Kenneth Young (Scottish composer)

Kenneth Young, also known as Kenneth C. M. Young or Kenny Young, is a Scottish freelance audio director, composer, sound designer and writer.[1][2] He is best known for his award winning work as the Head of Audio at video game developer Media Molecule, including the games LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet 2, Tearaway and Tearaway Unfolded.[2]

Kenneth Young
Kenneth Young
Background information
BornEdinburgh, Scotland
GenresVideo game music
Occupation(s)Composer, musician, sound designer, audio director, writer
InstrumentsFiddle, guitar, nyckelharpa, cello, viola, mandolin, Concertina, ukulele
Years active2004–present
LabelsMedia Molecule
Websitekennyyoung.com

Early life and education

Young was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and had a strong musical upbringing, learning the violin from the age of six, but chose not to pursue performance as a career[3] and instead went on to study an undergraduate degree in Music Technology at the University of Edinburgh. That course introduced him to working creatively with sound and he went on to gain an MA in Sound Design at Bournemouth University[4] for which he received a distinction.[2]

Career

Young began his professional career in 2004 working as a junior sound designer in the centralised audio department of Sony London Studio.[4] He worked on a broad range of different gaming experiences and hardware platforms, from action-adventure games such as The Getaway: Black Monday and Heavenly Sword to more family-friendly and innovative titles such as EyeToy: Kinetic.[2][5] He has described this period as "an apprenticeship" and a "baptism by fire"[6] which stood him in good stead for his future game audio work.[4]

Young left Sony in 2007 and joined startup video game developer Media Molecule to establish their audio department and "make LittleBigPlanet sound awesome".[4]

LittleBigPlanet's audio aesthetic: minimal, playful yet endlessly customizable building blocks of sound and music that support, underpin and emphasize the playfulness inherent in the game's unique art direction, character design and game design structure. Rather than seamlessly flowing together, the varied pieces of music work together much like the patchwork evident in the game's visual assets, nowhere is this aesthetic more evident than in the many user created online levels. Again, a difficult game to imagine working without the many unique aspects to its audio direction.

— Rob Bridgett, Game Audio Culture, p. 44[7]

The audio experience in LittleBigPlanet was very well received, garnering an exceptional eight GANG award nominations in 2009, more than any other game that year,[8] and four academy nominations.[9][10] Young and fellow composer Mat Clark won the GANG awards for Best Original Instrumental (for "The Gardens") and Best Interactive Score.[11]

For LittleBigPlanet 2, Young built upon the eclecticism of the original's soundtrack by working with six other composers,[12] the results of which achieved a nomination in 2012 for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.[13]

Tearaway's folk-infused soundtrack received a 2014 British Academy Video Games Award nomination for Original Music[14] and is notable for its hand-made aesthetic, being written and performed entirely by Young and co-composer Brian D'Oliveira.[15] Kotaku's Kirk Hamilton considered it one of the best video game soundtracks of 2013, writing "It's jarring to hear out-of-tune instruments in a video game; we've become so accustomed to pitch-perfect digital performances that any hint of humanity is startling. I'd like to be startled like this more often".[16]

On 27 February 2015, Young announced that he was leaving Media Molecule to pursue a freelance career.[17]

