Simon Viklund Explained

Simon Viklund
Birth Name:Simon Wiklund
Birth Date:1 December 1979
Birth Place:Stockholm, Sweden
Genre:Electronic
Years Active:2000–present
Label:BMG

Simon Viklund (born Simon Wiklund, December 1, 1979) is a Swedish freelance video game composer, music producer, sound designer and game designer, who was first known for his work on the 2008 game Bionic Commando Rearmed, in which he was a creative director and composer. He is also known for his work on the Payday series as a composer and the voice of the character Bain.

In 2000, Viklund joined his friend Ulf Andersson's company, Grin, and worked on most of the company's games, which included Bionic Commando: Rearmed. Grin went bankrupt in 2009, leading Viklund, Ulf Andersson and his brother Bo to found Overkill Software. Viklund left Overkill in 2015 to become a freelancer. In 2016, he joined 10 Chambers Collective, another company founded by Ulf Andersson, while continuing his freelance projects.

Early life

Simon Viklund was born in Stockholm on December 1, 1979.[1] [2] He began learning music through the violin as child, and later received classical piano lessons for about seven years.[3] He also taught himself to play the guitar and bass guitar.[4] [5] As a teenager he sang in the local church choir, and was briefly a singer in a band established by his friends in high school. He studied arts in high school, but later became more interested in music. Wiklund began to write music in the late 90s with the help of a computer program called FastTracker 2.[6] None of his music was released at the time, because he was personally unsatisfied with his creations.

Career

2000–2009: Grin and early freelance work

Wiklund joined Grin in 2000 and acted as a composer and sound designer on most of the company's projects, starting with its first game, Ballistics. He later changed his surname to Viklund as people abroad often mispronounced his name, as 'W' and 'V' have similar pronunciations in Swedish.[7] Viklund was also involved in developing the PC version of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (2006) and its 2007 sequel, which were published by Ubisoft.[8] He subsequently led the development of Bionic Commando Rearmed, a remake of the 1988 NES version commissioned by Capcom; Viklund also composed the game's soundtrack, which was praised for its faithful reimagining of the original 8-bit arrangements.[9] Elements of Viklund's Bionic Commando Rearmed soundtrack were also incorporated into Bionic Commando (2009), which was mainly scored by Jamie Christopherson, while Viklund served as the sound designer. Aside from Grin's projects, he also worked on Triotech's Wasteland Racers 2071 (2006).[10]

Viklund began work on Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 as its creative director in 2009, before Grin went bankrupt four months into its development. Development was transferred to Fatshark, and Viklund was hired as a creative advisor and composer. He was also commissioned by Capcom for Final Fight: Double Impact (2010) and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition (2011), for which he composed the music.[11] [12]

2009–2015: Overkill Software

Viklund, along with the Andersson brothers and other Grin employees, founded Overkill Software in 2009.[13] At Overkill, he served as the creative director and sound designer for the company's first game, , and also composed its soundtrack, drawing inspiration from the 1995 crime film Heat. He also voiced Bain, the main narrator and contract broker in the game. Viklund would reprise his role as composer and the voice of Bain in Payday 2, released in 2013.

On August 18, 2015, Viklund left Overkill to focus on his personal and freelance music projects. However, he continued to voice Bain and produce music in Payday 2 as a freelancer.[14]

2016–present: 10 Chambers Collective

In 2016, Viklund co-founded a new company with Ulf Andersson, 10 Chambers Collective, while also continuing to work on his freelance projects.[15] [16] [17] He also signed an exclusive songwriter agreement with BMG in the same year.[18] Viklund composed the soundtrack to Robonauts in 2017,[19] and worked as a game designer, narrative director, and composer for 10 Chambers' first project, GTFO.[20] [21]

Musical style and influences

Viklund's compositions are primarily based on elements of electronic music genres such as techno, big beat, electro-funk, or dubstep, but some have been based on rock, industrial music and rap.[22] In 2008, Viklund's music was labelled by Swedish magazine Nöjesguiden as "chip house" music, while Viklund considered his music to be from a variety of inspirations, ultimately becoming "8-bit-inspired dance music".[23] Viklund has described the musical style of his tracks to be "a mix between the music I find suitable for the project in question, the music I enjoy, and the music I have the skills to produce." In Ballistics and Bandits: Phoenix Rising, he cited the Quake III soundtrack, Fatboy Slim, and The Chemical Brothers as inspirations for the rock, techno, big beat, and industrial sound. When it came to the soundtrack of Bionic Commando Rearmed, Viklund was influenced by groups such as The Crystal Method and Justice.

