Wassup Conversations

About Wassup Conversations

Welcome to Bonfire Conversations, a podcast where we gather around the metaphorical bonfire to share inspiring stories, explore creative journeys, and ignite deep, meaningful dialogues. Hosted by Hamidreza Nikoofar, each episode delves into the minds of remarkable individuals across various fields, including music, film, art, and beyond. Join us as we chat with influential guests, uncovering the passions, challenges, and triumphs that shape their unique paths. Whether you’re a creator seeking inspiration or simply a curious mind eager to learn from the best, Bonfire Conversations is your invitation to sit back, relax, and enjoy the warmth of genuine human connection. Available on YouTube and all the major podcast streaming services: https://li.sten.to/bdrq39ec

Publisher

Hamidreza Nikoofar

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Sept 2019

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

104 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   "Ryan Lott" Talks About Scoring Marathon, And The New Album

   Ryan Lott (Son Lux) on Scoring Bungie's MARATHON, Everything Everywhere All At Once & Building Custom Instruments | Bonfire ConversationsRyan Lott is the composer, producer and founder of Son Lux - Oscar-nominated for Everything Everywhere All At Once, and the composer behind Bungie's new game Marathon, Marvel's Thunderbolts, and Swiss Army Man. His band Son Lux just released their new album 'Out Into'.In this interview, Ryan breaks down his entire scoring process - from building custom instruments and prepared piano, to using iPhone voice memos as his final score, to treating a game score like a complex puzzle.In this episode we talk about:- How Ryan Lott was hired to score Bungie's Marathon- Scoring Marathon as a puzzle: too much information that can be re-assembled- Why Bungie told him: "Don't let how the music works limit your ideas"- Finding beauty in broken sounds and instruments at war with themselves- Why taste is more important than technique- Prepared piano, custom instruments and why perfect sample libraries kill creativity- Recording with iPhone - voice memo as the sacred bible of a track- When experimentation becomes a gimmick- Embracing mistakes, errancy and fray in the creative process- Inside Son Lux's new album 'Out Into' and scoring while touring- Scoring Everything Everywhere All At Once and his Oscar nomination- His favorite films and film scoresGuest:Ryan Lott / Son LuxAlbum 'Out Into' out nowHost:www.bonfireconversations.comIf you're a film composer, game composer, music producer or Son Lux fan, this is a masterclass in sound design, film scoring, and game audio.00:00 - Intro - How Bungie Found Ryan for Marathon02:31 - When Did You Stop Trying to Be Good and Start Being Yourself?05:49 - Is Taste More Important Than Technique?08:33 - Why Broken Sounds Are More Honest16:10 - Do You Record Sounds With Your Phone?18:23 - Voice Memos as the Bible - Ryan's Workflow19:19 - When Does Experimentation Become a Gimmick?21:47 - The Most Beautiful Mistake You've Ever Made?24:36 - Son Lux New Album 'Out Into'35:21 - How Bungie Approached Ryan for Marathon50:37 - Scoring Marathon Like a Complex Puzzle54:18 - Oscar Nomination for Everything Everywhere All At Once57:24 - Other Art Forms - Dance and Fatherhood58:25 - Top 5 Favorite Films01:02:39 - Top 5 Favorite Film Scores01:09:59 - Are You a Gamer? Scoring Marathon as a Non-Gamer DadSubscribe for more interviews with composers and filmmakers.#RyanLott #SonLux #Marathon #Bungie #BungieMarathon #EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce #FilmScoring #GameComposer #FilmComposer #SoundDesign #PreparedPiano #CustomInstruments #Thunderbolts #BonfireConversations

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   "Jesper Kyd" on Life, Career, Future and Cancelled Wonder Woman

