Tee Lopes is streaming himself playing Sonic Mania. Can't watch right now but hopefully he goes into some more detail about his thoughts during composing the OST
Just joined the stream where he is playing
Explained why he barely changed the songs for the zone "because they're amazing already... what am I gonna do to it besides refresh it?"
I'll drop more anecdotes when I rewatch the beginning / as I watch the rest of this.
Made the entire OST by ear, learning how to read music.
He is considering releasing a few tracks that didn't make Sonic Mania on Youtube.
Didn't really use any of the original synths and samples from the original Sonic games, but when he did he got them directly from Sega.
Doesn't know if the OST will be on Spotify, but he hopes so.
Someone asks how much composing Falk did, Tee Lopes put over how much of a great artist he is but he only worked on the mixing in the game.
On Green Hill - tried to keep it as faithful to the original
Act 2 - was made with Brazilians in mind, samba based. Brazilians have been huge Sonic fans so he decided to dedicate GHZ Act 2 to them.
On Danger on the Dancefloor (Mini Boss theme) - 1st or 2nd boss theme he composed, was originally intended for Robotnik but got relegated to the mini bosses.
On Chemical Plant Act 1 - same story as Green Hill. Challenge for the song was to find the right snare while trying to make it sound more modern.
Act 2 - someone asked if the beginning was referenced from MJ's Jam... he says no, but can say it may have been inspired by it.
On Studiopolis Act 1 - very first song he created for the game.
On the Hard Boiled Heavies theme - inspired by Jet Set Radio and Cowboy Bebop
On Studiopolis Act 2 - inspired by TV show openings and breaking news reports
On Flying Battery - loathed this zone in Sonic 3&K. Zone reveal version had the Act 2 intro because that was all they had at the time.
Act 2 - all the trash that we see were all the badniks Sonic destroyed in previous games.
On
Act 1 - Inspired by the legend Stevie Wonder!!! (no wonder I fuckin loved that song so much!!!). He composed this song at a time he thought the Sonic Mania's songs he made so far were starting to sound too similar. So he ended up scrapping them.
Act 2 - Inspired by Revenge of Shinobi (as a lot of people guessed)
On Stardust Speedway - hated the stage.... the music was inspired by believe it or not.... Sonic CD's Stardust Speedway
On Mirage Saloon - composed Act 1 (Sonic ver.) after he did Act 2... wanted it to fit the tone of the level (more actiony)
Act 2 was one of the first songs he created for Sonic Mania,
the version of Act 2 that was ripped to Youtube months ago was the version he presented to Christian Whitehead when he first suggested Tee make the music for Mania.
On
- second time in his life he remixed the song, first time was for a fan project
which was scrapped.
Act 2 - everyone says it was inspired by Shantae but he says it wasn't... but first played Shantae while he was composing Sonic Mania. Loves Jake Kaufman's music
On extending the Angel Island music - doesn't have the time.
On
Act 2 - was his favorite song to remix
On
- wrote the raps and did them himself
Act 2 - revealed last night it was inspired by Streets of Rage 2
On the Final level - wasn't too sure what he was thinking besides it was the last level, pretty sure he was pissed at someone that day.
Act 2 was his favorite song he composed.