Richard Jacques

Richard Jacques is a composer of film, television and videogame soundtracks. A leading composer in the field of interactive entertainment, his music has been heard by audiences across the globe and he is fast becoming recognised outside of the gaming world with recent credits extending to high profile media campaigns and film. Richard is able to write in many styles of music but since he is classically trained his greatest passion is to work on orchestral soundtracks, including the highly acclaimed interactive title Headhunter for which MusicFromTheMovies concluded, "This guy is a rising star."

Born into a musical family in Warwick, England, Richard Jacques began learning the piano from the age of 5, followed by the trombone three years later. His fascination with composition began at school when he wrote his first piece, a piano duet, at the age of 9. Having been awarded a scholarship to the Junior Royal Academy of Music in London, he was exposed to many different musical experiences in a diversity of genres largely through playing in ensembles ranging from symphony orchestras and wind ensembles to jazz and rock bands.

He continued his studies by following a traditional classical music education, specialising in composition, orchestration, performance and music technology, while also pursuing studies in percussion, drum kit, and guitar. This eclectic background and multitude of influences has provided him with a uniquely acute ear for musical style.

Richard began composing game soundtracks when he joined Sega Europe, following the completion of a B.A. (Hons) Degree in Music, in which he specialised in 'Performance, Composition and Arrangement, and Music Technology'. As lead composer for Sega Europe for seven years he worked with some of the world’s most successful game developers including Sonic Team (Sonic R), Travellers Tales (Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island), Smilebit / Wavemaster (Jet Set Radio, Jet Set Radio Future) and Bizarre Creations (Metropolis Street Racer).

In 2001 he embarked on his most ambitious project yet called Headhunter, a cinematic game released in Europe on Dreamcast (November 2001) and PlayStation 2 in both Europe (March, 2002) and North America (May, 2002). Headhunter remains one of the most ambitious game soundtracks produced to date, utilising an orchestra and a recording studio often used for feature film soundtracks, and set the benchmark for others to follow.

Jacques composed, arranged and orchestrated all the music for the 67-piece London Session Orchestra performing the Headhunter soundtrack, assembled especially for the project, and made up of some of the finest session musicians in Europe. Each member of the orchestra has either held a principal seat in one of the major London orchestras, or has enjoyed a successful soloist career on the concert platform. The orchestra’s long list of credits include recordings for Robbie Williams and All Saints, as well as the film soundtracks to The World Is Not Enough and The Mummy.

The soundtrack was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in January 2001. Since its conception in the 1920s and subsequent opening in 1931, Abbey Road has been at the forefront of the recording industry. Over the years it has attracted artists, producers and engineers of the highest calibre, The Beatles making it a household name. Studio 1, the venue for the recording of Richard Jacques’ Headhunter soundtrack, is one of the largest purpose-built symphonic recording studios around and it has some of the best symphonic acoustics in the world. It was the obvious choice for Jacques who would make an identifiable mark on the concept and realisation of the use of a live orchestra and recording studio of the highest calibre for a game soundtrack. He also worked on Headhunter’s cinematic approach to the overall feel of the soundtrack with Dom Gibbs (Noisebox) who is the sound designer for the James Bond movie, Die Another Day.

The score itself is as thematic as it is inci dental, providing key moments with action, suspense, and emotion. "From the bold French horn motif that makes up ‘Jack’s Theme’, to the delicate oboe and string setting of Angela’s theme," says Jacques, "the soundtrack is intended to provide the gamer with an emotive experience and a sense of familiarity, identifying specific characters and settings through the score".

Headhunter’s music has since become one of the most celebrated game soundtracks in recent years, receiving extraordinary praise from game critics, music journalists and soundtrack fans alike. Demand for a separate album release has been unrelenting and Jacques’ popularity as a freelance composer has attracted interest from the film and television industries.

Most recently Jacques has scored the short CG animated film "Pandora’s Closet" written, directed and animated by Industrial Light & Magic modeller Steven Aplin (The Mummy Returns, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Harry Potter, Men In Black). He is also currently working on the film short "One Previous Owner", (Dir., Giles Greenwood). Other film credits include "Three In One" (Dir., Mick Pantaleo), "Lullabelle" (Dir., Gemma Page & Tanya Ludyga). His composing is also recognised in the UK and European television advertising industry where his scores are featured in numerous premier media campaigns for some of the world’s leading ad agencies (Saatchi, McCann Ericsson) including top name brands such as Audi, Bacardi and Stella Artois.

