Pinar Toprak - Interview (engl.) - Spezial 
<img src="/kmx/modul_cms/uploads/article/new/360/n3pt-aw3.jpg" border="0" align="left">JG: I guess, for the audience it’s always difficult to imagine how composers work. How did your work process for N3 look like? How did you start or prepare your songs?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: I usually start by coming up with the main themes. Before putting anything down I think about the story and what I want the music to accomplish. I also come up with a sound palette and program/design certain sounds that I’d like to use throughout the project. Once I have my themes and sounds, then I start writing more linearly and orchestrate as I go. </font>
JG: Since Ninety-Nine Nights is a video game, it’s an interactive media. Have you played the game or watched it, while you scored it? If so, what’s your impression of the game?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: No, I didn’t get a chance to play the game since the interactive parts were being developed at the same time as I was writing the music and I only had the in game cinematics that were pre-rendered.</font>
JG: Can you reveal some piece of information about the game’s story?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: Nothing more than what you guys know already through the official website.</font>
JG: If not from the game itself, where else to you get your inspirations from?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: Everything really. I try to absorb everything that happens to me and let it out when it is the right time and place.</font>
JG: I could imagine that artists sometimes have a creative low. What is your best mean to solve this problem?
<img src="/kmx/modul_cms/uploads/article/new/360/n3pt-ss2.jpg" border="0" align="center">
<font color="#555555">Toprak: I usually start by coming up with the main themes. Before putting anything down I think about the story and what I want the music to accomplish. I also come up with a sound palette and program/design certain sounds that I’d like to use throughout the project. Once I have my themes and sounds, then I start writing more linearly and orchestrate as I go. </font>
JG: Since Ninety-Nine Nights is a video game, it’s an interactive media. Have you played the game or watched it, while you scored it? If so, what’s your impression of the game?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: No, I didn’t get a chance to play the game since the interactive parts were being developed at the same time as I was writing the music and I only had the in game cinematics that were pre-rendered.</font>
JG: Can you reveal some piece of information about the game’s story?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: Nothing more than what you guys know already through the official website.</font>
JG: If not from the game itself, where else to you get your inspirations from?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: Everything really. I try to absorb everything that happens to me and let it out when it is the right time and place.</font>
JG: I could imagine that artists sometimes have a creative low. What is your best mean to solve this problem?
<img src="/kmx/modul_cms/uploads/article/new/360/n3pt-ss2.jpg" border="0" align="center">
<img src="/kmx/modul_cms/uploads/article/new/360/n3pt-ss3.jpg" border="0" align="center">
<font color="#555555">Toprak: Instead of waiting for the theme fairy to show up I usually get away from my studio for a while and just think about the story. Usually the next time I’m in front of my keyboard something comes out.</font>
JG: Let’s talk about the soundtrack itself: What kind of atmosphere does the soundtrack create and what does it say about the video game?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: The atmosphere certainly revolves around the emotions of a war. There are moments of hope and sorrow and moments of anger and revenge. I tried to depict the philosophy of the game in a way that in times of war there are two justices. We are always presented with the good and the bad guys and we rarely get to see how the bad have become bad or if they are even really bad at all…</font>
JG: The song, which can be heard at the game’s official site for now sounds like a sorrowful ballad to me – is it the main theme of Ninety-Nine Nights?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: Yes it is. It goes through several versions and it can be heard throughout the battle cues as well. </font>
JG: Which song is the one, you are most proud of in N3?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: The End Credits.</font>
JG: What was the most memorable moment while making the soundtrack?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: I have to say the recording session was the most memorable day for me. I got a chance to meet with Mr. Mizuguchi and it was great to see everything coming together and enjoying the end product.</font>
JG: In Ninety-Nine Nights, we have several factions and it seems like each has its own historical and cultural backgrounds. Is this reflected by the music, as well?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: In a way yes and no. Instead of mickey mousing everything I mainly tried to emphasize the emotions of the characters. There are always those subtle implications of where they’ve come from and what makes them who they are. </font>
<font color="#555555">Toprak: Instead of waiting for the theme fairy to show up I usually get away from my studio for a while and just think about the story. Usually the next time I’m in front of my keyboard something comes out.</font>
JG: Let’s talk about the soundtrack itself: What kind of atmosphere does the soundtrack create and what does it say about the video game?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: The atmosphere certainly revolves around the emotions of a war. There are moments of hope and sorrow and moments of anger and revenge. I tried to depict the philosophy of the game in a way that in times of war there are two justices. We are always presented with the good and the bad guys and we rarely get to see how the bad have become bad or if they are even really bad at all…</font>
JG: The song, which can be heard at the game’s official site for now sounds like a sorrowful ballad to me – is it the main theme of Ninety-Nine Nights?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: Yes it is. It goes through several versions and it can be heard throughout the battle cues as well. </font>
JG: Which song is the one, you are most proud of in N3?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: The End Credits.</font>
JG: What was the most memorable moment while making the soundtrack?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: I have to say the recording session was the most memorable day for me. I got a chance to meet with Mr. Mizuguchi and it was great to see everything coming together and enjoying the end product.</font>
JG: In Ninety-Nine Nights, we have several factions and it seems like each has its own historical and cultural backgrounds. Is this reflected by the music, as well?
<font color="#555555">Toprak: In a way yes and no. Instead of mickey mousing everything I mainly tried to emphasize the emotions of the characters. There are always those subtle implications of where they’ve come from and what makes them who they are. </font>
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