The soundtrack of Payday 2 featured a wide variety of music, especially when it came to the music for the game's downloadable content. The trailer for "The Big Bank" DLC featured an opera piece composed by Viklund, who wrote the lyrics in Swedish and had them translated to Italian to be performed by opera singers.[24] [25]

Composition

The music for his first two projects, Ballistics and Bandits: Phoenix Rising, were made with FastTracker 2, while the tracks for Bionic Commando series and Payday: The Heist, were made with Jeskola Buzz.[26] In 2013, for Payday 2, he moved on to using Ableton Live, supplemented with a Native Instruments Komplete keyboard and the reFX Nexus 2 Synthesizer plug-in.

Works

Video games

!Year!Title!Developer!Role!Notes
2001BallisticsGrincomposer, sound designer
2002 Grincomposer, sound designer
2006Wasteland Racers 2071 Triotechcomposer, sound designer
2006Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced WarfighterGrinsound designer
2007Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2Grinsound designer
2008Bionic Commando RearmedGrincomposer, creative director[27]
2009Bionic CommandoGrinsenior sound designer, music consultant
2009Grinsound designer
2009Terminator SalvationGrinsound designer
2010Capcomcomposer
2011Bionic Commando Rearmed 2Fatsharkcomposer, writer, creative consultant
2011Capcomcomposer
2011Overkill Softwarecomposer, sound designer, creative director, voiceovervoice of Bain
2013Starbreeze Studiosmusic consultant[28]
2013Payday 2Overkill Softwarecomposer, chief engineer, sound designer, voiceovervoice of Bain and Cloakers[29]
2014Gear UpDoctor Entertainmentcomposertrailer music[30]
2016Dead by DaylightBehaviour Interactivecomposertrailer music[31]
2016Pan-PanSpelkraftcomposer, sound designer[32]
2017RobonautsQubic Gamescomposer
2019GTFO10 Chambers Collectivecomposer, game designer, narrative director[33]

Discography

Viklund has released several of his compositions as albums and singles, both independently and on behalf of Overkill Software:[34] [35]

Albums

!Year!Title!Notes
2012Payday - The Game Soundtrack
2013PAYDAY 2 Official SoundtrackFeatures tracks by Gustaf Grefberg[36]
2013A Merry Payday ChristmasCredited to Hoxton, voiced by Pete Gold[37]
2015Overkill B-Sides
2016O.R.B.O.T
2018Free Music
2018RADIX - Music From and Inspired by Robonauts
2018STHLM Hunters OST
2019Badlands

