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Interviewing Casey Jones Costello

Disney is a brand that has encapsulated nostalgia around the entire world. Because of that, it’s a topic that Switching Styles have touched on quite a bit from Aladdin’s “A Friend Like Me”, Lion King Cover Songs, A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes, Finding Nemo Soundtrack Covers, Disney Music While Cooking, The Voice Of Phil Collins, And So Much More!! Read below to learn more about the Disney Covers and musical career of Casey Costello.

Introducing Casey Costello

Follow the movie magic with these soundtrack covers and @caseyjcostello’s fantastic TikTok account. Costello initially appeared in Switching Styles in a piece on Disney’s “Snow White” (1937). The article “Disney and Dreams: Snow White Cover Songs” included his work. In this profound and powerful duet, Casey Jones Costello and Yunjin Audrey Kim blend their gorgeous vocals with Yunjin’s stunning piano talents. Here’s a lovely cover of “Someday My Prince Will Come” that he made.

Interview With Casey Costello and Dylanna Fisher of Switching Styles

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

One of the artists we’ve talked about is Casey Costello. His work takes inspiration from the world of Disney. With a long list of Disney covers and other classical music in his repertoire, Casey Costello certainly has the voice of a Disney Prince. Below is an interview with Casey Costello, a musician, and our very own journalist, Dylanna Fisher.

How Did You Get Started in Music?

I got started singing from the time I was young and sang in the boy’s choir at my church, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Rochester, NY, and I joined several choirs in high school, but I didn’t take voice lessons formally until I was 15 or 16. I took lessons through the Hochstein School of Music in Rochester, NY, and then went on to get a bachelor’s degree in Music/Business at Nazareth College in Pittsford, NY.

Why Did You Decide To Be Known As Casey Costello As Opposed To A Stage Name Or Nickname?

I am known by my full name, Casey Jones Costello, so I include my middle name as part of my artist name because it almost sounds like it’s a stage name already since there are many cultural associations with the name “Casey Jones,” so I just figured it was easier to go by my real name than by a pseudonym.

How Would You Describe Your Sound?

I would describe my sound as traditional pop / classical crossover since I have been inspired a lot by singers whose sound bridges the gap between classical and popular music. I sing in what I hope is an authentic manner that preserves the character of the songs as they were intended to be performed when they were written by the songwriters.

Who Are Your Musical Influences?

I have many musical influences, including Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Mario Lanza, Josh Groban, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Robert Goulet, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and so many other people. My musical inspirations span the gamut from operetta stars from the 1930s to popular singers of today.

Why Did You Start on YouTube?


I started on YouTube when I was maybe 14 years old just posting videos for fun, and eventually, as I started pursuing music professionally, I started using it as a platform to be able to post videos of my performances to it.

How Do You Think YouTube Functions as A Platform for Musicians?

YouTube can be a good promotional tool for musicians but frankly, it hasn’t helped me that much; TikTok has been a lot more useful in building an audience of fans much more quickly.

How Do You Feel About The Internet In The Music Business?

The internet has both helped and hurt the music business; streaming services like Spotify make it easier than ever to get your music distributed and heard, but it doesn’t pay very much royalties. Physical album sales like CD sales are much more significant in terms of being profitable, but very few people buy physical albums today.

How Has the Internet Affected Your Music Career?

The internet has allowed me to be discovered by many people who would not have otherwise probably ever heard of me, so that’s been a good thing, but again, it hasn’t helped a lot with actually selling albums; that tends to happen only when I do in-person concerts and sell CDs to people

Why Do Covers in Particular?

I do cover because a good song is a good song regardless of whether I wrote it or somebody else wrote it; I love the music of the Great American Songbook of the 20th century, and songs from Broadway, and Hollywood movies, and I sing what I like. I also want to sing songs that people know, because I do shows at senior living communities and other venues, and I find people enjoy music better if it’s familiar. I do write songs as well, but I do not perform originals exclusively.

How Do They Tend To Compare To The Originals?

I try to interpret songs in a way that is authentic and respects the intentions of the songwriters who wrote the piece, so my interpretations tend to be quite faithful to the originally published arrangements of the songs.

What Is The Typical Process Of Creating A Cover?

When I perform covers, I try to find the original edition of the sheet music because oftentimes a piece of music will have many different arrangements that have been done over the years, but the most authentic arrangement is typically the originally published arrangement, so once I have a copy of the sheet music, it’s as simple as learning the song and rehearsing the piece with my pianist. Sometimes if I can’t find a good arrangement or if the song isn’t in a good key for me, I’ll do my own arrangement of the piece using Sibelius music notation software, which is a longer process, but I’ve done that quite a few times when I can’t find a satisfactory arrangement of the sheet music.

