The Notes We DID Play: A Look Back at the Music of Book One with Brennan and Taylor

Listening to them describe The Epiphany/Steel's theme and how it's linked back to the Imperial march is very fun to me because the Imperial march has always sounded very familiar to me, but I can't place where I've heard it or the similar song before...

I'm back after wayyy too long relistening to this and Brennan mentions writing liner notes for the Steel etc playlists - but I don't see them on the post where they were published? Did I miss them somewhere or did they never get posted?

even as a complete music nescient, i deeply appreciate taylor's contributions to the show—it's already been said but it's pure magic!! this whole book is my favorite piece of media of all time, thanks to everyone who made it happen and took such care and intention to really do it justice

I haven't listened to anyone talk about music like this since I got my degree (in music) 17 years ago. It's fun to hear someone talk about the intricacies and nuances out in the actual world! One thing I love about music is that you don't need to have studied it in order to understand it and FEEL it on an artistic level. Everyone's ear has some level of expectation of what they're hearing, just from exposure alone (emotions being portrayed, when the music does or doesn't resolve, as examples). Learning the motivation behind the extremely intentional choices of the composition brings out the metaphorical flavor, and I'm having a delightful time eating it up!

I binged the main podcast all the way thru to the end and then joined the patreon and listen to the children's episodes and the fireside chats so i knew about Steel when I first heard the children's adventure. This is reminding me that when Steel came to the cottage and was telling her what happened, Suvi said tell me the truth. The way Steel never said how they were killed or who killed them.... she never said a lie. She was speaking sooooo carefully. But it sounded like how you explain parental death to a 6 year old, not a cover up. It's heartbreaking. It's genius.

As someone who went to school for music, listening to Taylor say he feels like he could "fix Mussorgsky" had me CACKLING

Taylor being like "do you wanna know an embarrassing secret that will disavow you of the idea that I'm smart" and then the secret is the "playing D&D" thing which is the most galaxy-brain 6D-chess shit I've heard all year...my brother in Naram, please try to come to terms with the idea that you are in fact a fucking wizard.

This was two squirrels chasing each other around a tree. I need a Lou to bring down this energy.

I just realized, somewhere over the years I learned to easily tell the difference between Brennan and Tayor's voices! And I feel so blessed to have been able to listen to them enough to be that familiar with their voices. ❤️

To a brighter tomorrow, cheers !

“You have the right to make art that moves your fellow man!!!!” -Taylor Moore (Ted Lasso-esque raw wholesome motivation)

The sound effect at the very end absolutely killed me 😆 Keep spiting the good spite, Taylor

Are the NPC playlists publicly available? Some of how they were discussed made it seem like they might be, but I'm not sure how to find them if so.

Not only is this podcast a masterclass in storytelling that rivals well-crafted novels, its soundtrack has added "scoring a DnD podcast" to my composer bucket list.

Not to ask for MORE of Taylor but it would be amazing to have this episode intercut with the music and themes that they're talking about. Amazing work guys! Thanks for the Q&A.

ouuuggh i got a lotta joy out of listening to your minds crackle and buzz off of each other like that

This is my favorite of the Talkback just hearing them finally gush about these secrets they have held for so long

The witches theme is a standout leitmotif for me, especially the way it just BOOMS in Act 3 when Hakea submits her vote about going to war. I just remember yelling in my kitchen at that episode end in delight and horror, and I’d listen to just that leitmotif on loop for hours if I could.

I had always thought the Citadel march had a sort of fun-pokey energy. Mainly because the horn part sounds like that kids song about ants going marching along or whatever it is.

i want taylore moore very BADLY. teh genius

This is just two Brennan’s from two different timelines talking to each other, and I LOVE IT

I heard 'Wendy Carlos' and punched the air on a packed bus.

The score makes me cry, listening to you talk about the score makes me cry, thinking about the score makes me cry (I'm crying)

My headcannon is that the correct answer to ending book1 is ecstasy of gold, but funkytown is objectively so much funnier

I literally had to run to catch the bus to work this morning. Picked this episode back up while I was still trying to catch my breath and didn't realize my headphones volume was somehow at max volume so all of a sudden Brennan was shouting "ASS REQUIRES INDUSTRY" because apparently I had paused mid-word 😂

My favourite leit motif has been the up and down string scales and descending horns that in my head I call Grandma Wren's Curse. It's the one that made want to follow this story and knowing the theme of strings versus brass as witches versus wizards makes is even more so amazing.

