Stemage

Grant Henry (born April 3, 1979), better known by his stage name Stemage, is an American guitarist and composer. He is known for his involvement in several video game cover projects, including Metroid Metal and Viking Guitar.[3] He is also known for his video game and television soundtracks, including Cartoon Network's animated show Steven Universe.[4]

Stemage
Birth nameGrant Henry
Born (1979-04-03) April 3, 1979
Genres
InstrumentsGuitar, drums, vocals
Years active1998–present
LabelsBrave Wave Productions[1], Materia Collective[2]
Associated actsMetroid Metal, Yes Mayhem, Viking Guitar, LONELYROLLINGSTARS
Websitestemagemusic.com

Career
Stemage (semi-hidden on the right) playing guitar at MAGWest 2019

Stemage began writing and performing music in high school, and a joined a band named MiniVoid in 1998 while in college.[5][6] In 2003, Stemage formed Metroid cover project Metroid Metal, later recruiting other artists such as Danimal Cannon.[7] While the group were initially simply recording cover songs to release online, Metroid Metal made their live debut at MAGfest 7 in 2009, and became a recurring act at the event. Stemage released several albums with the group over the following years.[8] During this time, he released a number of albums as a solo artist, both in the form of cover projects and original material.

Stemage had a brief tenure with LONELYROLLINGSTARS, working on their 2014 album CARNIVORTEX and performing live at MAGFest 12 to support the release.[9] His departure later in the year was announced by the band in the form of a music video. During the video, Stemage walks out midway through a performance of Royal Rainbow Road to be replaced by new guitarist Mega Beardo.[10][11]

Viking Guitar

Stemage joined Viking Guitar in 2014, alongside Travis Morgan, Mega Beardo, and founder Erik Peabody. Viking Guitar originated as a solo act fronted by Peabody, with which Stemage had featured as a guest on several occasions.[12][13] The new incarnation of the band released their debut studio album Legion later that year, while continuing the annual Danse Macabre projects that Stemage had been involved in earlier.[14] In 2018, the group released their second studio album, Warpath.

Soundtracks

Stemage's work with soundtracks began in 2005 with his work for the comedy film For Catherine. In 2010, Stemage was hired to perform the soundtrack for the Xbox Live game Alpha Squad. In an interview shortly before the game's release, he described composing for video games as "acting on a blue screen with a director telling you that the Master Control Program is off in the distance, and it's big – except that there's no director, and the MCP is a sketch of a dude with a gun."[15]

In addition to the opening theme for the second season of Cartoon Network's Steven Universe, Stemage worked on guitars throughout the remainder of the show.[16] The first volume of the Steven Universe soundtrack reached #22 on the Billboard 200.[17] A second volume followed in 2019, peaking at #28 on the Billboard 200, and #12 on the US iTunes chart.[18][19] Stemage also co-composed Steven Universe: The Movie.[20]

In 2019, Stemage worked on the Bubsy: Paws on Fire! soundtrack, which was released via videogame music label Materia Collective. When discussing the album, Stemage indicated that it was a challenging but enjoyable project, adding "If you hear a hi-hat playing Morse code during one of the songs, don't say I didn't warn you."[21]

Super Strikers

In 2018, Stemage joined a band called Super Strikers, along with video game composers Keiji Yamagishi and Manami Matsumae. The group performed live at MAGFest 2018.[22]

Style and influences

He has described his music as "Catchy, high-energy space rock mixed with metal, pop, and prog".[3] He has cited stylistic influences such as Failure, Stone Temple Pilots, Self, Hum, Meshuggah, and Shiner.[6]

