Richard Jacques Interview – Acclaimed Composer Talks Denshattack! & More

An IVOR NOVELLO Award-Winning, GRAMMY and BAFTA-nominated Composer, Richard Jacques work can be heard in Undercoders and Fireshine Games’ recent hit Denshattack!, Sonic R, and the flarkin’ fantastic Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

We recently spoke to Richard Jacques about Denshattack! and more – learn more with our interview…

Richard Jacques Interview – Acclaimed Composer Talks Denshattack! & More

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Gamers Heroes

Thank you for the time!

It’s perfect it being 9.9 today [the Dreamcast launch anniversary]. 

I couldn’t have asked for better timing!

Richard Jacques 

Oh, perfect!

Gamers Heroes 

Keeping the praise going, I grew up with your work – and TJ Davis was absolutely lovely when I spoke with her in August.

It’s a huge honor –  and your work on Denshattack! is truly incredible. Listening to the Bootleg EP back in February, your song “Cross the Tracks” especially stood out to me. 

What inspired you to work on Denshattack! in the first place?

Richard Jacques 

Great question! 

Put simply, I was approached by Julian Bird from Fireshine Games!

He told me what they were doing with the soundtrack, and how they were putting together this huge roster of composers – some of which I know and are good friends with! 

Some of them I knew of their music, but we had never met. 

He then explained a bit about the game, showing me some early demos – I got it immediately!

There’s obviously hints of Jet Set Radio, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and loads of other games from yesteryear. When he showed me, I immediately knew what he was after. 

I then had a listen to some of the other tracks the composers were working on, and I decided to go down that route for my track. 

That’s kind of how it came about!

Gamers Heroes

I definitely noticed the Dreamcast influence in Denshattack!, especially when pulling off manuals and going to the Proving Grounds.

I think that’s why I liked it so much too – we’re kindred spirits!

So talking “Cross the Tracks,” there are a lot of different elements to it. You got the Japanese vocals, along with a great, upbeat melody.

It makes you want to grind trains!

What inspired each of its elements? Were you walking the dog and realized you had to add a certain part, or maybe you wanted to build on your work with Jet Set Radio?

Did you want to “feel the sunshine?” [laughs]

Richard Jacques 

That’s also a good question! 

They basically gave me creative freedom and free rein to do what I do.

Julian and the guys from Kid Katana Records said: 

“We know what you do – just go ahead and do it!”

I started off the process writing the chords. I wanted to get some nice, funky chords which kind of change and evolve, taking you to that higher place every time the chorus comes in. 

That’s the sort of basic framework I started off with.

I then just kept adding and adding to it, putting in loads of different crazy elements I thought would work together to give it that kind of vibe.

Having watched the graphics of the game, I thought:

“Yeah, we can add in some heavy beats, some scratching, and some vocal samples – just loads of stuff.

And a horn section!”

It’s got a lot of stuff going on in that track for sure!

Gamers Heroes 

And it’s a good motivation song too! I’m a runner – it gets me going.

Richard Jacques 

That’s good – I’m glad! I’ll think of you on your next run.

Gamers Heroes 

A true honor – the highest praise right there! 

Talking to TJ Davis, she actually gave a shoutout to Tee Lopes.

The whole Denshattack! soundtrack’s great – there are so many great names attached to it. 

I know 2 Mello worked on Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and he previously created Memories of Tokyo-To. There are a lot of people inspired by your work – and now you’re working alongside them! 

Tee Lopes is a great example too, also working on Sonic Mania and other titles.

What’s it like working along these people that were inspired by you that are now working side by side on Denshattack!?

Richard Jacques 

It’s really kind of crazy to think about it!

I’ve been doing this quite a long time now, and one of the guys – Andrew One – I was in contact with.

In our first meeting, he said he grew up with Sonic 3D Blast – my score on the Saturn and PC versions!

It’s really humbling these people have forged their own careers, taking their own paths into video game music!

It’s just a huge honor for me to know they grew up listening to my stuff, because I forget all the time. I’m just really, really busy – I do one project, and then I’m on to the next.

You don’t get a lot of time to take stock – I’m incredibly humbled! It’s great to see loads of great talent coming up through the industry.

Gamers Heroes 

Cherish it!

I was Genesis kid myself. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was my first game, and then I had the Saturn and Dreamcast.

You’ve touched a lot of lives – mine included! 

We’re all going “even further beyond,” Dragon Ball Z style! [laughs]

Richard Jacques 

Oh, absolutely! I’m always into old-school references.

Gamers Heroes 

Absolutely!

So I do have to talk Sonic R, because it’s definitely top of mind. 