I need Sound of Silence by Disturbed on Eursulon’s list and Why Should I Worry from the Oliver and Company soundtrack on The Fox’s playlist 😩

The connection between Brennan and Taylor through their art; it's magical listening to you both and your excitement and enjoyment of your craft is so beautiful to listen to and elicits even more love and enjoyment from everything you've done with this incredible project if WBN! What an absolute gift you all are. Thank you for everything you all create 💕

Thank you for putting Brain Damage/Eclipse next to each other in your Book One Endings playlist 🤌✨

I was wondering about the significant increase of the anime sword sounds. Now we know

i love your guys’ descriptions of the heavenly choir moments. i get chills every time i hear it, it’s like im being propelled into a different dimension!

I'm in my 30s and I find it real hard to build a connection to "new" music I didn't listen to in my youth... except when it's contextualized by mirroring the emotional bandwidth of the greatest story ever podcasted. What a treat to be exposed to art with a runway like that.

Taylor Moore telling jokes with music! That anime sword is pure joy! Love this group of creators so much 😭

If I may use this WWW post as a chance for story time, recently in my multi year (close to three years) long campaign I threw it to one of my players and asked them to describe a nemesis from their past. Bar for bar, he described the demon who forced his brother to kill his parents as The Man in Black. This lead to this mini boss becoming a mega boss and me shamelessly stealing the voice and mannerisms Brennan does. None of them listen to the podcast, despite my best efforts, but no character frightens them more. It’s been an absolute delight to steal from the feet of the masters, keep it up!

24:55 Am I the only one that just thought Mammoth were cannon? 🦣 🦣 🦣

The Mirara playlist is a thing of beauty

I am legit obsessed with this podcast, and the sound is fucking amazing. I had a question: In one of the previous Firesides, someone asked where you learned to write music and do sound design, and you mentioned part of that being a bunch of videos on YouTube. I’m a newer patron, so if this already exists, apologies, but would you ever consider sharing a short YouTube playlist of some of your top video recs on how to learn to write music and sound design? Thank you all for sharing your art. Your work has moved me. Truly. ❤️

taylor, your favourite lite motif feels adjacent to "what could have been" by sting???? AND I LOVE IT SO FUCKING MUCH!!!!!!

I feel like Taylor would enjoy to know that I have not been able to listen the same since battle of twelve brooks. Simply because the intro music I was happily bopping along to at the start each ep ended with an explosion that truly made me duck in real life. So thanks for that man and also alittle bit f you (but in a good way). You’re doing awesome cause that truly shook me

Please please PLEASE release files for some of the score so we can listed to it independently of the episodes, I will do anything!!

"My love letter to you becoming a dad" is the sweetest 🥺🥺🥺

I wonder if Taylor knows there is a whole doctor who episode about the devil's interval 🤔

I have been mulling over putting together a Bard-ificer ventriloquist and this fantasy new york setting seems truly *chef's kiss*

Honestly, the wizard, the witch and the wild one is my current favorite fantasy story. It's just so amazingly told, performed, and WITH music on top of it all. Thank you all so much for this work.

So if Taylor ever decides to become a cult leader, I’m getting fully sucked into it. I could listen to this man for hours, what great energy especially combined with Brennan. I’d love to see the world in the worlds beyond number where we see Taylor take a pc role.

Soooo excited for the Moog!!! 🌈👾 hoping for Jeff Russo‘s Legion soundtrack vibes 💖

Taylor cut off the end of my question (noted ultra famous crammies winner krista (that’s my full name)) but i did end my question with “1-7 is the ideal ranking system.”

It’s Funkytown, isn’t it Taylor? 😛 (But really it’s Eclipse 😉)

I thought I was paying attention to the music throughout Book One but it sounds like I wasn't. Guess I'll have to relisten to it! 😁❤️

Also! Name dropping Marxist historical dialectic and also capitalist realism?? I'm in heaven

The way both Brennan and Taylor just match each other's energy is magical ❤️

the absolute joy you can hear between these two hyping each other up and talking about how cool this story is in its intricacies is so fun to listen to. the excitement is contagious!!!

Waiting for hans zimmer's own version of the hero's welcome track from ep1 I've listened to it repeatedly and it literally takes my breath away every time

I can’t wait for this soundtrack. After this flies off the shelves, when can we expect the live performance by the LA Phil?