Discography
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References
  1. "Welcome". Brave Wave Productions.
  2. "Bubsy: Paws on Fire! (Original Game Soundtrack)". Materia Collective.
  3. "Shockingly, Backwards Video Game Music Doesn't Sound Awful". Kotaku.vo.uk. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  4. "Dropping Gems: An Interview with the Composers of the Score for 'Steven Universe'". Noisey.vive.com. January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  5. "Of Metroid and Metal - Interview with Stemage". Fsbossfight.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  6. "Steamy Stemage: Grant "Metroid Metal" Henry Interview". Originalsoundversion.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  7. http://www.metroidmetal.com/about/
  8. McElroy, Griffin (April 4, 2012). "PAX East 2012 guide: Surviving the Game (Convention)". Polygon.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  9. http://super.magfest.org/musician2014/lonelyrollingstars/
  10. "Gammes kultes - LONELYROLLINGSTARS de retour avec SUGARBURGER". February 2, 2018.
  11. LONELYROLLINGSTARS (August 1, 2014). ""ROYAL RAINBOW ROAD" (Mario Kart Double Dash) – LONELYROLLINGSTARS✨" – via YouTube.
  12. http://super.magfest.org/musician2018/viking-guitar-live/
  13. http://super.magfest.org/musician2014/viking-guitar/
  14. "Have Some More "Video Game Themes Meets Metal" Music With Viking Guitar Live - Bloody Disgusting". bloody-disgusting.com.
  15. "Dragon Divide - Games and entertainment". Dragondivide.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  16. McDonnell, Chris. Steven Universe: Art & Origins. Cartoon Network Enterprises, Inc. p. 164. ISBN 978-1419724435.
  17. "Top 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  18. http://www.itunescharts.net/us/artists/music/steven-universe/albums/steven-universe-vol-2-original-soundtrack/
  19. https://www.billboard.com/music/SOUNDTRACK/chart-history/independent-albums/song/1131617
  20. https://filmschoolrejects.com/steven-universe-the-movie-review/
  21. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/342840/Bubsy_Paws_on_Fire_Original_Game_Soundtrack_on_All_Storefronts.php
  22. http://www.bravewave.net/news/2019/the-retro-active-experience
  23. "Videogame Rock supergroup LONELYROLLINGSTARS debut album CARNIVORTEX". Gamemusic4all.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  24. "Viking Guitar, by Viking Guitar". Viking Guitar.
  25. "Made of Metal, by Viking Guitar". Viking Guitar.
  26. "Oscurità (Tenebre), by Stemage, Chunkstyle, Kevin Lawrence, & Norrin_Radd". Viking Guitar.
  27. "Four new songs!".
  28. "Danse Macabre 2, by Viking Guitar Productions". Viking Guitar.
  29. "Legion, by Viking Guitar Live". Viking Guitar.
  30. "Stemage, Cory Johnson, Claire Barton - Deadflip (Alien Crush), by Big Mat Attacks Presents..." Big Mat Attacks Presents...
  31. "TerrorVision (TerrorVision), by Stemage (ft. Claire Henry)". Viking Guitar.
  32. "Warpath, by Viking Guitar Live". Viking Guitar.
  33. https://vikingguitar.bandcamp.com/album/live
  34. https://store.bravewave.net/album/the-retro-active-experience
  35. Davis, Jacob (June 4, 2017). "Emmy spotlight: Voters are out of this world if they snub 'Steven Universe' this year". Goldderby.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  36. "This Looks Pretty Slick for an Indie Game". Kotaku.com.au. August 19, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  37. "Saturday Morning RPG Soundtrack on Steam". Store.steampowered.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  38. "Aeternum - Original Sound Track on Steam". Store.steampowered.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  39. "Band Saga Is A Musical Roguelike With A Mega Man Flavor - Siliconera". Siliconera.com. September 3, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  40. "Save 65% on The Metronomicon - The Soundtrack! on Steam". Store.steampowered.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  41. "Stemage on Twitter".
  42. "SOUNDTRACKS". Runner3.
  43. https://twitter.com/Stemage/status/1057447569037508608
  44. https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2019/09/apple-showcases-four-games-that-are-coming-to-apple-arcade-when-it-launches-on-thursday.html
  45. https://twitter.com/waltzforluma/status/1063592986737442817
  46. "The Nurse Who Loved Me: A Tribute To FAILURE, by (Damn) This Desert Air". Damnthisdesertair.bandcamp.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  47. "Full Discography". Stemagemusic.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  48. "Chiptunes = WTFLOL, by Chiptunes = WIN". Chiptunes = WIN.
  49. "Composer Alexander Brandon's collab album, Just Fun".
  50. "Super VG Christmas Party, by Patient Corgi". Super VG Christmas Party.
  51. "Retro-Active Pt. 1, by Keiji Yamagishi". Brave Wave Productions.
  52. Good, Owen S. (February 14, 2016). "Huge Chrono Trigger soundtrack tribute available now". Polygon.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  53. "Retro-Active Pt. 2, by Keiji Yamagishi". Brave Wave Productions.
  54. Hamilton, Kirk. "Proof That There's No Such Thing As Too Many Video Game Composers". Kotaku.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  55. "Chips = FLIPPED, by Chiptunes = WIN". Chiptunes = WIN.
  56. Sam Mulligan (May 29, 2018). "Sam Mulligan & The Donut Slayers - "Shark Party"" – via YouTube.
  57. https://sindravaniaprojects.bandcamp.com/releases
  58. https://www.materiacollective.com/music/play-the-game-devolver-digital-cinematic-universe
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