In this episode of Inside Egosoft, Alex Zakarov shares his journey from a space game fan to the composer behind the X series, detailing his creative process, musical influences, and the emotional depth he strives to bring to the game’s soundtracks. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, collaboration, and balancing complexity with simplicity in game music, while also highlighting his signature tools and production techniques that contribute to the series’ distinctive sound.
In this episode of Inside Egosoft, host Joey Brown interviews Alex Zakarov, the composer and sound designer behind the music of the X series games. Alex shares his journey from being a fan of space games like Elite on the ZX Spectrum to becoming the music creator for Egosoft. He recounts how he bravely reached out to the company with his electronic music demos around 2003, initially facing rejection for his techno style but eventually having his tracks accepted and used in the game, marking the start of his long-term collaboration with Egosoft.
Alex discusses his approach to composing music for the X series, emphasizing that while technology and tools have evolved, his core creative process remains consistent. He focuses on crafting memorable songs with structure and emotional depth rather than just background tracks. He aims to evoke feelings in players that resonate with the game’s atmosphere, such as tension, wonder, loneliness, and “positive sadness,” a recurring mood in his compositions. Alex also highlights the importance of authenticity and emotional investment in music, regardless of whether it’s electronic or acoustic.
The conversation delves into Alex’s creative process, which involves collaboration with game designers and narrative teams to understand the context and emotions behind each piece. He collects many musical ideas and only develops those that connect with the game’s vision. Alex also talks about the balance between complexity and simplicity in game music, noting that tight deadlines often prevent overthinking and encourage finishing tracks efficiently. Both he and Joey agree on the value of finishing a track and the challenge of knowing when to stop refining it.
Alex reveals some of his favorite tools and signature sounds, particularly the Virus TI hardware synthesizer, which he considers central to the X series’ sound identity. He also discusses the use of diverse musical influences, such as combining Middle Eastern and classical chord progressions within a single track, demonstrating his willingness to experiment and blend styles. Despite not having formal music education, Alex has taught himself music theory and values it as a tool for creative freedom rather than constraint.
Towards the end, Alex shares insights into production techniques and his obsession with achieving a warm “wall of sound” and well-compressed transients, especially in percussion. He and Joey also discuss the human element in electronic music, agreeing that emotional authenticity transcends the medium used. Alex expresses gratitude for player feedback, which inspires him to continually improve his work. The episode closes with Alex encouraging listeners to explore the X series soundtracks available on various platforms and thanking fans for their support.