Works

Gameography
GameYearPlatformDeveloperCredit
Astro's Playroom 2020 PlayStation 5 Asobi Team Composer
Knights and Bikes 2019 PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows Foam Sword Audio designer
Astro Bot Rescue Mission 2018 PlayStation VR Asobi Team Composer
WonderWorlds2017iOSGlowmadeComposer, sound designer
Tethered2016PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC ViveSecret SorceryComposer, sound designer
Tearaway Unfolded2015PlayStation 4Media MoleculeAudio director; composer with Brian D'Oliveira
LittleBigPlanet 32014PlayStation 3, 4Sumo DigitalSpecial thanks; composer with Si Begg, Chrome Canyon, Mat Clark, Brian D'Oliviera, The Emperor Machine, Jim Fowler, Joe Henson, Winifred Phillips, David Poore, Alexis Smith, Paul Thomson, Ugress
Run Sackboy! Run!2014iOS, Android, PlayStation VitaFirespriteComposer with Christoffer Berg, Mat Clark, Joe Henson, Alexis Smith, Keith Tenniswood
Tearaway2013PlayStation VitaMedia MoleculeHead of audio; composer with Brian D'Oliveira
LittleBigPlanet Vita2012PlayStation VitaDouble Eleven, Tarsier StudiosSpecial thanks; composer with Todd Baker, Christoffer Berg, Joe Henson, Richard Jacques, Tobias Lilja, Dominic Parker, Winifred Phillips, David Poore, Alexis Smith, Stakula, Paul Thomson
LittleBigPlanet Karting2012PlayStation 3United Front GamesComposer with Mat Clark, Winifred Phillips, Richard Jacques, Keith Tenniswood
LittleBigPlanet 22011PlayStation 3Media MoleculeAudio lead; composer with Baiyon, Richard Jacques, Keith Tenniswood, Daniel Pemberton,[12] Winifred Phillips, Paul Thomson
LittleBigPlanet2008PlayStation 3Media MoleculeAudio designer; composer with Mat Clark, Daniel Pemberton
Heavenly Sword2007PlayStation 3Ninja TheoryDialogue dubbing editor
24: The Game2006PlayStation 2Cambridge StudioCinematic Sound Designer
Gangs of London2006PSPLondon StudioSound designer
Go! Sudoku2006PSPLondon StudioComposer with Alistair Lindsay, Dave Ranyard
EyeToy: Kinetic Combat2006PlayStation 2London StudioSound designer
EyeToy: Operation Spy2005PlayStation 2London StudioSound designer
Fired Up2005PSPLondon StudioSound designer
EyeToy: Kinetic2005PlayStation 2London StudioSound designer; composer with Alistair Lindsay, Dave Ranyard
The Getaway: Black Monday2004PlayStation 2London StudioSound designer
EyeToy: Chat2004PlayStation 2London StudioSound designer

Albums

The official video game soundtrack album for Tearaway was released alongside the game as a pre-order bonus on 22 November 2013.[18] The album was later made available via the PlayStation Network.[19]

The official video game soundtrack album for Tearaway Unfolded was released alongside the game on 8 September 2015 via the PlayStation Network and on 16 October 2015 via iTunes.[20][21]

The official video game soundtrack album for Tethered was released alongside the game on 27 October 2016 via the PlayStation Network and on 27 February 2017 via Steam.[22][23]

The official video game soundtrack album for WonderWorlds was released on 11 December 2017.[24]

The official video game soundtrack album for Astro Bot Rescue Mission was released on 30 January 2019.[25]

Writing

Young started the website gamesound.org in 2005 "as a useful resource for those who work in, aspire to work in, or wish to learn more about game sound".[2] Most of his own writing featured on the site is focused on the subject of the use of voice in games.[26] He has twice won the GANG Best Game Audio Article Publication or Broadcast award for his articles The Use of Voice in Portal 2 (2012) and The Mix in The Last of Us (2015).[27][28]

He has also written for designingsound.org,[29] and contributed a chapter to the book Production Pipeline Fundamentals for Film and Games, edited by Renee Dunlop, entitled The Game Audio Pipeline.[30]

Young was co-writer of Tearaway's and Tearaway Unfolded's voice script with the game's lead creator, Rex Crowle.[4]

