Interview conducted and arranged by Adi Wickramaratne / Luke Newcombe.

Last December we had an opportunity to meet Nobuo Uematsu, the man behind the music of the Final Fantasy universe and, the movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.

LN: Uematsu-San, thank you for your time. Would you tell us when you started working for Square-Enix?
Uematsu-San: About 20 years ago, but I was [only] part time. (And what drew you to working in the games industry?) That was the only job that was available at the time!

LN: Were you disappointed that you didn't have more involvement with Final Fantasy: Spirits Within?
uematsu-San: I was actually offered [the movie] by (Hironobu) Sakaguchi (Creator of Final Fantasy), but because I was working on FFIX at the same time, I basically didn't have the time.

LN: And what did you think of the finished movie?
uematsu-San: I guess it could have been better if I did the music! [smiles]

LN: What are the main differences between scoring the music for a game and scoring a movie like FFVII:AC?
uematsu-San: I would say that the [main] difference is that film music is on a linear time line, but [with] a game, you don't have any control over how the story goes because it's entirely up to the user, the player. So that's the difference.

LN: So, with games, how closely would you work with the development team to make sure that the music fits the situation?
uematsu-San: It's like this: because basically we work in the same office, we're friends, colleagues... for my music part I have an entire direction part. After I get the script, I can decide when the music starts and when it stops and when it goes to the characters' speech –I have control over that entirely.

LN: What inspires you when you're composing music for games?
uematsu-San: All the music I ever listened to!

LN: How did you get involved with Ah! My Goddess -and were you prepared for the critical acclaim that followed the awards given to your theme tune for Ah! My Goddess, Eyes On Me?
uematsu-San: I just got an offer from the director...(LN: And the award?) I thought it was a joke at first! I didn't even go to the awards ceremony because I was in Hawaii working on the score for FFXI! I so wish I was there...I probably won't have another opportunity like that.

LN: Do you have any other film-related projects in the pipeline?
uematsu-San: Not right at the moment –I'd still quite like to work on films, but the thing is...I'm not really interested in doing all the songs/soundtrack for one film cause certain songs are quite boring, because they are there just to create a certain atmosphere. I'd rather score the main theme –the theme song for one film.

LN: Are you planning on more classical renditions of FF music similar to the "Dear Friends" concerts of the last couple of years?
uematsu-San: Definitely, I would love to! First I'm going to start touring in February next year, in America, -and in Europe I would really love to, although I can't tell you the...specific [countries] as there's no particular plan yet.

LN: What can you tell us about your "Black Mages" project?
uematsu-San: On the 22nd of this month we're going to release the second album in Japan and maybe next year, in January, we're going to do concerts in Tokyo and Osaka. In Advent Children the music was played by Black Mages –it's not mentioned, but it's the same people playing. [Hands us a CD] Keep advertising for us in London –spread the word!

LN: Recently, movies like Cowboy Bebop have used very jazzy music. Do you think that's something you'd like to try –moving away from orchestral or rock styles to something a bit lighter and more fun?
uematsu-San: Well, I won't say that it wouldn't be interesting, but there are so many things that I already want to do that the jazzy stuff doesn't particularly fit into my wish list...but if I were to answer, "If I want to do anything other than rocky stuff or orchestral stuff," then the answer is yes and definitely I would like to make music solely on Moog, the synthesiser.

LN: So, why have you decided to leave Square-Enix and what are your plans for the immediate future –are you going to go on holiday?
uematsu-San: Although I've just left Square-Enix, the first job I was offered was this job with Square-Enix to go on tour! But I would definitely love to do one of my dreams, which is to make the main theme for a film, you know, like film titles and also I want to go back to the writing that I used to do.

LN: What kind of writing is that –is it still music?
uematsu-San: I've published two books already! (Laughs)

LN: What kind of books are they?
uematsu-San: As you know, gamers are quite young generations –like in Japan, for example, and I presume it's like that here as well. Young people don't really listen to their parents' generation for advice and stuff, but young people still look up to those people that they respect, like game creators, like maybe myself. So I like to give nice advice, sort of from the parents' point of view, but quote it in a nice, sweet way.

LN: Uematsu-San, thank you for your time –and good luck with your future projects!