Plenty of things I disagree with Richard Dawkins about (particularly being tone-deaf on cultural matters), but he's not as reductionist as he's made out to be. Rare occurrence of being disappointed in Brennan's intellect/philosophy! Specifically, yes crows got the CAPACITY to play from thousands of generations of natural selection which only cares about success in propagating genes. That doesn't contradict that any given crow may now just do things for fun and expression. Creativity and play have obvious benefits in survival and attracting mates ... And once you have these basic building blocks you can use them for whatever else, even self-destruction if you like!

Heard of Spite houses but Spite Art is new. I love it and am here for it always❤️

I wish I was half as smart as either of these men. No wonder the combination is transcendent.

Thanks Taylor. I was typing it as I listened to you say it. "What is a Horn without Breath?"

Love how much more southern Taylor becomes the more emphatically he talks

Love your energy and passion for this Taylor. A delight to listen to.

I have accepted the empirical evidence that Brennan and Taylor are two distinct and separate individuals...but there are still times on this recording where my primal lizard brain believes it is hearing just one man talking excitedly to himself! Either way and however many bodies you both inhabit, thank you for sharing your genius and insights with us!

Blades in the Dark interlude in Carrow is a GREAT IDEA, they really should do that! Also I'm dying for some more Wizard War lore ❤️

Can’t wait for the soundtrack so I can play it so much I hate it and then love it again.

Listening while working at 33:40 is wild. The intensity of choir of the voices just with the two notes and then the small part played. Brennan has it right 😭

You know those creative ideas that are just so good that when you hear it, your immediate response is fury because you didn't think of it yourself? That D&D joke. Truly personally upsetting. Taylor you are a goddamn delight and I resent your existence. Thank you both so much for this wonderful discussion!

Thank you for this. Lifted my heart! Listening to thoughtful caring people talks about making things with love is what I needed. And my pick is Runnin’ Down a Dream for canonical end track

Also I love the 80s sword sound effect reminds me of the animated Hobbit... Love it all 💙💙💙 💜 💕

Man I am on my 4th relisten... I'm about to listen to my 5th relisten to focus on the music... Man in these incredibly dire times, you at worlds beyond number are keep my last scraps of sanity... Sincerely thank you all... Best piece of media ever, and it means the world to me and keeps my last vestiges of hope for humanity. Much love, keep being awesome...

so hype for the steel playlist

the David Graeber mention is so special to me

These sweet innocent people thinking Taylor's ending song would be something heart felt and purposeful and not the obvious goofball answer of Big Freight Train Carry Me Home by Boxcar Willie

One of my favorite thing is listening to people pop off on their hyperfixation, this entire episode is a gift. It’s so special and beautiful to hear your excitement and passion 💛 this whole story is one of the greatest things I’ve ever had the privilege of hearing ✨

GOD i was just thinking the other day about how sick it would be if the next campaign were scored purely by modular synthesis. you’re in my brain taylor

I really want the Blades in the Dark game now!

Ahhhh! I'm excited for the synths Taylor! Modular is my obsession at the moment, and I'm so looking forward to that gear chat!

What a great discussion. I love the way you work together, and I can't stop laughing at Taylor's joke. 🤣From now on, every time I play an Irish tune on the harp, I'll be thinking that my left hand is playing DnD. Too bad I know so few people I can share this joke with...

First Flight was “very much my love letter to you for becoming a dad” ?!?! STAHP 😭 💕 (jk obviously never stop being so sweet) Also WAIT - is “Wizard Sunny”(sp?) a nickname for Brennan and Izzy’s daughter??

I want to listen to this soundtrack all the time --

Totally respect Taylor's pitch for Robin Wright, but my personal fancast for Indry is Ashley Johnson 🥰❄️

Pausing. Rewinding. The choirs of god are upon me. I literally stopped walking and froze when you played that *holy* shit Taylor

New Josh Ritter song “Kudzu Vines” belongs on a playlist!

Please please PLEASE do an entire Steel talkback, I've never craved anything more!!

I came here to say amazing things about the sound design and ask for a musical talk back along with the usual fireside chats but I’m stuck on the first song on Mirara’s playlist being WAP 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Taylor you absolute fiend!!

