Interview with Tee Lopes
When it comes to the arts, the idea of progress is a slippery concept. Is the music of Miles Davis better because it’s more complex than that of Louis Armstrong? Is the latest Pixar film better than the Disney classics? The answers are more complicated than you might think. I thought about this when listening to Tee (Tiago) Lopes’ music for the recent Metal Slug Tactics. Unlike some recent scores, Tee’s music is entirely digital, without studio musicians or an orchestra anywhere in sight. By intention, Tee’s music for Tactics and his earlier Sonic the Hedgehog scores are intentionally synth-and-sample heavy and full of happy energy.
Tee Lopes was born in Portugal and developed an interest in creating music using early PlayStation games/apps like Music 2000. Eventually, he was creating YouTube remixes of classic Sonic music, which led to his co-founding of PagodaWest Games and a partnership with Sega in 2017. Tee has written dozens of scores for Sonic games and other, varied titles. I had the chance to speak with Tee about his recent work on Metal Slug Tactics.
More Than the Retro Guy
Although Tee has written music for some classic — and classic-inspired — games, his interests are broad. “I love retro games and music—they’ve had a huge influence on me—but it’s not my sole focus,” Tee said. “I’m equally passionate about modern music, exploring fresh techniques and trends, and finding ways to bring them into my own creations. While many of the most well-known projects I’ve worked on lean heavily into that retro vibe—and I completely understand why that label exists—I’d still find it limiting to be seen exclusively as a ‘retro music guy.’ ”
Listening to the music for Metal Slug Tactics, I was immediately struck by how much texture and variety were crammed into nearly every track. In part, this was to keep the music consistent with the original Metal Slug. “The original Metal Slug score constantly shifts moods, from chaotic battle themes to almost playful jazz moments. I also focused on keeping that sense of high-energy fun, with prominent brass, guitar riffs, and dynamic rhythmic changes. I leaned into the groove-heavy pacing and some of the chord language of the originals while keeping the instrumentation and mix more cinematic.”
Picking Favorites
Listening to Tee’s music outside of gameplay, I was excited by the variety of styles that even a single cut passed through. Maybe my favorite track from Metal Slug Tactics is Trigger Happy, a kaleidoscope of high-energy rock, jazz-funk, and driving percussion. “The track was actually inspired by the energy many arcade character selection screens had back in the 90s, with frenetic slap bass and an over-the-top funky jazz fusion vibe, which of course included an improvised Electric Piano solo.’
For this song, I took the melody from the title screen, applied it over a funky beat, and rearranged the chords to soundless heroic and more chill since the characters are just hanging out, feeling comfortable at their base. Building a track like this is always about how I want the player to feel—it’s energetic but also diegetic to some degree, like it’s a natural extension of the environment.”
Tee shared my enthusiasm for Trigger Happy. “I also really like “Trigger Happy” because it’s just so fun and chaotic. It has this playful energy that fits the game’s over-the-top vibe, and it was a blast to put together. I think every track has its own vibe and purpose, and that’s what makes the whole soundtrack exciting for me.”
Studio Magic
I have yet to meet a game composer that didn’t have a wide array of influences and Tee is absolutely no exception. Tee’s journey into game music was perhaps less academic and more organic. “I’m mostly self-taught but have always listened to a wide range of music and love creating in different styles. On the pop side, I’m inspired by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Bruno Mars. In EDM, I look up to Disclosure, Kaytranada, Skrillex, and many others. Then there are the Japanese VGM veterans like Yuzo Koshiro, Michiru Yamane, Nobuo Uematsu, and Koichi Sugiyama. I was also exposed to a lot of Latin music growing up in Newark, NJ, which has greatly influenced my rhythm and energy.” In other words, if it’s good music, Tee Lopes probably has absorbed it into his vocabulary.
Gearheads and tech nerds might be surprised that Tee’s studio setup is relatively accessible. “My studio is pretty straightforward. I use FL (Fruity Loops) Studio as my main DAW, and almost everything is done digitally. For Metal Slug Tactics, I relied almost solely on the Roland Canvas VST module, which I chose as the sound identity for this soundtrack. It helped me capture that retro-inspired, arcade-like tone while keeping everything cohesive. The percussion sounds also came from the Roland Canvas, with additional tweaks to enhance their impact and fit the intense pacing of the music.”
Challenges and Rewards
All artistic endeavors contain problems to be solved and challenges to overcome. It’s part of the fun! Tee said “The biggest challenge was balancing the nostalgia of the original METAL SLUG series with the new tactical approach of Metal Slug Tactics. I had to honor the fast-paced, arcade roots while creating something that fit the more deliberate pacing of a tactical game. Finding that balance was a fun challenge, and seeing it all come together in the final product was incredibly rewarding!”
Special Thanks to Tee Lopes for this interview.