“Some Day My Prince Will Come” Is A Gorgeous Duet Performance, What Was The Process Like For That Collaboration?

“Some Day My Prince Will Come” wasn’t originally going to be a duet, since it was never intended to be a duet, but I was doing a Disney-themed concert and the pianist who was accompanying me also happened to have a lovely soprano voice, so the thought occurred to me that perhaps we could perform the song as a duet. As it so happens, there are two sets of lyrics for the song, one intended to be sung by a man and one intended to be sung by a woman.

So I thought, what if we each sing the respective sets of lyrics to the piece separately, and then harmonize together at the end? It was really just a spontaneous idea and it happened to come together and work beautifully, and Yunjin Audrey Kim did a wonderful job as my duet partner and pianist for that song; I’m very proud of that recording and pleased that, years after performing it, I still get so many positive comments from people about how much they love my duet version of the song.

What Do You Think About Collaboration? 

I honestly have so very many themed concerts I have done over the years that I don’t think I could tell you what my favourites have been; there are so many. One of my favourites at the moment is a piece I included in a springtime-themed concert called I’ll Remember April; the song is called “One More Walk Around the Garden,” and it is just so poignant and not particularly well-known, so I really enjoy getting to sing that for audiences. “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio and “I’ll Be Seeing You” are two of my other favourite songs to sing, but there are really so many others I love to sing as well.

Are There Any Specific Ones That Stick Out As Favourites? Many Of Your Performances Are Performed For A Live Audience, How Does It Compare To Performing Solely For A Camera?

During 2020 and much of 2021, I wasn’t doing any live performances in front of an audience due to Covid, so I started performing in front of a camera just to record concerts without an audience much more often; it was a bit of an odd experience because, on the one hand, it is great to be able to do retakes in case I mess up or my pianist messes up, and it’s less stressful.

On the other hand, I really enjoy the feedback I get from performing in front of a live audience and you simply don’t get that from performing in front of a camera without people watching; I like hearing the applause and the comments that people in the audience make to me after a concert about songs they enjoyed and getting that kind of tangible feedback that is only possible when performing in-person in front of a live audience.

What Are Some Of Your Fondest Memories Throughout Your Music Career?

I have many fond memories throughout my music career. I remember the very first public concert I ever did, I sang a song called “A Perfect Day” written back in 1910 by Carrie Jacobs-Bond, and an elderly woman in the audience came up to me afterwards and was crying, telling me that it had been her mother’s favourite song; things like that mean so much to me. I enjoy being able to evoke happy memories, or sometimes nostalgic but still fond memories, for people, and whenever I get that kind of feedback it makes me happy. Nearly every time I perform at senior living communities I get comments from residents telling me their memories of hearing the songs I was singing or memories that my songs evoked and how much it meant to them, and that means a lot to me.

One of my other fondest memories of performing was doing an all Rodgers and Hammerstein-themed show with several girls between the ages of 9-12 and it was delightful to get to share the stage with such talented young singers and sing duets and ensemble pieces with them. It was really just so much fun for me; the Disney show I did was a similarly fun experience since I also worked with several talented young girls that added such an element of fun to the show.

What Are Some Obstacles Throughout Your Music Career?

The obstacles in my music career have been numerous; Covid has certainly been a big one. Also, given that I perform “old-fashioned” music, it is difficult to find the right venues to perform other than at senior living communities. I don’t sing material that is going to be on Top 40 radio stations, so I have a very particular niche and finding the right audiences and venues for that niche is a challenge. Also, finding an agent who could help me book performances and help me find the right venues to perform is a challenge. And, as I mentioned previously, the shift towards streaming music over purchasing physical copies of music makes it difficult to make money from album sales, but that hasn’t deterred me from continuing to record and release new albums, regardless.

What Advice Would You Give to Musicians Just Starting Out On YouTube?

My advice to performers just starting out with YouTube would be not to put all your eggs in one basket; it’s very hard to get discovered on YouTube. It’s hard to get discovered anywhere, but you should use every outlet available to you, e.g., YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, a personal website, and if you have recorded music, make sure you’re putting it out on streaming services like Spotify, not just for streaming royalties but for the exposure. Use every social media outlet available to you and try to create content consistently that appeals to your audience; if you’re not sure what your niche is, try to figure it out and tailor your content to fit your niche and target it towards your target audience to the best of your ability.

What Are Some Projects You Have In Progress Right Now?

