Stemage Explained

Stemage
Birth Name:Grant Henry
Birth Date:1979 4, mf=y
Label:Brave Wave Productions,[1] Materia Collective[2]
Years Active:1997–present
Instrument:Guitar, drums, vocals
Associated Acts:Metroid Metal, Yes Mayhem, Viking Guitar, LONELYROLLINGSTARS, Aivi & Surasshu

Grant Henry (born April 3, 1979), better known by his stage name Stemage, is an American guitarist and composer. He is known for his video game and television soundtracks, including Cartoon Network's animated series Steven Universe.[3] He is also known for his involvement in several video game cover projects, including Metroid Metal and Viking Guitar.[4]

Career

Early work (1997–2002)

Stemage began writing and performing music in high school. He recorded an original album in 1997 named Organized Uproar, using a cassette 8-track in his dorm room. The album was later released for free via his website.[5] He then joined a band named MiniVoid.[6] [7]

Metroid Metal and solo work (2003–2014)

In 2003, Stemage formed Metroid cover project Metroid Metal, later recruiting other artists such as Danimal Cannon.[8] While the group were initially simply recording cover songs to release online, Metroid Metal made their live debut at MAGFest 7 in 2009, and became a recurring act at the event. Stemage released several albums with the group over the following years, including Varia Suite (2009), Expansion Pack (2010) and Other Album (2014).[9] Stemage along with the other musicians from Metroid Metal Live formed the "backbone" of Yes Mayhem, a second band that produced original material beginning in 2010.[10] During this time, he released five albums as a solo artist, both in the form of cover projects and original material. In 2010, Stemage was hired to perform the soundtrack for the Xbox Live game Alpha Squad. In an interview shortly before the game's release, he described composing for video games as "acting on a blue screen with a director telling you that the Master Control Program is off in the distance, and it's big—except that there's no director, and the MCP is a sketch of a dude with a gun."[11]

Collaborative projects and Steven Universe (2014–2019)

Stemage joined Viking Guitar in 2014, alongside Travis Morgan, Mega Beardo, and founder Erik Peabody. Viking Guitar originated as a solo act fronted by Peabody, with which Stemage had featured as a guest on several occasions.[12] [13] The new incarnation of the band released their debut studio album Legion later that year while continuing the annual Danse Macabre projects that Stemage had been involved in earlier.[14] In 2018, the group released their second studio album, Warpath.

Stemage had a brief tenure with LONELYROLLINGSTARS, working on their 2014 album CARNIVORTEX and performing live at MAGFest 12 to support the release.[15] His departure later in the year was announced by the band in the form of a music video. During the video, Stemage walks out midway through a performance of Royal Rainbow Road to be replaced by new guitarist Mega Beardo.[16] [17]

In addition to the opening theme for the second season of Cartoon Network's Steven Universe, Stemage worked on guitars throughout the remainder of the show.[18] The first volume of the Steven Universe soundtrack reached #22 on the Billboard 200.[19] A second volume followed in 2019, peaking at #28 on the Billboard 200, and #12 on the US iTunes chart.[20] [21] Stemage also co-composed .[22]

In 2018, Stemage joined a band called Super Strikers, along with video game composers Keiji Yamagishi and Manami Matsumae. The group performed live for the first time at MAGFest 2018, the recordings of which were used for the second disc of Yamagishi's album The Retro-Active Experience.[23]

Focus on soundtracks (2019–)

From the late 2010s onwards, Stemage worked on a number of game soundtracks including Card of Darkness (2019), Ikenfell (2020) and Hextech Mayhem (2021), both as a composer and as a session guitarist. When discussing his work on the soundtrack, which was released via video game music label Materia Collective, Stemage indicated that it was a challenging but enjoyable project, adding "If you hear a hi-hat playing Morse code during one of the songs, don't say I didn't warn you."[24]

Style and influences

He has described his music as "Catchy, high-energy space rock mixed with metal, pop, and prog".[4] He has cited stylistic influences such as Failure, Stone Temple Pilots, Self, Hum, Meshuggah and Shiner.[7]

