The Sound of Indie Symphony II with Austin Wintory

The Sound of Indie Symphony II with Austin Wintory

Author: SIFTER June 18, 2025 Duration: 32:15

Award-winning composer Austin Wintory returns to the podcast to discuss his work on Indie Symphony II, a concert series performed by Orchestra Victoria on July 3 and 4 2025.

Austin shares insights into the creative process behind scoring indie games like ABZÛ and Hades II, and how these soundtracks come to life in a live orchestral setting.

We also revisit his previous appearance, where he talked about composing for Stray Gods. Tune in for a deep dive into the artistry of video game music and its impact on storytelling.

Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Cat Jahne is Social Producer, Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.


Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of your favourite video games? Lightmap-Conversations with video game creators pulls back the curtain, offering genuine, in-depth chats with the people who bring these worlds to life. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's an award-winning Australian podcast that digs into the messy, fascinating, and deeply human creative process. Each episode feels like you're sitting in on a candid conversation between friends, one of whom just happens to be a brilliant developer, a visionary artist, or a composer whose music defines entire gaming eras. You'll hear stories about the breakthroughs and the breakdowns, the initial spark of an idea and the years of grind it takes to shape it into something you can play. Hosted by SIFTER, the podcast moves beyond just the finished product to explore the craft of interactive media itself. By focusing on the creators' personal journeys and professional challenges, Lightmap provides a unique perspective you won't find in standard reviews or previews. It’s for anyone who's ever finished a game and immediately wanted to know how it was made, or for anyone curious about the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that are as much about the people as they are about the pixels.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators
Podcast Episodes
A voice says SLAY THE PRINCESS. What you do next is up to you [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:22
SLAY THE PRINCESS is a horror narrative visual novel where you've got one task. You're here to slay a princess, but if you do is actually up to you. This game brings branching narratives and a style of roguelite gameplay…
Are video games causing climate change? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:26
If you want to play a video game you have to plug something in, that power comes from somewhere and Dr Ben Abraham, has completed the second annual Net Zero Snapshot for the games industry. Ubisoft is leading the charge…
The history of video games, one year and one game at a time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:09
How do you condense more around forty years of interactive history into one book? Games journalist Jordan Minor (PC Mag, The Escapist) has taken on this task, with a new beautifully illustrated book "Video Game of the Ye…
PLANET OF LANA has its own secret language and galaxy spanning story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:32
It might not look like it, but PLANET OF LANA is actually Wishfully's very first game after a long career in TV and animation. Lead game designer Adam Stjärnljus and script writer Klas Eriksson who both co-directed the g…