David Arkenstone-Quest For The Runestone

David Arkenstone is the thematic designer of world through audio. No one else will ever come to mind once you listen to his work, and realise how iconic it is. From games to cinema and TV scores, along with commercials-there is nothing he hasn’t already forayed into. With this latest album, he takes us into a fantasy world called Quest For The Runestone. Every melody you hear has a reflection in the fantasy. As it opens with Prophecy, you can already feel the protagonist being handed her quest in life. The flooding synths, with the mesmerizing vocals, set the pace for what will be the album. David Arkenstone has been doing this for so many years, it is revelatory to feel this experience as a collection. As the percussions flow in, you know that the moment extends to become the montage of the game. If you aren’t reading the song's title, the song might suggest it to you in some way. That is the genius of his work, for it stimulates the visual with well positioned flow. The bagpipes infuse with the vocals and thumping percussions to aspire to legend, without any words actually being spoken. Moulding a world with music Ancient Magic Awakens is the next track, and David Arkenstone is bringing his multi-layered composition style with the Celtic, Gaelic spark. The strings have the charm, the perch and character to be ingrained in your brain for the inspiring song it is. It is unbelievable, when stripped of the visual distraction, what these tracks are and can reveal without having anything by them. David’s approach has won him several Grammy nominations. The biggest prize? Being remembered as someone who wrote the soundtrack to our dreams. Réann shows slower, emotional expression with its gentle tunes. The leading instrument is balanced with the others to generate the evocative, rich feel of the tune. Melodies are his second nature, and David can order them with the same sorcery he crafts each of these wonderful songs with. When designing a game, a theme, a cinema or show-there is one thing evident. You will have to carry out the spectrum of emotions to guide the visuals on screen, accent and even replace them sometimes. David Arkenstone, in all his glorious years of experience, is able to do this with such mastery, while keeping his original style. Beginning his eventful journey with Valley in the Clouds in 1987, a lot has been punctuated by his work. It is perhaps incalculable, how important a distinction an artist like this holds in our lives. For this is a thematic instrumental album for the game, the fantasy world picks itself. You can check out more of David’s impressive collection on his Spotify, and follow him on his socials for more that is definitely to come. If you’re a gamer, you just met the creator.