Always surprising his audiences by turning his hand to any given style and media, Richard Jacques is one of the most prolific composers in his field today. His music for games was celebrated at The Barbican Gallery in London for "Game On" in 2002. Currently his music is exhibited at the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (12th October 02 - 2nd February 03) and "Game On" will then tour venues in Europe, North America and Japan. He is currently working on a number of orchestral scores for major game releases in 2003 (and beyond) and "Lullabelle" has been submitted for the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.

Production History

F1 Challenge (1995) — Sega Europe Music
Shinobi X (1996) — Music (Sega of Europe Staff)
Sega Worldwide Soccer '97 (1996/1997) — Special Thanks to
Daytona USA Championship Circuit Edition (1996) — Music & Remix
Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island (Saturn and PC Versions) (1996/1997) — Music (SOE), Sound Effects (SOE), Music (Closing Theme - "You're My Hero")
Sonic R (Saturn Version) (1997) — Music & Sound Producer (Sega Europe Limited), Sound Producer (Sega Europe Limited), Music & Sound FX (Sega Europe Limited)
Daytona USA Deluxe (1997) — Music & Remix
Club Saturn (CD) (1997)
Sonic R (PC Version) (1998) — Music and sound producer (Sega Europe Ltd.) (Sega), Music and sound effects (Sega Enterprises Ltd.) (Sega)
Jet Set Radio (Dreamcast Version) (2000) — BGM Performed by (Japanese Staff)
Sega Swirl (2000) — Special Thanks
Metropolis Street Racer (2000) — Sound Producer (Sega Europe, Ltd.)
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future (2000) — Special Thanks
De La Jet Set Radio (2001) — BGM Performed by (Japanese Staff)
Headhunter (2001/2002) — Sound Producer, Composed, arranged and orchestrated by (Music), Mixed and Produced by (Music)
Jet Set Radio Future (2002) — London Unit Creator (Wave Master Inc.)
Total Immersion Racing (2002) — Music
SingStar (2004) — Song Composition Consultant
OutRun 2 (Xbox Version) (2004) — Thanks to, for his aural sensations in the remixes of the classic tunes Splash Wave, Magical Sound Shower and Passing Breeze [NOTE: Manual credit]
Headhunter: Redemption (2004) — Music Composed, Orchestrated and Produced by
EyeToy: Play 2 (2004) — Music Composed Arranged and Produced by
SingStar Party (2004) — Song Composition Consultant
Ford Racing 3 (2004) — Additional Sound Design
Service Games 01 (CD) (2005)
SingStar '80s (2005) — Song Composition Consultant
Ford Racing 3 (GBA Version) (2005) — Additional Sound Design
EyeToy: Play 3 (2005) — Music Composer
Starship Troopers (2005) — Original music composed by, Original music produced by
Pursuit Force (2005) — Music composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Ford Racing 3 (DS Version) (2005) — Additional Sound Design
Sega Rally 2006 (2006)
OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast (2006) — Special Thanks
SingStar Anthems (2006) — Song Composition Consultant
Battlestations: Midway (2007) — Thanks to (Eidos Hungary), Music Composition, Music Production
Mass Effect (2007) — Additional Music
Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice (2007) — Composed, Arranged and Orchestrated by, Music Produced by
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) — Supervisor (Original Games)
The Club (2008) — Single Player Music Composed, Produced and Performed by; Intro Sequence Music Composed, Produced and Performed by
Conflict: Denied Ops (2008) — Music
Sega Superstars Tennis (2008) — Very Special Thanks, Music composition, remixing and surround mixing services (as Richard Jacques Studios)
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008) — Additional Music
Hasbro Family Game Night (2008) — Music Composition
SingStar ABBA (2008) — Song Composition Consultant
You're in the Movies (2008)
Sonic and the Black Knight (2009) — Music Composer & Arranger
Battlestations: Pacific (2009) — Music Composed by
Alice in Wonderland - An Adventure Beyond the Mirror (2010) — Music
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 Versions) (2010) — Special Thanks
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (DS Version) (2010) — Sega Special Thanks
Alice in Wonderland (2010) — Music composed, orchestrated and produced by (Music)
Joe Danger (2010) — Support
Video Games Live: Level 2 (CD) (2010)
007: Blood Stone (2010) — Music composed, orchestrated and produced by (Original Music) (Music), Mixed by (Original Music) (Music)
Sonic Free Riders (2010) — Produced by ("Free")
Fluidity (2010) — Music & Sound Design (Audio Services by Richard Jacques Studios Ltd.)
Sonic Free Riders Original Soundtrack - Break Free - (CD) (2010)
Fate of the World (2011) — Sound Composition and Production
Forza Motorsport 4 (2011) — Race music (2 tracks) by (Original Music)
Sonic Generations (2011) — Remix Artist & Composer (as Richard Jacques Studios)
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (2012) — Music Remixes and Production by Audissi Studios