Okay, here's a guess about what song from the playlist ends book one. If you end with the train, I think "The Ecstasy of Gold" makes the most sense. But if you want a song for Indri and the long parade of the isolated scenes, I'm going "Transmission" by Joy Division. It feels like that's a thematic cap for all the interludes that end the episode. I love the idea of ending book one on Transmission for some reason, and now that's my personal canon. Something about all those interludes makes that a great thematic note to hit at the very, very end. No matter what though, reveal the answer because it's going to kill me not to know.

Also, hard yes on a Blades in the Dark in Carrow interlude!

In signature Taylor-fashion, the closing music brought tears to my eyes. A fitting end to an epic season of sound!

Still not quite finished with this episode but honestly- this is too epic!!!

I think Midnight Rider is my pick for end of book 1 song- or ecstasy of gold mayhaps

Music related: Josh Ritter (very cool Americana rock-and-roll musician; just performed at Bernie Sanders’ “Fight Oligarchy” rally) came out with a new album today and there’s a song called “Kudzu Vines”

As a recent music graduate still trying to figure out what I'm doing, Taylor's scores and sound design are a big part of why this story means so much to me and very few things inspire me as much as hearing the choices Taylor makes

YES!! The anime sword “shwing”!!!!!!! Took me right back to watching Ronin Warriors

I could listen to Brennan and Taylor talk all day.

I guess "Born to Run." It's almost too perfect for closing Book 1.

If the digital release of the soundtrack does well (inevitably), I would give anything for some sort of crowd funded physical release: cassette, cd, vinyl etc.

There is something so beautiful about how often Taylor packs artistic meaning into every choice he makes for the show, because there have been so few talk backs (I think perhaps this is the fourth with him on) where he gets to show his hand and all these little choices. Things like the D&D pun, the Epiphany theme, etc- it all comes out in the final product. We all know it sounds incredible, and we all feel the intended impact but could have never known the specifics unless told in this way. To know that these choices and these moments of meaning happen in almost every episode, felt but not seen, is the proof of love. It is so clear that everyone who touches this project throws their all into it for the love of the game, for the love of their art, for the love of the story and what it means. Yes, even the spite sword *ssshhhhing!*

29:00 - Omfg that's been my headcanon for fucking ever. ROBYN FKN WRIGHT.

20:33 - "how can you not feel bad for Steele?" With the fan on, soundly asleep 😂 no sympathy, no empathy. You make choices, you get consequences. She's just lit up by hers for the rest of her life 😂

WENDY CARLOS MENTIONED!!!!! VANGELIS MENTIONED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I always feel when commenting on this podcast that it's one of many, many things and I have so little new to say except how I love it. But I do love it and I love hearing about Taylor's process and the way that he and Brennan held back secrets and the way that Taylor connected scenes via sound design and scoring... I've been reslistening to TWTWTWO and the ominous build to the Wizard's Derrick is so haunting. I love hearing all of these details, I was walking home with my headphones on and smiling and skipping it's all so exciting!! Maybe I'm just saying what everyone else is saying but! It makes me so happy!!! I'm so excited to see what Aabria brings next too and the kind of music we'll be getting!!!

Maybe I’m simply not in the right community, but it feels like no one TALKS about the wonderful shit that they’re talking about here. The joy of co-creation, of levels and shades of meaning, of being UNDERSTOOD in your creation as well as admired…it’s so fucking awesome, and we need more of it in life. Thank you both ❤️

I’m excited for Taylor to go into space, I think we can expect Andor-like scoring ❤︎ (& if we get our own WBN equivalent to Niamos! I’ll simply die)

I love the bowed metallophone / glass harmonica sounds for the MiB, The Clearing, the oil Derrick, *chefkiss*

You all *did* nail it!

Open the playlist, first song is wap, yes taylor you are speaking the truth!

I wonder how many secrets Abriya is already keeping from Brennan as we go into spaaaace 😆 Will Taylor get to be in on them and be in agony for another year?

Loved hearing about the storytelling of the score. It's something I've never thought of!

I need a Brennan and Taylor Podcast called D(minor) and D(major)

fuck yeah.. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Red Right Hand is perfect vibes for the Man in Black

The Blades in the Dark idea is so good. It’s easily my favorite system right now and I’d love to see it.

nothing could have prepared me for the first song on miraras playlist to be WAP 😭😭😭

It's a slight departure from putting the days nearly inbed

This is fantastic! Taylor, do you know about the Star Wars Shadows of the Empire soundtrack by Joel McNeely. He got to make music based solely on a novel and part of a video game, and it's making me think of how you add music to Brennan's epic narration.