Discography

Studio albums

MiniVoid

Metroid Metal

Yes Mayhem

LONELYROLLINGSTARS

Viking Guitar

Super Strikers

Soundtracks

TV and film

Video games

Devolver Digital events

Guest appearances

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Welcome. Brave Wave Productions.
  2. Web site: Bubsy: Paws on Fire! (Original Game Soundtrack). Materia Collective.
  3. Web site: Dropping Gems: An Interview with the Composers of the Score for 'Steven Universe'. January 15, 2016. Noisey.vive.com. 2 January 2018.
  4. Web site: Shockingly, Backwards Video Game Music Doesn't Sound Awful. Kotaku.vo.uk. 2 January 2018.
  5. Web site: Full Discography .
  6. Web site: Of Metroid and Metal - Interview with Stemage. Fsbossfight.blogspot.co.uk. January 2, 2018.
  7. Web site: Steamy Stemage: Grant "Metroid Metal" Henry Interview. Originalsoundversion.com. January 2, 2018.
  8. Web site: About | Metroid Metal . metroidmetal.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090929052102/http://www.metroidmetal.com/about/ . 29 September 2009 . dead.
  9. Web site: PAX East 2012 guide: Surviving the Game (Convention). Griffin. McElroy. April 4, 2012. Polygon.com. 2 January 2018.
  10. Web site: About Metroid Metal – Metroid Metal . Metroidmetal.com . 2009-01-03 . 2022-05-04.
  11. Web site: Dragon Divide - Games and entertainment. Dragondivide.com. January 2, 2018.
  12. Web site: MAGFest - Viking Guitar Live . super.magfest.org . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170911095318/http://super.magfest.org/musician2018/viking-guitar-live/ . 11 September 2017 . dead.
  13. Web site: MAGFest - Viking Guitar . super.magfest.org . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180312083912/http://super.magfest.org/musician2014/viking-guitar/ . 12 March 2018 . dead.
  14. Web site: Have Some More "Video Game Themes Meets Metal" Music With Viking Guitar Live - Bloody Disgusting. bloody-disgusting.com. June 30, 2014.
  15. Web site: MAGFest - LONELYROLLINGSTARS . super.magfest.org . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180209003115/http://super.magfest.org/musician2014/lonelyrollingstars/ . 9 February 2018 . dead.
  16. Web site: Gammes kultes - LONELYROLLINGSTARS de retour avec SUGARBURGER. February 2, 2018.
  17. Web site: "ROYAL RAINBOW ROAD" (Mario Kart Double Dash) – LONELYROLLINGSTARS✨. LONELYROLLINGSTARS. August 1, 2014. YouTube.
  18. Book: McDonnell, Chris . Steven Universe: Art & Origins . July 11, 2017 . Cartoon Network Enterprises, Inc.. 164. 978-1419724435.
  19. Web site: Top 200 Albums. Billboard. 2 January 2018.
  20. Web site: iTunesCharts.net: 'Steven Universe, Vol. 2 (Original Soundtrack)' by Steven Universe (American Albums iTunes Chart). Itunescharts.net. December 29, 2020.
  21. Web site: Soundtrack. Billboard.com. December 29, 2020.
  22. Web site: 'Steven Universe: The Movie' Review: A Heartwarming Musical that Encapsulates a True Kinda Love. September 3, 2019. Filmschoolrejects.com. December 29, 2020.
  23. Web site: Announcing 'The Retro-Active Experience' album & Brave Wave's in-house band Super Strikers. Bravewave.net. January 14, 2019 . December 29, 2020.
  24. Web site: Bubsy: Paws on Fire (Original Game Soundtrack) on All Storefronts. Gamasutra.com. December 29, 2020.
  25. Web site: Super VG Christmas Party, by Patient Corgi. Super VG Christmas Party.
  26. Web site: Danse Macabre 7, by Sindravania Projects & Viking Guitar Productions. Sindravaniaprojects.bandcamp.com. December 29, 2020.
  27. Web site: Videogame Rock supergroup LONELYROLLINGSTARS debut album CARNIVORTEX. Gamemusic4all.com. January 5, 2015 . January 2, 2018.
  28. Web site: Viking Guitar, by Viking Guitar. Viking Guitar.
  29. Web site: Made of Metal, by Viking Guitar. Viking Guitar.
  30. Web site: Oscurità (Tenebre), by Stemage, Chunkstyle, Kevin Lawrence, & Norrin_Radd. Viking Guitar.
  31. Web site: Four new songs!. Stemagemusic.com. November 17, 2013 . December 29, 2020.
  32. Web site: Danse Macabre 2, by Viking Guitar Productions. Viking Guitar.
  33. Web site: Legion, by Viking Guitar Live. Viking Guitar.
  34. Web site: Stemage, Cory Johnson, Claire Barton - Deadflip (Alien Crush), by Big Mat Attacks Presents.... Big Mat Attacks Presents....