I have several projects I’m working on or have recently completed. I just released an album last month, The Morning After, which is available on most streaming services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, etc., and is available for sale on CD as well. I am also working on a new show for the Rochester Fringe Festival in Rochester, NY which I’m calling A Little Night Music: Casey Jones Costello Sings Broadway and Beyond, featuring Gail Hyde on piano. The shows are scheduled to take place at the School of the Arts in Rochester, NY during the Rochester Fringe Festival in September, so my pianist and I are rehearsing for those shows right now and plan to record the songs from the new show for an album as well.

Where Do You See Yourself In 10 Years?

I don’t like to speculate on things too far off in the future; God only knows where I’ll be in 10 years. All I can say is that my aspiration is to be able to perform cabaret-style shows at venues across the United States, Canada, and elsewhere, and be able to make a consistent living by performing for and entertaining audiences of all ages and I hope to have an agent and that I’ll have recorded many more albums; it would be great if I could get signed by a record label, but if that never happens I hope to continue recording and releasing albums myself. It is very difficult to be successful in the music industry, but I love entertaining audiences and love it when people enjoy my music and I hope that I’ll always be able to continue singing and performing for people.

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Concluding Thoughts

Thank you for reading our lovely Disney and Disney nostalgia posts. We are always updating our articles with new and exciting themes. Follow our email newsletter or social media to stay connected with our Switching styles community.

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Reviews

Flighted Freedom Poetic Lyrics

Flighted Freedom Poetic Lyrics by Dylanna Fisher. These are merely lyrics to a poem by our very own writer, Dylanna Fisher. What music would you put to these words?

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Flighted Freedom Lyrics

I want to become a bird

If I could

Flying would be my superpower

If I were super

If I had power

A majestic creature so small

But size doesn’t matter

When you’re on top of the world

I want to be beautiful

With shimmering feathers

With shining eyes

That can see what I can’t

I want to away fly 

To cover vast time, space

Until they blur as one

I want to escape 

To something more

I want to go so badly

So far away from here

I want to go

Liberation freedom something more

Something that’s not here 

I want to see something more than the sidewalk

To regain my vision 

I want saving from concrete

It will be for me, myself, mine

I want anything 

Anything, anything, anything

I want to be a bird

To fly away from you

But I can’t leave

I can’t fly

I only have feet and these stairs

Final Thoughts

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What music would you put behind this poem? Do you think one genre over another would be best? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Reviews

Introducing Casey Jones Costello

With beautiful voices of princes, princesses, villains and sidekicks, there’s so much musical wonder in the world of Disney. From the musical notes of Literal Disney Lyrics, Hakuna Matata in different languages, Sleeping beauty cover songs, Disney medleys, Hellfire cover songs, and much more!

Casey Costello with The Voice of a Prince

Follow the movie magic with these soundtrack covers and his magical TikTok account @caseyjcostello. We first saw Costello in Switching Styles in an article about Disney’s snow white soundtrack. The article “Disney and Dreams: Snow White Cover Songs” included his work. Here’s the beautiful cover song that he did of “Some Day My Prince Will Come”. In this profound and powerful duet, Casey Jones Costello and Yunjin Audrey Kim blend their gorgeous vocals with Yunjin’s stunning piano talents.

Introducing The Music Of Casey Costello

“As you might have guessed from my performance of “Some Day My Prince Will Come,” I love to perform a variety of Disney songs, and my repertoire includes Disney songs from different eras, from the 1930s through today. However, I perform a large repertoire of songs in different styles as part of themed programs that I do, and I also compose original songs.” Casey Costello explains to switching styles writer, Dylanna Fisher.

Casey Costello Disney Covers

He has a great amount of music on his YouTube channel right here. We’d love to showcase some of Switching Styles’ favourites of Costello’s Disney parody songs. Let us know in the comments below which one is your favourite. Switching Styles has compiled a list of fantastic and nostalgic music created by Costello.

Let It Go Originally From “Frozen”

Love Is a Song Originally From “Bambi”

Part Of Your World Originally From “The Little Mermaid”

Fixer Upper Originally From “Frozen”

When You Wish Upon a Star Originally From “Pinocchio”

Part Of Your World Originally From “The Little Mermaid” Piano Karaoke with Lyrics

How Deep Is the Ocean

Make Them Hear You Originally From “Ragtime”

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Reviews

Ravenous Devils Review and Background playlist

Warning – there are limited spoilers in this article where Dylanna Fisher writes a Ravenous Devils Review, the fantastic and gory game by Bad Vices Games. 

 Trigger Warning – this game and the resulting article discuss topics of gore, murder, cannibalism, avoiding the authorities, and tax evasion. Click here to go somewhere else.