I wanted to let it be known that clicking the link for the Mirara playlist on my phone did not open Spotify directly. It took me to a link with samples of the playlist songs. The song at the top of this playlist immediately started playing and was not what I was expecting. I agree it definitely belongs in the playlist. I was just very surprised. Good one Taylor.

As someone who has studied an instrument but knows nothing about music theory, Taylor’s peek behind the curtain is pure sorcery. (Is it controversial to call Taylor a sorcerer if he might identify as more of a wizard guy?)

The best thing about Taylor to me is not even the obvious skill of his artistry, but the fact that every time he talks about this podcast and the work he does on it, it sounds like he is a dam of passion that is trying desperately not to burst

I know "It feels like it's been ten years" was a reference to the start of the show and not the birth of the Wizard Sunny, but becoming a parent is a huge demarcation line; it quickly becomes difficult to remember or imagine Life Before. So yes, you can be the parent of a toddler and say "It feels like it's been ten years." (By the time the child is ten, time has picked up speed and keeps accelerating forever.)

Haha it's me, Casanova. This is my collection, haha.

Two nerds who've been holding secrets have finally been unleashed in this ep, I loooved it

yus!!!! thax for this its teh best im sure and LOVE Taylor excited

What patch/system does Taylor have for those vocals? It sounded like he was just playing examples on his keyboard and they sounded So Fucking Good with different syllables and everything (the preloaded setting on my keyboard and even on logic pro dont sound real and just say "ah") bc it sounds SO cool!!!

The shing sound I swear is identical to the sound used in the animated Hobbit movie for Bilbo’s sword Sting. I genuinely believe it’s the same sound effect with every fiber of my being and I love it. More, please, Taylor

Amazing, Thank You!

YOU CAME UP WITH A MAN IN BLACK FOLK SONG AND WE CANT HEAR IT YET! AHHH

I NEED that wizard war spies in Carro idea to happen as an interlude. Such an incredible idea.

I had to check my playback speed cuz I thought I had it sped up but these two are just so energetic with passion for this project they just talk that fast. 😂 So much fun info tho!!

The energy of just Brennan and Taylor waxing philosophical at each other for an hour and a half is just unbeatable

Ok sound design is cool but when are we getting Wizard, Witch, and Wild One skins in Fortnite?

I need blades in the dark interlude immediately!!!

Pro Tools is a vile piece of software made by the devil himself, and Avid has fooled us all into thinking it should be the industry standard

I KEPT GETTING SPANISH LADIES STUCK IN MY HEAD WHILE LISTENING AND I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY

I am so in love with everything surrounding this podcast, and I'm so glad that you guys have been getting the outpouring of love and appreciation that you deserve! This whole TalkBack has been a joy 🙂

Also - Brennan talking about the catbus made me think of Edward Soja’s Thirdspace

Just a full 90 minutes of Taylor and Brennan feeling out and patting each other on the back. I love it.

Definitely not missing the accusations of being the same person - your speech idiosyncrasies overlap so much!

Taylor thinks he's so clever with his little "D and D" trick, but guess what? Jokes on him. I've been listening to the whole podcast pitched down two tones, so now it sounds like he's scoring a podcast about cute little guest houses. Checkmate.

Release the 30 song list for the man in black!

That outro was like a microcosmos of the stories you tell together. Thanks for all the welling up of tears in my eyes and thanks for making me burst out laughing.

"[It was] one of the first things Brennan told me after we recorded the first scene of the show, the escape from the Citadel [in the Children's Adventure]--so I--we were in on it." That answers my question from Episode 1 of the main campaign when Steel sends Suvi from the Citadel to Grandma Wren's. On relisten the music seemed just a little too dramatic for what we thought was going on. Taylor did know from the beginning. I love not giving Steel a theme til near the end with the entrance of *the Epiphany.* Taylor is just too good.

"working really hard is just like taking a lot of mushrooms" is the most taylor moore thing I've ever heard

Listening to this gave me the cold-sweat sensation of "oh my god there's two of them"

Ooh!! A surprise!

