Nobuo Uematsu

Japanese video game composer

Nobuo Uematsu is a renowned Japanese composer and keyboardist best known for his work on the iconic Final Fantasy video game series. He started playing the piano at 12, with Elton John as a major influence. After joining Square in 1986, Uematsu collaborated extensively with Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, composing unforgettable soundtracks that have been performed in various concerts worldwide.

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Occupation

About the Nobuo Uematsu

Nobuo Uematsuis a Japanese composer and keyboardist best known for his contributions to the Final Fantasy video game series by Square Enix. A self-taught musician, he began playing the piano at the age of twelve, with English singer-songwriter Elton John as one of his biggest influences.

Uematsu joined Square in 1986, where he first met Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. The two later worked together on many games at the company, most notably in the Final Fantasy series. After nearly two decades with Square, Uematsu left in 2004 to create his own production company and music label, Dog Ear Records. He has since composed music as a freelancer for other games, including ones developed by Square Enix and Sakaguchi’s studio Mistwalker.

Many soundtracks and arranged albums of Uematsu’s game scores have been released. Pieces from his video game works have been performed in various Final Fantasy concerts, where he has worked with conductor Arnie Roth and Game Concerts producer Thomas Bocker on several of these performances. Uematsu was also the keyboardist in The Black Mages in the 2000s, which played various hard rock versions of his Final Fantasy compositions. He has since performed with the Earthbound Papas, which he formed as the successor to The Black Mages in 2011. Uematsu has made several listings in Britain’s Classic FM Hall of Fame, with the station referring to him as the Beethoven of game music.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nobuo Uematsu is a Japanese composer and keyboardist best known for his work on the Final Fantasy video game series by Square Enix.

Nobuo Uematsu is a self-taught musician who began playing the piano at the age of 12, with English singer-songwriter Elton John as one of his biggest influences.

Nobuo Uematsu joined Square (now Square Enix) in 1986, where he first met Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, and the two later worked together on many games in the Final Fantasy series.

After nearly two decades with Square, Nobuo Uematsu left the company in 2004 to create his own production company and music label, Dog Ear Records, and has since composed music as a freelancer for other games.

Many soundtracks and arranged albums of Nobuo Uematsu’s game scores have been released, and his compositions have been performed in various Final Fantasy concerts, where he has worked with conductor Arnie Roth and producer Thomas Böcker.

Nobuo Uematsu was the keyboardist in The Black Mages in the 2000s, which played hard rock versions of his Final Fantasy compositions, and he has since performed with the Earthbound Papas, which he formed as the successor to The Black Mages in 2011.

Nobuo Uematsu has made several listings in Britain’s Classic FM Hall of Fame, with the station referring to him as the Beethoven of game music.

24 Quotes by Nobuo Uematsu

  1. 1.

    So I don’t really have a clear plan, in terms of music, as to where I want to head in the future.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  2. 2.

    And as far as the Disney Concert hall is concerned, it is a wonderful modern structure and I am extremely honored that I had this opportunity to have a concert here.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  3. 3.

    As you may know my use of Celtic music is extremely simple and short. However there is something about it that will remain in your mind for a long, long time.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  4. 4.

    However, very recently I have come to an understanding that complex music is not necessarily pleasant.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  5. 5.

    I think that American people really know how to pursue fun, they really know how to have a good time. Japanese are somewhat more reserved than Americans, so I’m jealous.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  6. 6.

    I just initiated the project where I write music for somebody else to write the lyrics and also for the orchestra to perform. I’ve just initiated the project. That leads the project into creating an independent label outside of game music.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  7. 7.

    I have been interested in Irish traditional music for the past few years.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  8. 8.

    Last year in Germany at a town hall in Leipzig there was a game music concert played by the orchestra and some of the Final Fantasy scores were played. This year there is another concert scheduled in the same location, for game music.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  9. 9.

    I guess many game music fans prefer original soundtrack albums.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  10. 10.

    However now we can create a sound that can truly startle someone and in terms of sound effects I think the environment that we are in now has improved dramatically.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  11. 11.

    The second album of Black Mages is currently in the process of recording and the basic tracks have already been completed. Hopefully sometime in the future we will be able to have a concert.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  12. 12.

    Certainly my only interest is not in Celtic music.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  13. 13.

    I believe that there are still people who believe that game music is something equal to just an effect incorporated into the game, something like a BGM. And therefore this is something that I would like to show that is not true.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  14. 14.

    For over ten years or so game music has developed into a very large market.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  15. 15.

    And it’s very strange, but I think there is something very common – not only in Celtic music – but there is a factor or element in Celtic music that is similar in music that we find in Japan, the United States, Europe, and even China and other Asian countries.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  16. 16.

    We hope that eventually there would be an occasion which I can personally prove that game music can in fact impress many different people and move them.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  17. 17.

    It was very difficult to startle or surprise someone with a particular sound during the family computer era.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  18. 18.

    I don’t know anyone who would be exclusively working on game music, per se.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  19. 19.

    However in countries outside of Japan I think game music is still a potential growth market that has not yet developed to the extent that we are seeing in Japan.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  20. 20.

    I always begin to compose the melody first.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  21. 21.

    I believe that there are many interesting projects that are potentially possible for me other than game music, and therefore in my mind there are several things that are being contemplated.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  22. 22.

    When you talk about the Final Fantasy series, the series started selling better after 7, and that was the base idea for the center of the set list for the LA concert.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  23. 23.

    Well, rather than to give you my impression on Los Angeles, per se, my older sister’s husband is and American, therefore I have a pretty good idea of the, perhaps the characteristics of Americans in general.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer

  24. 24.

    There’s some familiarity in Celtic music, even if you’ve never heard that piece of music before.

    Nobuo Uematsu

    Japanese video game composer