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Introducing Ravenous Devils

For those who don’t know about this game, it’s a fantastic game reminiscent of the musical Sweeney Todd. It’s a twisted, creepy, and eerie game where you play a couple that’s starting a new business in a new town. The husband is a tailor that lures victims in and murders them for scrap fabric to sew. He then resells the fabric to other patrons in the second-floor tailor shop. The wife, on the other hand, takes the corpses and cooks them into various meals to sell in the pub on the main floor. That’s the main storyline. For the specifics, you’ll have to play the game or watch playthroughs for yourself.

Ravenous Devils Review

9/10. This game was a lot of fun to play overall. Bad Vice is known for amazing games including Ravenous DevilsSexual Void, and Hippocampus. Despite the extensive and explicit gore, this is a very enjoyable game to play. Loved the game. I’ve grown up on simulation games such as cake mania, diner dash, and roller coaster tycoon. I adore the fast-paced style in simulation games. Plus the commerce aspect is a great small-time goal with regular and obtainable upgrades. This is a great game to play if you’d like to have something casual but are tired of boring idle games.

Shout out to Steam for the achievements, and trading cards that appeal to my completionism. And before you ask, yes. I have completed all the achievements but haven’t gotten all the trading cards. That being said, I’m still in the process of beating the endless mode of the game. Whether there’s an actual beating of it, I’m not sure. But right now the goal is to go through the endless mode and purchase all of the upgrades without being caught by the police.

The ambience is fantastic with the background soundscapes of a pub in Victorian England. The audio also includes sound effects which seem very on point. It adds to the eerie aspect and the queasy nature. Don’t play this game if you have a weak stomach.

As someone who loves musicals like Sweeney Todd, and Repo! The Genetic Opera, I like my spooky with some musical scores for the immersion. For those that want to continue the ambience, I’ve compiled a list of ambient music to keep the eerie and energetic vibe. The inspiration for this playlist has come from Ravenous Devils. Let me know in the comments which ones you like the best.

“Tim Burton Vibes” By Sundew Baggins

“Fantasy Bard/Tavern Music Compilation” By Celestial Draconis

“Dark Music Of Gothic Castles And Fallen Lords” By Cryo Chamber

“VICTORIAN AMBIENCE: Victorian London Thunderstorm (Horses, Bells, Walking On Cobblestone)” By Autumn Cozy

“Ambience/ASMR: Sherlock Holmes Parlour, 221B Baker Street (Victorian London)” By Ambience Of Yesteryear

“Victorian London” By The Vault Of Ambience

“RAIN OVER INNSMOUTH | 10+ Hour Dark Lovecraftian Thunderstorm Ambience” By The Tale Master

“Dark Ambience – Horror Background Music” By Relax Cafe Music

“ATMOSPHERIC GOTHIC HORROR READING MUSIC | H.P Lovecraft, Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe” By TINTIN MIX

“I See You…. 👀🔪 | Extreme Thriller, Suspense & Fear Background Ambience” By Ambiensis

Concluding Thoughts

Thank you for reading Switching Styles articles and reviews. Make any event a dramatic musical moment with notes of danger and risk. Support Switching Styles and share song suggestions everywhere. Follow us on our email newsletter on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Share your favourite song suggestions in the comments below.

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Reviews

Supernatural Soundscape and Ambient Music

The SPN fandom still has a way to engage with the Winchester family with Supernatural soundscape and ambience audio. Check out some of our favourites in the article below.

Introducing Supernatural the series

Supernatural, the series has been a topic of conversation throughout Switching Styles. Partly because our main writer thoroughly enjoys the SPN fandom. Seriously, check out her work over at medium.com with essays like, “Fandoms Saving the World One Altruistic Step at A Time; Online Activism Within the Supernatural Fandom”.

The SPN Family specifically is known for being active. This fan community is more like a family, a sentiment that started when Jared Padalecki referred to the fandom as his family (Fitzpatrick, 2017, para. 9). There are several authors writing about the way that the Supernatural Fandom is as close-knit as a family including Mary Frances Casper or Zubernis and Katherine Larsen. These authors discuss how fandom is akin to a family because of the interactions and connections between not only the fans themselves but between them and the cast and crew (Casper 2014; Zubernis and Larsen, 2012). Those interactions and relationships have merely become stronger as the show continues (PicklePegg, 2011, ch. 5, para. 32). The SPN Family is described affectionately and accurately as the SPN Family.

Comparative to others, the Supernatural Fandom goes beyond and has become an altruistic force in a way that other fan cultures haven’t (Casper 2014, Jackson 2015; PicklePegg, 2011, ch. 5, para. 31–32). The ideals of the show Supernatural transfer to the fans, “It’s this unshakeable commitment to family, regardless of circumstance, which resonates with fans and creates the fandom’s underlying personality” (Casper 2014, pg. 79).

