BANG! - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

This project was inspired by the grand storytelling and aesthetic of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Our goal was to craft an opening sequence that embodies the high-stakes, action-packed essence of Steel Ball Run while staying true to the series' iconic musical and visual style.

​

The song "BANG!" is an ambitious, multi-layered composition that blends rock, orchestral, and western influences, reflecting the diverse musical themes found in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Over the course of two days, we recorded an extensive range of instruments, accumulating over 96 tracks of recorded audio from both analog and virtual sources. 

​

We wanted to craft a full spectrum of traditional instruments to create a dynamic and powerful arrangement.

​

Drums:

The foundation of the track was built on the live drum recordings, capturing an energetic and hard-hitting performance that drives the song forward.

​

Electric and Acoustic Guitars:

5 different guitar parts were recorded, introducing depth ranging from heavy, distorted leads, crunchy overdrives, and clean plucking from classical guitars. The combination of each tone allow the instruments to tell the story and build off of each other. 

​

Banjo:

To reflect the western-inspired setting of Steel Ball Run, a banjo was recorded to add a unique twang that complements the track's rhythm elements and takes the lead during the song.

​

Piano:

A mix of grand piano and other synths provides harmonic support, adding richness and glue to the overall arrangement.

​

Bass:

A deep, punch, and intricate bassline was recorded to lock the groove but add complexity to the song.

​

Brass:

Trumpets and cornets were recorded to add a bold, triumphant sound that continuously builds as the song progresses which is reminiscent of classic anime openings.

​

Strings:

The violin and cello were layered with 9 different parts to introduce dramatic swells and fast transitions to bring out emotion in the song. A total of 27 tracks were used to create an orchestral like sound for the song.

​

Other Instruments:

Additional layers of percussive hits, swells, synths, and other instruments were recorded through virtual instruments to enhance the overall sonic experience.

​

Vocals:

Although the vocals were not recorded in the same place, we were able to contact Hoshino Tatsu, the singer for the Japanese rock band, Batta, to sing for this track. Batta created a song for a previous part for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure which adds an amazing touch to our production and makes it that much more special.

​

Each recording session was meticulously planned, with seven-hour sessions across two days, allowing us to capture every instrument with the detail and precision required. The result was a massive, intricately arranged session that seamlessly blended live and digital elements.

​

With over 96 recorded tracks, the mixing process was both challenging and rewarding. With this session being one of the biggest sessions I've worked with, it was really hard to wrap myself around how I wanted everything to start. It took me at least two days for all of the comping and arranging to make sure everything was smooth and sounded consistent. 

The mixing process also took a long time to give every instrument their time to really shine through and not overpower one another. Keeping the dynamics of the song to show emotion was one of the biggest challenges while keeping all of the instruments in their own place.

Another big element that I played around with was a lot of movement within each instrument. I wanted a lot of panning automation to give a 3D effect to the song so that when the animation is finished, it will be more interactive and turn video and audio into one big experience.