Asian inspired music?

[Cedrass]

So, I'll be doing an Avatar: The Last Airbender game soon. Or I hope I'll be able to make it soon...

Anyways! The problem is, I love putting some ambiant music, but I have nothing for an asian themed campaign. I'm wondering if you wouldn't have some sugestions and such?

[Moofaa]

Look for some anime soundtracks.

I think I found the Naruto OST music from a quick google search. You can probably find Airbender stuff too.

[Xenogears]

Well it all depends on what you mean by "asian inspired."

I mean japanese music is very varied. Anything from high pitched girls doing pop music to guys trying to do the deep gutteral death metal type singing. Also more traditional style music as well. Then there is korean, chinese, vietnamese, etc. Lots of asian nations with lots of traditional music types and even more non-traditional.

Hmmm for the feel of Avatar I'd think something softer sounding would be best.

[Sploosh]

I always loved using the music from the Jeti Li Wong Fei Hung. You said ambiance so here is a link to the instrumental only version of my favorite song there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQOvv-ykWqU

I really love it with the voice of George Lam though and I think it is a thousand times better with it so here is that link too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN_hCJMVaAk

[cupkeyk]

Look up the Yoshida Brothers for japanese inspired music; they do the soundtrack for Naruto.

For chinese music, look up Twelve Girls.

Both are intrumentals with traditional instruments (biwa, arhu, fue, taiko etc.)

[Tengu_temp]

Avatar soundtrack sounds like the obvious suggestion here.

[Xenogears]

Avatar soundtrack sounds like the obvious suggestion here.

I was gonna suggest that too but then I thought it might be a bad idea. Assuming the people playing the Avatar RPG are familiar with the Avatar show then listening to the soundtrack might just make them distracted by memories of what was going on when the song was playing.

[Cedrass]

I was gonna suggest that too but then I thought it might be a bad idea. Assuming the people playing the Avatar RPG are familiar with the Avatar show then listening to the soundtrack might just make them distracted by memories of what was going on when the song was playing.

Exactly my thought.

The Yoshida Brothers and Twelve Girls are awesome. Thanks to the person who suggested them.

Any more?

[Innis Cabal]

ARIA ASIA is great, that is all.

[Xenogears]

Hmmm I seem to recall enjoying a lot of the background music in Breath of Fire 4 and that was Asian inspired but that was a PS1 game so probably not the best quality even if you could find it. Dunno. Most of the asian music I do listen to tends to not be the best thing for ambience.

[Terraoblivion]

The Okami soundtrack could work too, though some tracks are decidedly weird rather than remotely like any kind of traditional music. Mostly it sounds fitting though.

Also i would probably refrain from saying Asian-inspired, since classic Chinese and Japanese music isn't very much alike. In general saying Asian and thinking it is very descriptive is a bad idea except in very broad strokes. Asia is as varied or more as Europe, after all.

[Moofaa]

Final Fantasy and Fire Emblem.

Maybe also Baldurs Gate and similar games.

[LibraryOgre]

Go to half-price books or your local library and check out both World Music and Soundtracks. I'd be tempted to used the Crouching Tiger/ Hidden Dragon soundtrack, and I imagine you could do quite well with some from Curse of the Golden Flower and other Chinese movies that have made it big in America. I also know that we've got a fair selection of Chinese Folk music at my library, which you might want to take a look at.

[Attilargh]

Since I've already been beat to the awesome and winny Yoshida Brothers, I guess I'll have to dig through some of my more obscure playlist entries. Darn you all to heck.


See if you can find anything by a dude called Lei Qiang. He plays the erhu, which has quite distinctively Chinese sound.

If you'd prefer something Japanese, Tajima Tadashi plays a mean shakuhachi.

Also try Kodo, because that dramatic moment with the evil whatevers calls for some epic drums. No exceptions.

The Jade Empire soundtrack is also pretty good, but if I recall, the songs were all a bit on the short side.

[Altair_the_Vexed]

Pick up the movie soundtracks by Tan Dun and Yo Yo Ma - that's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, House of the Flying Daggers...

Also, download the No Theatre parts of David Byrne's The Knee Plays - the rest of the album is New Orleans jazz and spoken word oddness, so it won't fit your needs.

[Radar]

Well, it all depends on the actual setting, you are going for (middle ages or more modern), but if Yoshida Brothers will fit, then some anime classics might as well:
Ghost In The Shell
Akira (at least this track)

[BobVosh]

You also need to find two grandmas willing to talk in unison. I don't know why but those two old ladies from the fire kingdom were awesome when they announced stuff.

Vital for any avatar based game.

[Cedrass]

I do not have the time to listen and see what others have suggested, but since it seems China and Japan had really different music styles (I really had no idea), I think I would prefer Chinese music.

If my memory serves right, Avatar was heavily inspired by chinese culture and not japanese.

Again, thank you all who have posted in this thread! I'll be sure to use those songs to give a great feeling to my games .