Ludomusicology, or the academic study of video game music, is now prominence in contemporary musicology scholarship. Increasing prevalence in dedicated conferences, monograph, edited collection, and journal publications is further stimulating the breadth of scholarly inquiry related to game music studies.
While engaging in the field more broadly, my specific research interests include the music of open-world games, game audio design, coalescence of tradition and contemporary compositional techniques, and the development of research models through which we can better understand the music of this medium.
Barnabas is also founder and President of the Ludomusicology Society of Australia, the only body of it’s kind offering professional conference and networking opportunities to residents within the Australasian Region.
Visit the LSA here: Website Facebook Twitter
Please contact me via info@barnabassmithmusic.com for any research-related queries, or contact the Ludomusicology Society of Australia via info@ludomusicologysociety.com.au.
Publications
Doctoral Thesis (2019, The University of Adelaide)
Article, Journal of Sound and Music in Games
Review: Music in the Role-Playing Game: Heroes and Harmonies, edited by William Gibbons and Reale
Article, Musicology Australia
From Skyrim to Skellige: Fantasy Video Game Music Within a Neo-Mediaevalist Paradigm
Guess Contribution (online), Ludomusicology Videogame Music Research Group
To Love and Learn Game Music in the South
Op-ed (online), gamasutra.com
Video Games Live – A Gamer’s Holy Grail of Live Entertainment
Interview (online), worldofgamemusic.com
Interview (online), worldofgamemusic.com
Interviews
Music Respawn!, WSHU Public Radio Group
Music Respawn! The Academic Side Of GTA 5
Game Composure, podcast
What, Like it’s Hard?, podcast
Conference Papers
‘The Historical Development of Music in The Grand Theft Auto Series and its Immersive Role and Application in Grand Theft Auto V’, Ludo2016, Ludomusicology Research Group
‘A Connected Culture of Video Game Music and Teaching Possibilities’, ANZARME 28th Conference 2016, Australian & New Zealand Association for Research in Music Education
‘The Developing Identity of Ludomusicology and its Role in Contemporary Musicology’, Shifts and Turns: Moving Music, Musicians and Ideas, Musicological Society of Australia
‘Real Musical Connections in a Virtual World’ (awarded commendation), Isolated Musics, Connected Musics, International Association for the Study of Popular Music – Australia/New Zealand
‘Bringing London Murders to the Australian Stage: An Evolution of Game Music Collaboration and Performance’, Ludo2017, Ludomusicology Research Group
‘Rip & Tear: Deconstructing the Technological and Musical Composition of Mick Gordon’s Score for DOOM (2016)’, Do Androids Dream of Computer Music?, Australasian Computer Music Conference 2017, Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide.
ABSTRACT Published Proceedings
‘Constructive Steps Towards Incorporating Video Game Music into Pedagogy’, DAYTiME 2020, Music EDnet
Memberships
Society for the Study of Sound and Music in Games
Ludomusicology Research Group
International Association for the Study of Popular Music
Musicological Society of Australia
Australian Society for Music Education
The Ludomusicology Society of Australia