Dylanna Fisher, 2021 – Medium.com

Headed by the Winchester boys, Sam and Dean are played by Jared Padalecki, and Jensen Ackles, respectively. This series is a story of adventure but most importantly family. Did you know that the actors from the show have started several charity organizations over the decades? The most prominent projects are Random Acts, GISH WISES, Always Keep Fighting, T-Shirt Campaigns, and the SPN Family Crisis Support Network. (Supernatural Wiki).

Winchester Audio Atmosphere

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Have you ever thought to yourself while watching Supernatural, ‘man if I could study beside Sam Winchester, I could ace this final exam’? That’s exactly what we’re here to provide. Need a super chill environment to study for your learners? try out the Supernatural Ambiance by Annelies Mohle. It’s designed to be relaxing. Want to focus specifically on academics like Sam Winchester before Season 1? Here’s the audio and soundscape from Bobby’s Cabin. Need something with a bit of excitement? Listen to the atmospheres of Crowley’s Personal Office!

Switching styles has compiled an extensive list of supernatural ambiances for your various focusing and relaxing needs.

Motel Soundscape/Ambience | Supernatural ASMR (With Talking) By Adri’s Ambience
Witchcore ◈ Autumn Forest 🍂 Good Witch Cabin By ASMR Weekly
Cozy Fall Coffee Shop Ambience: Relaxing Jazz Music and Rain Sounds For Studying, Relaxation, and Sleep By Calmed By Nature
Supernatural Ambience Sound ASMR | Research at Bobby’s House By Ambientcat
Supernatural ASMR || In the Bunker with Sam, Dean, Cas and Charlie By Adri’s Ambience
Research At Bobby’s House | Very Subtle Talking From Other Room By Sammitches
Supernatural Destiel ASMR | Driving Home From A Hunt With Castiel and Dean (Rain + Talking) By Moonlight
ASMR Ambience
Library Sounds | Study Ambience By The Guild of Ambience
Haunted Church Ambience 👻⛈️ By The Dea
d of Night
Supernatural Wayward Sisters Ambient By Moonlight ASMR Ambience

Last Thoughts

Want to support Switching Styles as we grow? Check out our music-themed merchandise at Redbubble. There’s a little of everything for everyone: mugs, prints, notebooks, posters, pillows, and musically inspired fashion.

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High Fantasy Themed Background Music

What’s a High Fantasy Themed RPG game without high-fantasy music to accompany the party? Even the most basic ethereal high fantasy games are brought to life with ethereal and immersive background music.

Introduction To High Fantasy Games

“With the rapid advancements in technology accompanying video games, soundtracks have changed dramatically and have become an important part of the storytelling process,” Explains the writers at Anara Publishing.

Photo by Tú Nguyễn on Pexels.com

Consider fantasy films like Lord of The Rings, The Dark Crystal, Maleficent, Jumanji, Enchanted, Alice in Wonderland, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. All of them have a fantastic soundtrack that adds to the film itself. With fantasy elements intertwined in the sound effects, ambience, and music soundtrack, there’s so much immersion. Now consider immersion in a role-playing game.

whether you’re playing The One Ring Roleplaying Game: Second Edition, Pendragon, D&D, Pathfinder, Warhammer, D6, GURPS, Zweihander, Ryuutama: Natural Fantasy Roleplay, Journey Away, there’s always a potential for music to add to it. Follow this fantastic topic on Switching styles by signing up for our newsletter or visiting here.

High Fantasy Themed Musical Immersion

How can audio help RPG immersion? Audio, whether it’s music or sound effects or soundscapes, adds to immersion by interacting with another sense. Typically, in a tabletop RPG game, you’re engaged visually and mentally. Adding another sense makes it easier to ignore the ‘outside world’ while you’re playing the game. Music like the ones we’ve compiled below is a great way to add a sense of realism.

Mana Storm By Michael Ghelfi Studios

 

Isverden By ASKII

 

Underdark By Cthulhu Mythos Music


Branches By Dreamhop Music

 

Cursed Forest By Michael Ghelfi Studios

 

A New Adventure By Blue Turtle

 

Spirit Of The Wind By Brunuhville

Streets Of Eroa By CIRI

 

Dancing With The Elves By Sundew Baggins

Astray By Space Wave

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Let me know what your favourite was in the comments below! Thanks for reading Switching Styles today! It means a lot to the writers. Follow the blog on WordPress or our social media and never miss an update or contest!

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Interviews Reviews

LARP and Social Anxiety

There’s no shame in being a new player or an anxious player.  Sometimes LARP and social anxiety overlap. read more about combatting social anxiety and enjoying your LARP game.