Singles

!Year!Title!Notes
2014"Kid Icarus Remix feat. Brand0"
2014"Drifting"Credited as "Pat Briscoe"; from the Payday 2 trailer "The Dentist"[38]
2014"Criminal's Ambition"Featuring KwoteONE[39]
2014"Ode All'Avidità"
2015"Breath of Death"From the Payday 2 Jacket trailer[40]
2015"The Flames of Love"Written by Viklund, credited to "Smokey Bennett & The Hoops"[41]
2015"The Club"Reinterpretation of "The Mark" from the Payday 2 Soundtrack[42]
2016"Chains is in a Pickle"
2019"Steal From The Rich, Give To Myself"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Music to heist to: Payday 2′s musical masterpiece. 2013-08-18. Clay. Sam. 2013-08-13. VG247. 2013-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20130818191012/http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/13/music-to-heist-to-payday-2s-musical-masterpiece/. live.
  2. Web site: Simon Viklund - "Guru 4x4". 2014-01-06. Viklund. Simon. 2010-12-02. YouTube. 2014-01-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20140106143500/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKxPbjS-Xfo. live.
  3. Web site: Comic Con 08: Interview With Bionic Commando Rearmed Composer/Director Simon Viklund. 2013-08-18. Napolitano. Jason. 2008-07-28. OriginalSoundVersion.com. 2013-08-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20130820082823/http://www.originalsoundversion.com/comic-con-08-interview-with-bionic-commando-rearmed-composerdirector-simon-viklund/. live.
  4. Web site: Rearming the Music — and Memories — of Bionic Commando. 2013-09-09. Good. Owen. 2008-09-04. Kotaku. 2013-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20130909211528/http://kotaku.com/5045411/rearming-the-music-+-and-memories-+-of-bionic-commando. live.
  5. Web site: INTERVIEW: Simon Viklund (3rd Strike Online Edition - Music). 2013-08-18. Jolly. Bradley. 2011-08-23. Level 3. https://web.archive.org/web/20110827004248/http://level3.org.au/post/712/. 2011-08-27.
  6. Web site: jeriaska . 2011-02-26 . Sound Current: 'Back in the Swing of Things - Simon Viklund on Bionic Commando Rearmed 2' . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120716130140/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2011/02/sound_current_simon_viklunds_b.php#more . 2012-07-16 . 2013-08-18 . GameSetWatch.
  7. rOwmNnTasE. simon_viklund. My badge for ECTS 2002. ECTS was the E3 of London/Europe back then, but it doesn't exist anymore. We were there in 2002 to show Ballistics, our futuristic racing game. It was the most makeshift booth you've ever seen. I spelled my last name with "W" back then, but later changed it because people abroad mispronounced my name (W and V are pronounced the same way in Swedish). Gotta love that title too: Maestro. #GrinMemories. 3 August 2014. Simon Viklund.
  8. Web site: Something to GRIN About. 2020-12-22. GamesIndustry.biz. May 6, 2009 . en. 2009-05-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20090512130149/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/something-to-grin-about_4. live.
  9. Web site: Parish. Jeremy. 2008-08-13. Bionic Commando: Rearmed Review. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160310184142/http://www.1up.com/reviews/bionic-commando-rearmed. March 10, 2016. 1Up.com.
  10. Web site: Ljuddesign med Overkill Software i Gamereactor Academy. Mäki. Jonas. 2015-02-19. www.gamereactor.se. sv. 2017-05-26. 2017-09-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930035912/https://www.gamereactor.se/nyheter/222624/Ljuddesign+med+Overkill+Software+i+Gamereactor+Academy/. live.
  11. Web site: E3: Street Fighter III:3rd Strike's new features detailed. 2020-12-21. Destructoid. June 11, 2011 . english. 2021-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210526030124/https://www.destructoid.com/stories/e3-street-fighter-iii-3rd-strike-s-new-features-detailed-203578.phtml. live.
  12. Web site: GameSetWatch Download Remixed Final Fight: Double Impact Soundtracks For Free. 2021-04-08. www.gamesetwatch.com. 2019-02-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20190217000855/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2010/04/download_remixed_final_fight_d.php. live.
  13. Web site: An Interview with Simon Viklund. 2011-09-11. Mad Gear Solid. https://web.archive.org/web/20110911181239/http://madgearsolid.com/blog/?p=772. 2011-09-11. dead. 2017-02-15.
  14. PAYDAY 2: A Message From Simon Viklund. 2015-08-18. OVERKILL Software. video. Overkill Software.
  15. Web site: Harris. John. Q&A: How Steam co-op hit GTFO chooses depth over breadth in game design. 2020-12-22. www.gamasutra.com. January 28, 2020 . en. 2020-08-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20200816212049/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/357025/QA_How_Steam_coop_hit_GTFO_chooses_depth_over_breadth_in_game_design.php. live.
  16. Web site: 10 Chambers Collective - Simon Viklund. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20191223195238/http://10chambers.com/member10.html. 2019-12-23. 2017-06-26. www.10chambers.com. en-US.
  17. Web site: Weber. Rachel. 9 September 2016. Jobs roundup: New chief people officer for EA. 2021-11-18. GamesIndustry.biz. en.
  18. Web site: 2016-06-10. SC: Simon Viklund Signs with BMG. 2020-12-21. BMG. en. 2021-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210526030124/https://www.bmg.com/sc/news/SIMON-VIKLUND-SIGNS-WITH-BMG.html. live.
  19. Web site: Doolan. Liam. 2017-09-20. Review: Robonauts (Switch eShop). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122230744/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/robonauts. 2021-01-22. 2020-12-21. Nintendo Life. en-GB.