Other Works

Am I Only Dreaming? (Remix) (2002) [from website]
Highlander (TBA) [circa 2008]
Little Big Planet 2 - The Muppets (2012)

Song Credits

Shinobi X

Title — Music & Arrangement
Stage Start — Music & Arrangement
Stage 1 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 1 Boss — Music & Arrangement
Stage 1 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Stage 2 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 2 Boss 1 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 2 Boss 2 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 2 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Stage 3 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 3 Boss — Music & Arrangement
Stage 3 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Stage 4 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 4 Boss — Music & Arrangement
Stage 4 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Stage 5 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 5 Boss — Music & Arrangement
Stage 5 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Stage 6 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 6 Boss — Music & Arrangement
Stage 6 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Stage 7 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 7 Boss — Music & Arrangement
Stage 7 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Stage 8 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 8 Boss — Music & Arrangement
Stage 8 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Stage 9 — Music & Arrangement
Stage 9 Boss — Music & Arrangement
Stage 9 Clear — Music & Arrangement
Staff Roll — Music & Arrangement
Game Over — Music & Arrangement

Daytona USA Championship Circuit Edition

The King of Speed (Part 1) — Arrangement
The King of Speed (Goal) — Arrangement
The King of Speed (Part 2) — Arrangement
Funk Fair (Part 1) — Music & Arrangement
Funk Fair (Part 2) — Music & Arrangement
Race to the Bass (Part 1) — Music & Arrangement
Race to the Bass (Part 2) — Music & Arrangement

Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island (Saturn and PC Versions)

Opening — Music & Arrangement
Title — Music & Arrangement
Green Grove - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
Green Grove - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
Rusty Ruin - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
Rusty Ruin - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
Spring Stadium - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
Spring Stadium - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
Diamond Dust - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
Diamond Dust - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
Volcano Valley - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
Volcano Valley - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
Gene Gadget - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
Gene Gadget - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
Panic Puppet - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
Panic Puppet - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
Special Stage — Music & Arrangement
Chaos Emerald — Arrangement
1-Up — Arrangement
Jingle - Speed Up — Music & Arrangement
Jingle - Invincible — Music & Arrangement
Boss — Music & Arrangement
Jingle - Act Clear — Arrangement
Bad Ending — Music & Arrangement
Game Over — Music & Arrangement
Continue — Music & Arrangement
Final Boss — Music & Arrangement
Good Ending — Music & Arrangement
You're My Hero — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Produced by

Sonic R

Super Sonic Racing (Title ver.) — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Programming
Can You Feel the Sunshine? — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Programming
Living in the City — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Programming
Back in Time — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Programming
Work It Out — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Programming
Diamond in the Sky — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Programming
Super Sonic Racing — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Programming
Number One — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics, Programming
Start Fanfare — Music & Arrangement, Programming
End Fanfare — Music & Arrangement, Programming
You Got No Chaos Emeralds — Arrangement, Programming
You Got a Chaos Emerald — Arrangement, Programming
Race Results — Arrangement, Programming
Options Screen — Music & Arrangement, Programming

Club Saturn

Sonic 3D - House Mix — Music
NiGHTS - Ambient Trance Mix — Remixed by
Worldwide Soccer - Trip Hop Mix — Remixed by
Shinobi X - Jungle Mix — Music

Jet Set Radio

Everybody Jump Around — Music & Arrangement

Metropolis Street Racer

Opening — Music & Arrangement
Title — Music & Arrangement
Menu — Music & Arrangement
Am I Only Dreaming? — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Heartland — Music & Arrangement
Push — Music & Arrangement
Low Lights — Music & Arrangement
Outside — Music & Arrangement
Think About It — Music & Arrangement
I Can Still Believe — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Live Your Life — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Come On Baby — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
It Doesn't Really Matter — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Freeway — Music & Arrangement
Holding On — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Sold Out — Music & Arrangement
State of Mind — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Club Paris — Music & Arrangement
Show Me Your Love — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Overdrive — Music & Arrangement
Passion — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Fallen Angel — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
California Demon — Music & Arrangement
Red Line — Music & Arrangement
Don't Wait — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
When She Comes Back — Music & Arrangement
Long Long Road — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Let's Get It On Tonight — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
You Can Love Me — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Time — Music & Arrangement, Lyrics
Hidden Track — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Originally composed for credits]