Huzzah for the red string board even if it's not really red string! I do love a good visual representation of thoughts and themes, and I lean more to meatspace types vs digital. If the maestro would like to share a pic of said index cards, ala the fabled whiteboard from camp, t'would be wonderful. But if not, I shall not fret.

Titotaylo in the morning

'It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry' has to be the one. Slow guitar and a harmonica fits the free roads so well.

This is the wildest one man show I’ve ever heard

Taylor will neither confirm nor deny this but the only reason "Love Train" is not on this list is that it will be on the playlist for the ending of the final chapter. People all over the world join hands. Start a love train, a love train.

YouTube Music versions of the playlists: of the Waning Moon: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLln44syaVvBw3zi5RrkSLRFgHjH2CG-wG&si=M3ei5GfyNBstP6jn BOOK ONE ENDINGS: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLln44syaVvBxGH_BKFsAt1drRXq3nfhrR&si=RXkW_TUs_gmhRrfV I used this tool to do it: https://wemor.vercel.app/

I blurted a laugh out loud at work when I saw WAP on the playlist

Radiohead - Everything in It's Right Place feels like the one ..

I'm so glad Taylor addressed the anime *shing* because I heard it EVERY time and it made me chuckle. The fact that it's an act of spite too is just 👩‍🍳😙👌

Does anybody have a YouTube music version of the playlists?

This was a fascinating, wonderful episode. You are all beautiful, amazingly talented people.

I was NOT prepared for Mirara’s playlist to start with WAP!! I did not have her pegged as a Hot Girl and that’s on me!

Wish these playlists (and the ones to come) weren't on Spotify, as I've boycotted it for their recent investments and AI training policies. Buuut I'll find a way to transfer them to other platforms 🤫 I can't wait for Steel's playlist and the eventual Original Soundtrack 🤩

Rabbit holes *are* where it’s at! 🕳️ 🕳️🕳️

That was my question! 🔥✨🌌 A beautiful answer and commentary about art and creativity. It's so cool to feel connected to artists you admire so much. Also to be reminded why this work (and all creative work) is so vital. It's the connections. I'm so thrilled to be part of this community, to be a storyteller and theater maker, and to be in the position to support the work of some incredible folks. Drop that soundtrack.

i had been physically holding my breath waiting for the mention of fetty wap really life saving stuff that it happened so soon

at around 23 minutes when they're talking about going back to listen to other Steel scenes, im over here crying cuz i just finished ep 8 of ghe childrens adventure again 🙃🙃🙃

Wait? Viewers? Where can we watch this? What am I missing?

If you work at Avid, don't.

I just want to thank Brennan for all these little gasps that represent my feelings so I don’t write 20-30 comments glorifying Taylor with compliments that make him uncomfortable. You guys rock so fucking hard and I’m so glad you did this fireside for us. Slaínte!

TAYLOR!!! Goddammit, I’m already almost through arc 1 in my re-listen and now I want to start all over again!

I need my hands and ears on that soundtrack, Taylor!!! But for real, I have truly loved melting away into your world of sound. It has been a comfort and a warm hug for me during difficult times and a celebration during joyful times. Thank you for bringing your art into the world for us to hear and explore with you. ❤️❤️❤️

Before WBN i'd never been able to get into audio only D&D shows (even if i loved the cast), but the sound design has always been so phenomenal it was so easy to become immersed within the story. Well done Taylor 🫡

Oh hell yeah

Speaking of music being infectious, Brennan's "Bah Bah Bah" thinking sounds became the 3 notes of Saria's Song from Ocarina of Time

I love the Witches' Parade being as grand and triumphal as any Citadel parade, but still strings rather than brass. Taylor is both creative and consistent.

Train in vain? As the true end song? It feels perfect?

Great discussion! I'm always fascinated by music but rarely pick up on this stuff consciously while trying to experience the show as a whole. Out of the end songs, I'm trying to imagine myself in a movie theater kinda shell shocked as the credits roll. People Get Ready, Desert Song or Midnight Rider have my pick.

Lol Brennan and Taylor are almost indistinguishable

“Forget the melody. The listener will get the rhythm in their head, and then you can play other notes but *in the rhythm* of the leitmotif or the theme and it will still register as familiar in a really cool way.” Cue me glimpsing how much deeper in my psyche than I’d realized Taylor has been happily rooting around like a truffle pig making me feel so many feelings.

