Aussie singer-songwriter, producer and visual artist Up Late has released a gaming anthem in the form of Tidal Wave (Fortress Theme)
Written as the theme song for the upcoming Fortress House Cup, Tidal Wave (Fortress Theme) is a grandiose, anthemic track that blends together several alternative elements, resulting in a jam that is built to blast from Esports arena speakers.
With a deep appreciation of the relationship between heavy music and video games, Fortress Melbourne, decided the tournament needed an epic anthem for fans and players and put the call out to UNFD to find the right artist for the venture.
For Up Late, it was indisputably 'the perfect challenge', providing the opportunity to pay respects to three of the biggest current passions in his life, music, video games and connecting with people.
"Every lyric and every note of this song is driving home the sentiment that people are stronger together, in a team, or in a group - that connectedness you feel while gaming or that connectedness you feel at a concert. I want people to hear this song and get goosebumps"
It was also a timely project for Up Late who says that his own passion for gaming was reignited by the pandemic, providing not just entertainment, but the opportunity to fill the social void created by the pandemic.
"I remember staying up late (no pun intended) night after night playing Runescape, Mario Kart & Pokemon. That camaraderie you share with people who might be on the other side of the planet is something really cool and interesting that many people don’t get to experience if they’re not into games. I found myself back gaming during the pandemic. It gave me something to focus on, a quest or a journey, a purpose. It was a way I could connect with people no matter how fucked up or negative the outside world was."
Watch the lyric video/visualiser for Tidal Wave (Fortress Theme) below.
For the uninitiated, Fortress Melbourne, stationed out of Melbourne's Emporium, is a first-of-its-kind venue that melds gaming, pop culture, entertainment and food & drink. Launched in 2020, the team behind Fortress Melbourne are no strangers to the music business, including CEO and co-founder Jon Satterley, who established Roadrunner Records in Australia in the '90s.
Speaking on Tidal Wave (Fortress Theme), Satterley couldn't be happier with what Up Late created.
Hearing 'Tidal Wave (Fortress Theme) for the first time I knew we had something special on our hands. I couldn't take the smile off my face - it's killer! Huge, anthemic chorus, lyrics that speak directly to gamers and a buzzy little guitar solo. What's not to like? Up Late did a fantastic job creating a record that mirrors the excitement and fun of Fortress."
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