Awards and nominations
Year Result Award Category Work
2020 Nominated IGF Excellence in Audio[31] Knights and Bikes
Nominated GANG Best Sound Design In An Indie Game[32] Knights and Bikes
Nominated GANG Best Game Audio Article Publication or Broadcast[32] Thoughts On Game Audio History'
Nominated MCV/Develop Audio Innovation of the Year[33] Knights and Bikes
Nominated Develop: Star Awards Best Audio[34] Knights and Bikes
Nominated Game Dev Heroes Sound[35] N/A
2019 Nominated Game Audio Awards Best Game Music[36] Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Won Guildford Games Awards Creative[37] Astro Bot Rescue Mission
2018 Nominated HMMA Original Song - Video Game[38] Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Nominated GANG Best Music for an Indie Game[39] WonderWorlds
2017 Nominated GANG Best Interactive Score[40] Tethered
Nominated GANG Best Game Audio Article Publication or Broadcast[40] The VR Soundscape of Secret Sorcery's Tethered
2016 Nominated GANG Music of the Year[41] Tearaway Unfolded
Nominated TIGA Best Audio Design[42] Tearaway Unfolded
2015 Won GANG Best Game Audio Article Publication or Broadcast[43] The Mix In 'The Last of Us'
2014 Nominated BAFTA Original Music[44] Tearaway
Won GANG Best Handheld Audio[45] Tearaway
Nominated GDC Best Audio[46] Tearaway
Nominated SXSW Excellence in Musical Score[47] Tearaway
Nominated Golden Joysticks Best Audio[48] Tearaway
Nominated GMAs Outstanding Achievement: In-Game Music[49] Tearaway
Nominated GMAs Best Soundtrack: Western[49] Tearaway
Won IGN Best PS Vita Sound[50] Tearaway
Won The Vita Lounge Best Soundtrack[51] Tearaway
2012 Nominated AIAS Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition[52] LittleBigPlanet 2
Nominated GANG Best Use of Licensed Music[27] LittleBigPlanet 2
Nominated GDC Best Audio[53] LittleBigPlanet 2
Won GMAs Outstanding Achievement: Licensed Music[54] LittleBigPlanet 2
Nominated NAVGTR Original Light Mix Score, Franchise[55] LittleBigPlanet 2
Won GANG Best Game Audio Article Publication or Broadcast[27] The Use of Voice in Portal 2
2009 Nominated BAFTA Original Score[9] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated BAFTA Use of Audio[9] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated AIAS Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design[10] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated AIAS Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack[10] LittleBigPlanet
Won AIAS Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance[10][56] LittleBigPlanet
Won GANG Best Interactive Score[11] LittleBigPlanet
Won GANG Best Original Instrumental[11] LittleBigPlanet (for 'The Gardens', tied with 'Main Theme' from Africa)
Nominated GANG Audio of the Year[8] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated GANG Music of the Year[8] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated GANG Sound Design of the Year[8] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated GANG Best Original Vocal: Choral[8] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated GANG Best Use of Licensed Music[8] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated GANG Best Dialogue[8] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated GDC Best Audio[57] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated TEC Awards Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Entertainment Sound Production[58] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated Spike VGAs Best Original Score[59] LittleBigPlanet
Nominated Spike VGAs Best Soundtrack[59] LittleBigPlanet

References
  1. Burnard, Pamela (2012). "The Practice of Diverse Compositional Creativites". In Collins, David (Ed.) The Act of Musical Composition: Studies in the Creative Process, p. 241, Ashgate Publishing Limited, Farnham, England. ISBN 9781409434252.
  2. "Official website biography", gamesound.org, retrieved 4 November 2014.
  3. Burnard, Pamela (2012). "Musical Creativities In Practice" p. 188, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England. ISBN 9780199583942.
  4. "Audio Interviewing Audio: Tomoya Kishi and Kenneth Young", designingsound.org, retrieved 5 November 2014.
  5. Kenneth Young (V) IMDB profile, imdb.com, retrieved 5 November 2014.
  6. Burnard, Pamela (2012). "Musical Creativities In Practice" p. 189-190, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England. ISBN 9780199583942.
  7. Bridgett, Rob (2013). "Game Audio Culture" p. 44, Blurb.com
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