   Today on Bonfire Conversations, I'm joined by one of the most influential composers in video game history, Jesper Kyd, the genius behind Hitman, Assassin's Creed (Ezio's Family), Borderlands, Warhammer 40K: Darktide, Darksiders 2, Freedom Fighters and the acclaimed Indian film Tumbbad.In this 74-minute deep dive, Jesper opens up like never before about the canceled Wonder Woman game from Monolith (Shadow of Mordor), how he wrote the interior life of Agent 47, the real origin of Assassin's Creed's mysticism, the emotional story behind recording Ezio's Family live, why he will NEVER use AI for art, and what his Top 5 film & game scores are.If you love game music, film scoring, and creative philosophy, this is for you.In this interview we talk about:The canceled Wonder Woman game - what the music really sounded like [Monolith / WB Games]Writing Hitman - How do you score a character who hides his inner life?Assassin's Creed 1 - War, Mysticism & Tragedy of the Third CrusadeThe true meaning of Ezio's Family - Rebirth, Pain and SacrificeWarhammer 40K Darktide - his most experimental scoreHow game music can expand a universe bigger than the mapSuccess, entitlement & why you have to fight for every projectAI in music: Why Jesper doesn't embrace itHis favorite games right now (Subnautica) and film scores (Blade Runner, Vangelis, John Williams)The club track from Hitman: Blood Money that surprised himMy story about listening to his music on top of the real Alamut Castle in Iran is still giving me chills.Guest: Jesper Kydhttps://www.jesperkyd.comHost: Bonfire Conversationswww.bonfireconversations.comPodcast about game music, film music and the people behind it.Subscribe for more interviews with composers, directors and game devs.👍 If this conversation meant something to you, please Like, Comment your favorite Jesper Kyd score, and Subscribe, it helps the algorithm show this to more people who love game music.#JesperKyd #Hitman #AssassinsCreed #EziosFamily #GameMusic #FilmScore #VideoGameMusic #Warhammer40k #Darktide #Borderlands #Tumbbad #WonderWomanGame #Monolith #Vangelis #ComposerInterview #Subnautica #Bioshock #Halo

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Jerk Gustafsson (Wolfenstein, Indiana Jones, The Darkness)

   In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Jerk Gustafsson, Studio Director of MachineGames and Arkane Studios, to explore his journey through video game development. From leaving school at 15 to work as a bricklayer to shaping iconic first-person experiences like The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, The Darkness, the modern Wolfenstein series, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Jerk shares insights into game design, storytelling, and studio leadership. In This Episode, We Discuss:From Bricklayer to Level Designer: How early physical construction work shaped Jerk's work ethic, spatial awareness, and level building philosophy. The Legacy of Quake: Exploring why Quake remains a essential tool for level designers, and how MachineGames created official anniversary episodes like Dimension of the Past and Dimension of the Machine.The Starbreeze Era: Overcoming early failures with Sorcery, building Enclave, and redefining movie adaptations with The Chronicles of Riddick. Crafting Immersive Storytelling: The design philosophy behind The Darkness, minimal UI decisions, emotional character moments, and keeping players grounded inside the protagonist's perspective. The Birth of MachineGames: Leaving Starbreeze to gain creative control, navigating early financial struggles, origin of the studio name, and partnering with Bethesda and id Software to revive Wolfenstein. Modern Games & Complexity: Balancing player guidance with exploration, preserving studio culture as a team grows, and keeping development hands-on during final production. 00:00 Intro01:56 Quitting School at 1504:45 How Bricklaying Shaped Level Design06:45 Quake & Modding Roots11:52 Modern Game Complexity16:05 Creating Official Quake Episodes20:05 Early Starbreeze: Sorcery & Enclave26:18 Chronicles of Riddick & Performance Capture35:27 The Darkness & Minimal UI Design46:15 Founding MachineGames49:30 Pitching Bethesda & Reviving Wolfenstein51:00 Origin of the Studio Name53:04 Preserving Studio CultureSubscribe to Bonfire Conversations:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BonfireConversationsWebsite: https://bonfireconversations.com#jerkgustafsson #machinegames #wolfenstein #riddick #indianajonesandthegreatcircle #thedarkness #gamedevelopment

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.