Headhunter

Main Title — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Escape from the Lab — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Meet Angela Stern — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
The Stern Legacy — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Jack's Theme — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
On the Prowl — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Ready for Action — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Headhunting — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Greywolf — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Assault on the Mall — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Fulci's Final Threat — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Ready for Action (reprise) — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Ramirez at Bay — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Aquadome — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Angela's Quest — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
The Queen of Hearts — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
A Dark Secret — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Jack's Dream — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Zweiberg's Nightmare — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Final Conflict — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
Game Over — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by
End Credits — Composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by

Jet Set Radio Future

What About the Future — Music & Arrangement
Bokfresh — Music & Arrangement
Let Mom Sleep (No Sleep Remix) — Remixed by

OutRun 2 (Xbox Version)

Splash Wave - Euro Remix — Arrangement
Magical Sound Shower - Euro Remix — Arrangement
Passing Breeze - Euro Remix — Arrangement
Last Wave - Euro Remix — Arrangement

Headhunter: Redemption

Main Title — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Jack at Ground Level — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Leeza's First Mission — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Mig Encounter — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Perilous Descent — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Power and Recycling — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Recycling Migs — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Into the Tunnels — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Manufacturing — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Making Trouble — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
End of the Line — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
One-to-One with Che — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
No Man's Land — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Tunnels to Entertainment — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Close Quarters — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
The Opposition Plot — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
"One Day, Some Day..." — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Leeza Remembers — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Jack Heads Below — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Jack Back in Action — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Research and Execution — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
The Devil's Work — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Candy Floss — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
The Black Suits — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Liberty — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
Taking Liberty — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
The 6808 — Composed, orchestrated and produced by
End Credits — Composed, orchestrated and produced by

Service Games 01

"OutRun" Splash Wave Remix — Arrangement

Sega Rally 2006

Hand-Breaks — Composed & Produced
TurboTech — Composed & Produced

Sega Superstars Tennis

Opening — Music & Arrangement
Title — Music & Arrangement
Menu — Music & Arrangement
Planet Superstars — Music & Arrangement
Space Harrier Theme — Arrangement
Arms Black Market — Arrangement
Trailer Theme — Music & Arrangement

Sonic and the Black Knight

Fight the Knight — Strings Arrangement, Programming
Black Sword in the Sky — Music & Arrangement, Programming
Into the Story of the King Arthur — Music & Arrangement, Programming
Fight the Knight - Strings Mix - — Additional Strings Arrangement, Programming
Head to Avalon — Arrangement, Programming
Glory of Victory — Music & Arrangement, Programming
The End of the World — Additional Strings Arrangement, Programming
Escape from the Destruction — Additional Strings Arrangement, Programming
Shrouded Forest — Music & Arrangement, Programming
Dragon Slayer — Music & Arrangement, Programming
Into the Dark Hollow — Arrangement, Programming
Merlina - The Queen of the Underworld — Arrangement, Programming

Sonic Free Riders

Free - Main Theme of Sonic Free Riders — Arranged and Produced by

Sonic Free Riders Original Soundtrack - Break Free -

Free (Crush 40 Version) — Additional Programming

Sonic Generations (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC Versions)

Sky Sanctuary : Act 2 - Normal — Sound Produced by (w/Jun Senoue), Additional Synth Programming
Sky Sanctuary : Act 2 - Fast — Sound Produced by (w/Jun Senoue), Additional Synth Programming
Seaside Hill : Act 1 — Remixed by, Sound Produced by (w/Jun Senoue)
Challenge / Mission 1 "Super Sonic Racing - Cash Cash vs. Jun Senoue RMX" — Composed by, Lyrics
Challenge / Mission 5 — Composed by, Remixed & Sound Produced by, Programming
Rival Battle : Silver the Hedgehog — Remixed & Sound Produced by, Programming
Boss Battle : Death Egg Robot — Additional Programming
Boss Battle : Perfect Chaos Pt-II "Perfect Chaos Revival!" — Remixed & Sound Produced by, Programming
Boss Battle : Egg Dragoon — Remixed & Sound Produced by, Programming
Boss Battle : Time Eater ver. 1 — Composed by, Sound Produced by, Programming
Boss Battle : Time Eater ver. 2 — Composed by, Sound Produced by, Programming
Cutscene 1 — Composed by, Sound Produced by, Programming
Cutscene 4 — Composed by, Sound Produced by, Programming
Cutscene 7 — Composed by, Sound Produced by, Programming

Sonic Generations (3DS Version)

Boss Battle : Biolizard "Supporting Me..." — Remixed & Sound Produced by, Programming

External Links

Richard Jacques' official site
Composer profile at OverClocked ReMix