Introduction to LARP

Let’s start with the obvious question. What exactly is LARP? LARP stands for live-action roleplaying game. These games are a form of immersive game based off traditional role-playing games such as D&D, Pathfinder, Gamma world and so on.

Like these traditional roleplaying games where one creates you create a character based on the game rules. Then it’s time to roleplay as your character. The difference between TTRPG and LARP is that you play out that character’s thoughts, actions, and progression in live action. you act out the motivations, and actions, roleplaying what your character would do in any given situation.

For example, instead of telling your Dungeon master what your 5th level elf rogue does to sneak past the guards, you do just that. It’s a fantastic way to bring the game to life. You’re able to roleplay as Darcassan Joric, a fifth level roque with a history of drunken disorder likes and a love for the kazoo. From combat to diplomacy to adventure to friendship, there’s all kinds of situations to advance the characters’ storyline.

Joining LARP with social anxiety

Social anxiety is defined by The Mental Health Foundation as a “Beyond the typical sensation one might expect when speaking in public, meeting people for the first time, starting at a new job or school, or giving a performance, when the discomfort or feelings of shyness result in anxiety, fear, or avoidance and have an ongoing impact a person’s daily at work, in school then it could be social anxiety disorder (SAD).”

As it’s different from general nervousness in social settings, ‘jump right in’ isn’t the best solution. For most socially anxious folks, baby steps and social awareness are often the most helpful.

The Mental Health Foundation explains that “How we feel, think, and behave in social situations varies from person to person depending on our personality traits, upbringing, and life experiences. Some people are naturally reserved and shy whereas others might be more outgoing and extroverted, but anyone can have a SAD.”

This can make games that focus very highly on the socializing and person to person engagement like RPGS difficult. LARPS take it a step further by being longer, and more involved as you’re physically acting as the character.

Refuge LARP, a game based out of Calgary adores giving folks a chance to learn and to be comfortable. Their website reads, “Glad you made it! Come on in, learn about LARP, and take a break from the real world. Everyone is welcome to seek Refuge in our fantasy world. Whether you are new to roleplaying, new to LARP, or looking for a new LARP to play, we look forward to meeting you and answering your questions!”

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Tips for joining a LARP with social anxiety

Social anxiety can be debilitating for inexperienced players as well as experienced. However, anxiety shouldn’t stop players from enjoying a weekend LARP game. Getting out there is rough but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. Here are a few tips when it comes to getting ready for a LARP game with social anxiety.

Join the social media groups and forums.

Even as a lurker, you can get more comfortable with how the players interact with one another. Try asking a question to some of the players either in a DM or a beginners’ forum. Most people will be very open to your curiosity or at the very least, know someone who can help.

You can take this a step further once you’ve figured out your character. Joining Organizations that your character may join provides another way to engage with the material as well to observe the subtleties of the game in game. Take these examples from the Refuge LARP. Depending on who or what your character is, these groups can include  The Home Guard 2.0: The Standing Army of Calanda,  or  The Arcane Sanctum 2.0: The Mage Guild of Calandonia, or  The Earth Weavers 2.0: The Order of Earth Casters, or The Silken Refuge: A Hobling run merchant house specializing in the trade of rare Silks from the island of Auric, or The Uruzaries: A High Orc/Ogre organization in servitude to the Oath sworn Shariah of the Edgeland Desert, or the  Hammer Outfitters: originally a Dwarven guild for craftsmen. You’ve got options!

Play as a monster

Cory Fliegel, the head organizer of the Calgary game Refuge says it’s easier to get started with non-player characters or NPCS. His Advice for newcomers is to start with the monster camp as it’s easy to start and simple to play. Monster camp is a nickname for the portion of the organizations that play non-player characters (NPCs) or monsters.

“Others jump right into being a PC and again, that is the choice everyone makes. Your level of comfort should be your main guide,” Explains the user guide for Refuge LARP”, You get to learn the game while gaining Experience Points (XP) for a future PC that you may play.

Playing as a goblin, orc, troll, bugbear, hobgoblin, kobold, mimic, beholder, or even an evil npc allows new players to get a taste for the game, and the rules without the stress of an entire character. It allows the fun to come first.

Get inspired

Do your research. Most LARPs have their lore, myths, history, and characters on their website. Take a look at the various options before you.

[Tip for those that don’t want to read the entire website or folks with ADHD – try a browser extension that reads out the page’s text to you. It’s a game changer for reading any block of text. Here’s what I use. And it’s free!!]