  35. Web site: TerrorVision (TerrorVision), by Stemage (ft. Claire Henry). Viking Guitar.
  36. Web site: Warpath, by Viking Guitar Live. Vikingguitar.bandcamp.com.
  37. Web site: LIVE, by Viking Guitar Live. Vikingguitar.bandcamp.com. December 29, 2020.
  38. Web site: God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You | Viking Guitar Live | Viking Guitar . Vikingguitar.bandcamp.com . 2022-02-22 . 2022-05-04.
  39. Web site: Danse Macabre 7, by Sindravania Projects & Viking Guitar Productions.
  40. Web site: Belly of the Beast (Life Force), by Viking Guitar Live .
  41. Web site: Hello, Boils and Ghouls!, by Viking Guitar .
  42. Web site: The Retro-Active Experience, by Keiji Yamagishi. Bravewave.bandcamp.com. December 29, 2020.
  43. Web site: Emmy spotlight: Voters are out of this world if they snub 'Steven Universe' this year. Jacob. Davis. June 4, 2017. Goldderby.com. January 2, 2018.
  44. Web site: Soundtrack Album for Netflix's 'Battle Kitty' Released | Film Music Reporter .
  45. Web site: This Looks Pretty Slick for an Indie Game. August 19, 2010. Kotaku.com.au. 2 January 2018.
  46. Web site: Saturday Morning RPG Soundtrack on Steam. Store.steampowered.com. January 2, 2018.
  47. Web site: Aeternum - Original Sound Track on Steam. Store.steampowered.com. January 2, 2018.
  48. Web site: Band Saga Is A Musical Roguelike With A Mega Man Flavor - Siliconera. September 3, 2014. Siliconera.com. January 2, 2018.
  49. Web site: Save 65% on The Metronomicon - The Soundtrack! on Steam. Store.steampowered.com. January 2, 2018.
  50. 993885012440199168. Stemage. Yay I can share this now! I wrote music for #Runner3 on Nintendo Switch! I crafted all the tunes for the Retro Chal… . December 29, 2020. May 8, 2018.
  51. Web site: SOUNDTRACKS. Runner3.
  52. https://twitter.com/Stemage/status/1057447569037508608
  53. Web site: Apple Showcases Four Games that are coming to Apple Arcade when it Launches on Thursday. Patentlyapple.com. December 29, 2020.
  54. https://twitter.com/waltzforluma/status/1063592986737442817
  55. Web site: Dangle Dash Theme, by Stemage.
  56. Web site: Space Otter Charlie Soundtrack on Steam .
  57. Web site: Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Original Soundtrack) | Lena Raine . Radicaldreamland.bandcamp.com . 2022-05-04.
  58. Web site: Moonglow Bay (Original Soundtrack) | Lena Raine . Radicaldreamland.bandcamp.com . 2022-05-04.
  59. Web site: Soundfall Original Game Soundtrack .
  60. Web site: Rogue Legacy 2 - Immortal Cain (W/ A Shell in the Pit & Tettix), by Stemage .
  61. Web site: Super Catboy (Original Game Soundtrack), by Tscholdes, Stemage, Anton Corazza .
  62. Web site: LAUNCH DAY BABY! I've spent the last year working on BIT.TRIP RERUNNER with the crew at @TotallyChoice....
  63. Web site: Play the Game (Devolver Digital® Cinematic Universe). Materiacollective.com. December 29, 2020.
  64. Web site: Daydream (Devolver Digital Cinematic Universe), by Stemage.
  65. Web site: Singularity (Devolver Digital® Cinematic Universe), by Stemage .
  66. Web site: The Nurse Who Loved Me: A Tribute To FAILURE, by (Damn) This Desert Air. Damnthisdesertair.bandcamp.com. January 2, 2018.
  67. Web site: Full Discography. Stemagemusic.com. 2 January 2018.
  68. Web site: Chiptunes = WTFLOL, by Chiptunes = WIN. Chiptunes = WIN.
  69. Web site: Composer Alexander Brandon's collab album, Just Fun. Destructoid.com. February 4, 2014. December 29, 2020.
  70. Web site: Retro-Active Pt. 1, by Keiji Yamagishi. Brave Wave Productions.
  71. Web site: Huge Chrono Trigger soundtrack tribute available now. Owen S.. Good. February 14, 2016. Polygon.com. January 2, 2018.
  72. Web site: Retro-Active Pt. 2, by Keiji Yamagishi. Brave Wave Productions.
  73. Web site: Proof That There's No Such Thing As Too Many Video Game Composers. Kirk. Hamilton. Kotaku.com. May 6, 2013 . 2 January 2018.
  74. Web site: Chips = FLIPPED, by Chiptunes = WIN. Chiptuneswin.bandcamp.com.
  75. Web site: Sam Mulligan & The Donut Slayers - "Shark Party". Sam Mulligan. May 29, 2018. YouTube.
  76. Web site: Bossies Play Bosses: A Tribute to Matt Wood, by mig50 .

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