  20. Web site: Payday co-creator names new co-op FPS: GTFO. O'Connor. Alice. 2017-05-31. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. en-US. 2017-06-26. 2017-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20170606185236/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/05/31/payday-cocreators-new-fps-is-gtfo/. live.
  21. Web site: Beckhelling. Imogen. 2020-10-22. GTFO adds matchmaking and new difficulties in its latest update. 2020-12-21. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. en-US. 2020-11-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116182627/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/10/22/gtfo-adds-matchmaking-and-new-difficulties-in-its-latest-update/. live.
  22. Web site: Greening. Chris. September 20, 2011. Simon Viklund Interview: Designer and Composer Alike. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170621023335/http://www.vgmonline.net/simonviklundinterview/. 2017-06-21. 2017-04-28. Video Game Music Online. en.
  23. News: Simon Viklund: "så får du ett exploderande huvud genom censuren". Hallstan. Johan. 2008-09-17. NÖJESGUIDEN. 2017-04-28. sv. 2021-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210526030127/https://ng.se/artiklar/simon-viklund-%e2%80%9csa-far-du-ett-exploderande-huvud-genom-censuren%e2%80%9d. live.
  24. Web site: Savage. Phil. 2014-06-09. Payday 2: Big Bank DLC trailer shows moral quandaries, karmic comeuppance. 2021-04-08. PC Gamer. en-US. 2020-09-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930092848/https://www.pcgamer.com/payday-2-big-bank-dlc-trailer-shows-moral-quandaries-karmic-comeuppance/. live.
  25. Web site: Viklund. Simon. 2014-07-06. My first opera piece. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140804134143/http://www.simonviklund.com/#post91. 2014-08-04. 2017-05-25.
  26. Web site: What gear I use. 2013-07-26. simonviklund.com. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20130820030355/http://simonviklund.com/#post69. 2013-08-20. dead. 2017-04-28.
  27. Web site: Postmortem: Capcom/GRIN's Bionic Commando Rearmed. 2020-12-21. www.gamasutra.com. January 26, 2009 . en. 2017-03-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20170305063908/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132305/postmortem_capcomgrins_bionic_.php. live.
  28. Web site: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons - Official Soundtrack, by Gustaf Grefberg. 2020-12-21. OVERKILL Soundtracks. 2020-11-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116074935/https://overkillsoundtracks.bandcamp.com/album/brothers-a-tale-of-two-sons-official-soundtrack. live.
  29. 762937010659201024. SimonViklund. I voice Bain and the Cloaker, and I performed most of the death screams for all law enforcement characters.. Simon Viklund.
  30. Web site: Viklund. Simon. 2014-07-24. Gear Up!. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140804134143/http://www.simonviklund.com/#post96. 2014-08-04. 2017-05-25.
  31. Web site: Simon Viklund. 2017-05-26. www.facebook.com. en. 2021-01-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20210104051323/https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1132840683447284&id=101379686593394. live.
  32. News: McKenney. Kyle. 2016-06-03. Newly Unveiled Pan-Pan Seems Like the Perfect Game for a Lazy Afternoon. en. pastemagazine.com. dead. 2017-03-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20160604105444/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/06/pan-pan-is-an-adorable-yet-tranquil-puzzleexplorat.html. 2016-06-04.
  33. News: Pierce. Tanner. 2017-06-02. Payday Game Designer Reveals New Game GTFO. en-US. DualShockers. 2017-06-26. 2017-06-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20170609075216/http://www.dualshockers.com/payday-game-designer-reveals-new-game-gtfo/. live.
  34. Web site: Simon Viklund. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108124613/https://simonviklund.bandcamp.com/. 2020-11-08. 2020-12-21. Bandcamp.
  35. Web site: OVERKILL Soundtracks. 2020-12-22. OVERKILL Soundtracks. 2020-11-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116075011/https://overkillsoundtracks.bandcamp.com/. live.
  36. Web site: PAYDAY 2 Official Soundtrack, by Simon Viklund. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116074927/https://overkillsoundtracks.bandcamp.com/album/payday-2-official-soundtrack. 2020-11-16. 2020-12-22. OVERKILL Soundtracks - Bandcamp.
  37. Web site: A Merry Payday Christmas, by Hoxton. 2020-12-22. OVERKILL Soundtracks. 2020-11-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116074939/https://overkillsoundtracks.bandcamp.com/album/a-merry-payday-christmas. live.
  38. Web site: Viklund. Simon. 2014-07-06. Download the dentist song. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140804134143/http://www.simonviklund.com/#post90. 2014-08-04. 2017-05-25.
  39. Web site: Criminal's Ambition (single), by Simon Viklund feat. KwoteONE. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116074923/https://overkillsoundtracks.bandcamp.com/album/criminals-ambition-single. 2020-11-16. 2020-12-22. OVERKILL Soundtracks - Bandcamp.
  40. Web site: Breath of Death, by Simon Viklund. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108131134/https://simonviklund.bandcamp.com/track/breath-of-death. 2020-11-08. 2020-12-22. Simon Viklund - Bandcamp.
  41. Web site: March 24, 2015. The Flames of Love, by Smokey Bennett & The Hoops. 2021-11-19. OVERKILL Soundtracks. en. Bandcamp.
  42. Web site: The Club, by Simon Viklund. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024625/https://simonviklund.bandcamp.com/track/the-club. 2020-11-12. 2020-12-22. Simon Viklund - Bandcamp.

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