Attend with someone

Going with someone that’s been there before is a huge help. They’re able to show you the ropes and guide you through. Make sure you discuss this with them beforehand. They are sure to be an immense help, but they need to know how to help first.

As an added bonus to this, many games have incentivized introducing new players. Refuge LARP organizer Cory F. provides an incentive for bringing new players in with you and explains that “While only one member may benefit for each new player that purchases a membership, there’s no limit to the number of new players you can bring and receive rewards for! Plus, as a thank-you to both players may pick from a list specific magic items!”

Bring a friend

What’s better than one new player? Two new players!! It’s much easier to fumble through the first day when you know you aren’t alone. Chatting with friends, or folks on social media is a terrific way to meet people that are also LARP newbies.

Ask about Out of game (OOG) options.

Many games will have options for folks that want to take a break. Whether that’s a separate area where you can check your phone, have a snack, or go back to being you for a bit. Some games have a visual aspect to them such as a white headband or a hand on your head to tell other players, “Don’t interact with me.” It’s essentially the LARP’s version of AFK. Each game with have a slightly different approach, so it’s always best to ask.

If you are worried about potential panic or anxiety attacks, also ask about the first aid options. LARP games are meant to be fun not a health hazard.

Give yourself some slack

The first game can be overwhelming. There are a lot of new things to learn and stories to hear. Every new player goes through this, I promise you. Nothing you ask is going to be a surprise to the current players. They’ll either know the answer or send you to someone that does. Consider it your first quest!!

Remember that these are games that are meant to be fun. Take It seriously but not so seriously that it stops being fun. Here are some relaxing songs to help you focus and calm throughout the entire process.

Lost Tales: Our Secret Place By Dreamhop Music

Celestial Choirs By The Guild Of Ambience

Mysterious Music By Arondight Studios

Magic Library By Blue Turtle

Northwind By Brunuhville

Traditional Irish Folk Music By Lantern

Seeking Solitude By Daydreaming Of Persephone

Haunted Cemetery By Michael Ghelfi Studios

Coronation By CIRI

Got more tips to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!!

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Reviews

LARPing; How Music Improved Immersion for The Players

Immersion is the act of immersing yourself in something or having deep mental involvement. It’s what most LARP games strive to achieve for their players.

Photo by JJ Jordan on Pexels.com

Why Is Immersion Important?

During a research project, study authors, Associate Professor Tom Van Laer from the University of Sydney and Dr. Davide Orazi from Monash University followed three different LARP groups. This ethnographic study collected 52 pages of field notes, 2,496 photographs, four hours of GoPro videos, 29 interviews, seven diaries and 2,936 screen captures from four LARPs.

They said their research demonstrated three main reasons LARPing leaves a stronger impact than traditional media or tabletop roleplaying gaming.

Associate professor Van Laer explains the impact that LARPing has on its players.

“When you watch tv, vision and sound are basically the only two senses that play a role. In a LARP there’s touch, smell, and taste, so all your senses are there. It’s not just in your head, it’s everywhere, there’s no border from reality.

“LARPs also allow more freedom and agency than is possible with traditional media and tabletop games. Rather than the showrunner, game designer or dungeon master ‘writing the book,’ LARPs give consumers a lot of involvement in creating the story.

“And finally, you know you can stop a movie. If people get too scared, you stop it. You cannot stop the LARP because the social pressure to be there is the same as the social pressure of a meeting at work—you can’t just stop if you’re not liking it.”

LARPing immersion statistics

Associate Professor Van Laer isn’t the only person looking into the immersion of LARPing. This is a topic that’s been highly studied throughout the world. Switching styles has found some immersion statistics for you and your local LARPing community. Check them out!

It’s not just about the game and being immersed in the fantasy. It’s about being a part of the world. Immersion into a game involves solving problems through cognition, strategic thinking, abstract reasoning, and tactics (First Person Scholar).

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the LARPing craze has blown up throughout the world, including in China. The number of LARP studios across China is also rising, with nearly 12,000 shopfronts as of 2019 (CGTN).

Data shows LARP game’s market value in 2019 has doubled in only a year. The market value exceeded 10 billion yuan in 2019 (Meituan Research Institute).

A survey shows that nearly all of the LARPing respondents felt that background music and sound effects increased their overall sense of immersion (The Computer Games Journal).

Background Music to Help the Immersion

One aspect that adds to the overall immersion is music or sound effects to improve the ambience. Here are examples of several types of music immersion background music to use in your LARP game.

