and more like a movie, like every game is an epic. But I don’t think very much of that kind of music is really interesting. I just don't think that's the kind of thing that work out the same. Game emulation is different today, so it'd be different from the game music we grew up with.


What about Game Boy Advance? That system has very primitive sound – wouldn't it work if someone took some new GBA games and did the same thing?

Billy: Well, you know...

Joe: That's sticking to one system. What I like about the VGM Mix Tape #8 is that every song sounds different.

Billy: Yeah, if you actually count the number of tracks, like 1/4th or 1/5th of the CD is Game Boy.

Joe: I wouldn't want to do a whole record with Game Boy Advance.

Billy: It has too many limitations. We'd be confining ourselves to a limited number of song possibilities.


Where will gamers be able to buy this CD?

Billy: Right now my site is being moved, but by the time the album is released, they can go to www.nosidesrecords.com to order it.

Joe: If you live in the Chicago area, you can stop by pretty much any local record store and pick it up when it's released.


Will you be selling it through any other Web sites?

Billy: vorc.org will be carrying it in Japan. Conspiracy Records will be handling it in Europe. Then I’ve got distributors here in the States and Canada: Revolver, Carrot Top, Choke, Scratch, Subterranean, Stickfigure and Ignivomous.

Joe: We're trying to sell it through as many venues as possible.


Thank you for your time.

Billy: Thank you!

Joe: Go Cubs 2004!