I was actually just replaying the game recently after Sonic Boost in San Diego. At the TJ Davis concert at the event, they also did a song from Metropolis Street Racer, with Mark Boden on the keyboard – it was incredible! 

I might have been the only person who got it, but I absolutely loved it!

Whether it be Jet Set Radio, Sonic R, or anything else, what were some of the learnings from your previous works you wanted to include in Denshattack!?

Richard Jacques 

I would definitely say with Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future, because I actually grew up as a kid listening to it!

Even though I was studying classical music and jazz at the time, I grew up listening to lots of early hip-hop in the 80s. 

That sort of influenced me back in the day. 

Throughout my teenage years – and as a student – I was also DJing. I was certainly into all the kind of artists, beats, scratches, breaks, and samples that were around, and that formed part of my work on Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future.

I then sort of took those elements into Denshattack! as well. 

Going old-school, I’ve still got my old Technics turntable, so I was doing some scratching on those.

And on my old Akai sampler I did Jet Set Radio, I still use that to process some of the drum loops. It has a nice gritty sound – some of the computer software is a bit too clean these days! 

There are certainly some technical sort of ideas, but also creative ideas as well. I took a few elements from all of those tracks into the work on Denshattack!

Gamers Heroes 

I totally understand! 

I’ve gotten a lot of Jet ratings myself in Jet Set Radio – or Jet Grind Radio in the states. You’re after my own heart! 

One thing I always love talking about is community stories. 

TJ Davis mentioned her work with the Sonic Symphony and the Sonic R medley, and that was truly incredible – the spirit was just off the charts! 

I was just at the Undertale Symphony a couple of weeks ago, and the energy was there too – it was truly fantastic.

What are some of your favorite community stories?

Richard Jacques

Oh wow, there are so many of them! 

In that particular show in London, TJ and I performed together. 

It was insane seeing the reaction, because I’d seen the concert the previous year in London, which was the first Sonic Symphony they performed.

I just thought how cool it was, since you had such a diverse range of music. You have all the orchestral stuff, then you have all the rock band elements – and Jun Senoue was there! We’ve been very good friends for 20-30 years. 

It was great seeing the reaction of the fans – and I was literally there as a fan! I went a bit incognito, not doing a personal appearance or anything. I went as a fan of the music to watch the show – and it was absolutely amazing. 

After the Sonic Symphony London show, people were getting me to sign all sorts of stuff. CD covers, game covers, T-shirts, jackets, and bags!

Like you mentioned, the energy and the enthusiasm of the fans is infectious.

It never fails to blow me away!

Gamers Heroes 

I’ll have to get your signature one of these days too – it’ll go well with TJ’s!

Keeping things short and sweet, and talking about these people inspired by you…I’ve asked this question to voice actors, other musicians, and even indie developers. 

What is the one piece of advice you’d like to give the next generation inspired by you, that want to follow in your footsteps?

The ones that want to be part of Denshattack! 2? 

Richard Jacques 

I think you just need to learn your musical craft! 

Music is very accessible these days. We’ve got great technology and software that’s relatively affordable. 

But really, really study and learn; practice what genre you’re specializing in. 

If you want to create a Denshatttack!-type of track, learn how to do really great drum programming, learn jazz harmonies, things like that. There are loads of great YouTube videos you can check out.

And be really passionate about what you do!

I find you can tell where my passion lies in everything I work on. Even though I work in a few different genres, I’m mainly focusing on my orchestral scoring these days – with a bit of Denshattack! thrown in for good measure when the opportunity arises. 

Literally focus on what you find doing naturally. If you find yourself writing a rock song, then that’s what you should focus on.

If that’s your passion, that’s what you should really focus on – do what comes naturally. 

Learn the craft of music, and also just go out and network with people! Make friends across the industry, find out who’s making a new game, and see if you can pitch one of your music tracks into the game.

Gamers Heroes 

That’s great advice! 

I’ll end with another reference – you never want to “fellow kids” it, 30 Rock-style – I’m so glad you get it!

I look forward to seeing what you have in store next – and I’ll continue listening to “Cross the Tracks!”

Richard Jacques 

Awesome, good to speak to you Casey! Cheers – take care!

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For those feeling social, be sure to follow Richard Jacques on his Twitter/X, Bluesky, and Instagram social media channels.

The official Denshattack! Soundtrack, which features Richard Jacques’ “Cross the Tracks,” can be listened to on Bandcamp, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, and other platforms.

The post Richard Jacques Interview – Acclaimed Composer Talks Denshattack! & More appeared first on GamersHeroes.