Darkest Dungeon Composed By Stuart Chatwood For Red Hook Studios

The Hellion Tavern By ASKII

Finding Pandora By The Vault of Ambience

Tranquil Atmospheric Ambience Enchanted Lands By The Guild of Ambience

The Yōkai CompendiumBy Realm of Dementia

H.P. Lovecraft Music By Cthulhu Mythos Music

Deep Within the Forest By Dreamhop Music

Dungeon Ambience By Arondight Studios

A King’s Remorse ByArondight Studios

Sunset In the Mountains By Blue Turtle

Let me know in the comments below which one is your favourite!

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Reviews

NFL Anthem from Pinar Toprak

Fans are ecstatic about the new anthem song for the National Football league (NFL). This article “NFL Anthem from Pinar Toprak” is guest written by Jason Greiner.

Introducing Pinar Toprak

Some musicians are household names. Even if they haven’t been performing for decades and are relatively new to the industry, there are people out there that you’ve probably heard of regardless of your age or musical interests. Unless you are especially versed in the music scene, Pinar Toprak is probably not one of them. Despite that fact, I can assure you that she is extremely talented and well-respected as a professional and ground-breaking artist. 

Toprak is a Turkish-American composer. Only in her early 40s, she has written scores for some of the biggest video game franchises and blockbuster movies including those in the superhero genre. A quick sample includes the game “Fortnite” and the movie “Captain Marvel.” Her impressive resume began in 2004 with the short films “Hold The Rice” and “Headbreaker” both directed by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa. 

But recently, this woman took on new ground and became the first female ever to compose a score to go along with one of the biggest sports on the planet. Amazon commissioned her to write the new theme for their broadcasts of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football! 

Photo by Dhia Eddine on Pexels.com

You can see her in action conducting the music for this theme on YouTube!

This newest piece features a full orchestra and a sound that combines the qualities of both power and grace. 

Final Thoughts

If you take a listen, you may recognize some sounds that seem to have a feel very similar to what you might expect to hear at a college football stadium during the height of the season. There is an energy about it that makes the listener want to join in as if they were there in the stands while their college team was driving down the field. 

There is a driving, forceful and uplifting sensation that seems fitting for a stadium anthem. After all, that is the purpose of this piece. And the energy does not waiver from the very first notes to the finale of this work.

What are your thoughts on the newest NFL Anthem from Pinar Toprak? Let u!

Jason Greiner is the author of several books and eBooks and has worked as a professional in the field of journalism and blogging. He also provides photography and graphic design services on a freelance basis. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Jason now lives in the city of Mebane, a small but fast-growing community in central North Carolina. As a lifelong music enthusiast, he enjoys discovering new artists and reviewing their work.

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Reviews

24/7 D&D; Dungeon Crawl Music


Even the most basic of dungeon crawl campaigns are brought to life with a lively and immersive background music playlist. Read below for more information and inspiration and a list of Dungeon Crawl Music.

Introduction To Dungeon Crawl Games

Dungeon crawls are one of the most traditional forms of RPG games. Background music has an impact on in-game immersion even in an RPG as classic as Dungeon crawls. Immersion is vital whenever you have an otherworldly setting whether it’s futuristic or in the past or anachronistic, or even on a whole other plane of existence. Tiamat, we’re looking at you.

Photo by Dagmara Dombrovska on Pexels.com

“Video games consist of three components. The first two, visuals and interactivity, form the essential core of games, but the third component, sound, and specifically music transform a game into something beyond an activity. Music can turn games into unforgettable experiences,” Writes Kellen Beck, a writer from Mashable.

Regardless of whether you’re playing The One Ring Roleplaying Game, Pendragon, D&D, Pathfinder, Warhammer, GURPS, or Zweihander, there’s still an element of audio or music to it. Follow the nerd Dom topic on Switching styles, by signing up for our newsletter!

Dungeon Crawl Music

How can audio help RPG immersion? We’re glad that you asked! Music can be used as a tool to control emotion, establish tone, and further the plot. “Music is a tool that can control emotion and can establish the tone of the story being told. Within the film, many fans look at the soundtrack as a foundation to set the scene. This is no different in the video game industry,” Explains the writers at Anara Publishing (https://www.anarapublishing.com/the-importance-of-music-in-video-games/)

Cinematic Trailer Background Music By Elysium Audio Labs

Into The Depths Of Dungeon By Naegi Ki

RPG Dungeon Ambience By ASKII

D&D Ambience – Catacombs By Sword Coast Soundscapes

LOTR The Shire By The Vault Of Ambience

Castle Raven Loft By Cthulhu Mythos Music

Dark Forest By Martia’s Muses

Crystal Dungeon By Michael Ghelfi Studios

Epic Instrumental Music – Powerful And Dramatic By Fred Bouchal

Forsaken Temple By Ambience Lab

Let me know what your favourite Dungeon Crawl Music was in the comments below!

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