When i did my little podcast on the reintroduction of sturgeon in the genesee river, www was on arc 2 i think, and it had already changed the way i thought about sound engineering forever and i was already trying to copy it. The radio-play is BACK

I love your love note to Nif’s elk. It’s cozy and comfy. ♥️

Incredibly delightful. I identify as music-nerd-adjacent and: Whoa boy! That was a fantastic ride! The overflowing energy that's evident between Brennan and Taylor... makes me giddy and fuels my life

I'm so looking forward to this episode. I love music, but lack both time, talent and drive to really know much about it technically or proficiently. It's a complete joy to see Taylor's process, and get to hear his lovely voice talking about this project. Can't wait to hear what he comes up with for -S-P-A-C-E- adventures. Dare I hope for synthesizers, theremins and other retro-futuristic instruments?

That anime sword shing is my FAVOURITE SOUND!! There was a weird old cartoon of The Wild Swans I remember as a kid that had it and it blasts me into the past every time. Please can release one for us so I can use it as a message tone?

I do well and truly believe that this is the single greatest story ever told and I’ve lived my life in and around stories that have gotten me through very tough times to make sense of the world around me. Every high and every low was celebrated equally because they both meant so much. From the bottom of my heart thank you all for creating and giving something more special and precious than any gem on earth ❤️

EDIT: Just hit my app 15 mins later. Original comment: This episode hasn’t appeared yet in my Overcast, tried adding the url again etc. Not sure if it’s an issue on my end or not

Season of the witch fading in behind thethe coven saving Eioghorain would have been fucking sick.

Such a great fireside so far. as mentioned below by @Stellar the mode comment was hilarious, but, serious face, modes are great and actually really simple to play in, at least on keyboard/piano, if you use relative modes rather than "fucking up one or two keys" (lol) of the octave you're in. Here's the trick (which I wish I'd been taught much earlier): just keep the sharps and flats of the key you're in and pick something else as the tonic. For maximum simplicity with no loss of expression, say we're in C major: no sharps and flats, just the white keys on a keyboard. If we start on A (the sixth note of the C major scale) we use all the same notes and can play just as easily but we're in the relative natural minor. Those are probably the first two keys you learn in "classical" piano, but here's the kicker: these are just two modes (Ionian = major, Aeolian = natural minor), and there are five other equally valid ones that are all equally easy to play but have completely different flavors; just play only white notes starting on B, D, E, F, or G! So if we bring everything back to C, it's hard to remember and boring, but if we go to the *relative* modes and just change where we start it's super-easy and cool. (Hot tip: if you're on a keyboard it probably has transpose buttons if you want to start on the same absolute note, and any DAW will let you do that too.) Thanks for coming to my mode talk PS: do the same thing but play Eb instead of E and you're doing jazz modes bay-bee

I know that's not actually a picture of Taylor, but that's a picture of Taylor.

I mean, I WANT it to be Rusted Root. I don’t know if that’s right or not.

I would pay so much money for a soundtrack with a directors cut write up/voice over. Hearing about Taylor’s process is both joyous and fascinating and I adore hearing the details of his thought processes

Honestly I need to relisten to the end of book 1 but with The Chain over it because that would have been so good. Hats off to Taylor.

"a mode is essentially the same scale, you just fuck up one or two keys. I'm not gonna get into the music theory of it, cuz it's ANNOYING. and BORING." Oh my God I'm *losing* it

Is there an existing reward for Taylor's work? Because their has to be !

Oh my am I looking forward to listening to this.

Fuck yeah

*Opens Mirara playlist, sees WAP* Taylor wants to see what that third arm does.

WAP being the first song on Mirara's playlist had me SCREAMING

I cannot get over the first song of the Mirara playlist... Taylor this is perfect

My favorite thing is how Taylor just sounds like Brennan with a stuffy nose In all seriousness tho Taylor your work has been amazing on this show. Music has such a huge effect on how I enjoy a piece of art and you nail it every time!

Oh I have been STOKED for this. Immediately downloading to listen when I’m traveling this afternoon! Also we love a good Dick van Dyke reference, whatta man

Seeing the first song for Mirara SENT me this morning 🤣 there *are* some hoes in that house 👀

I mean, it's absolutely Gimme Shelter But I'd love to live in the world that it's Transmission

Thank you so much! You're work in the podcast is incredible, some of the soundtrack makes me cry everytime I hear it

This is the greatest gift, thank you!