Banjo Guy Ollie Interview: The Genius of Dune
With Dune releasing as a movie this year (directed by none other than Denis Villeneuve), hype is at an all-time high for the science-fiction epic. I myself have begun reading the first book, and like many others, I’ve come to understand the near-universal appeal the series has. That universal appeal also applied to a video game that released in 1992. Banjo Guy Ollie is here to explain just what made the Dune soundtrack so memorable.
What made the Dune soundtrack so memorable?
I'd say it's a combination of clear Arabic influences and the choice of instruments used, both on the PC and the Amiga. Stephane Picq mixed violin, flute, and vocal samples with synthesizers and strange noises I can't even begin to describe to great effect. Somehow, the soundtrack managed to perfectly translate the feelings I had while reading the first couple of books.
How did the soundtrack inform the gameplay and vice versa?
I can't imagine the game with different music and, if I'm being 100% honest, I don't think the game would be nearly as enjoyable without that specific soundtrack.
The Fremen theme felt spot on at the start, and so did the Map and the music used when you're flying from one location to the other. The intro music perfectly captures what it would be like to first arrive on an arid, sandy world like Arrakis. You get the sense that the composer did understand the game and the universe of Dune quite well, or, at the very least, knew how to bring in his own interpretation in a consistent manner.
That being said, I do feel the tunes themselves craft a story of their own and inform the player as to what emotional state they should be at when playing, not unlike something a game like Undertale does so brilliantly. I often compare the two, even though they couldn't be more different games, but I just like the way the music is used as a storytelling medium in it's own way.
Do you prefer the DOS or Amiga version of the soundtrack?
Both. There's actually small differences in the composition between the two, and I'd encourage people to listen to both.
The DOS version uses the synthesizer brilliantly and feels a bit fuller as it allowed for more voices. However, the Amiga uses a clever approach of always keeping its four channels full and alternating some notes to give the impression that it keeps on adding instruments—quite clever in my opinion. Since samples are used for the Amiga, the overall texture of the OST is a bit richer than the DOS version. Both have their own qualities that actually makes them unique.
There's also a SEGA CD version that sounds...suitably SEGA. It's not bad, more like a megadrive version of the DOS game.
What did the Dune soundtrack do differently from other soundtracks of that time?
It was a real treat for our eager ears, especially when a lot of the computer music at that time was being made by relying on simple acid or dance music tricks and space themes were derivative of John Williams type arrangements. Here was a space opera that was unlike anything else we'd heard before. Quite the stroke of genius.
If you could ask the Dune composers one question, what would that be?
I chatted with Stephane Picq back when I did my first cover of Dune. Whenever I do a cover, I try to reach out to the composer if I can to make sure they're happy with the work. I'd hate to think that I did something that didn't honor the intention and spirit of the original tune. He said that he liked it and loved the attention I put in some small parts of the sounds in the background. He's a man of few words (well, at least from what I could see online), and that's all I got out of him at the time. I believe he lives in Madagascar now, so online chats might not be the top of his priorities.
Describe the arrangement process for your Dune covers.
Messy like all my covers. I tried to get my hands on the MIDI files, but of course they're full of mistakes and rather unusable. So, first, I had to use them as a basis and re-work them using both the Amiga and DOS versions side-by-side to come up with a compromise that would satisfy both types of fans. This probably took the most time. After that, I tried to find instruments that closely matched the original sound.
Sometimes I would combine sounds—like a flute, accordion, and glockenspiel—to get that right tonal quality. It's a lot of redundancy, playing the same line on various instruments (some of which you can barely hear), but it was essential to get those sounds right. I was very fortunate to be donated an oud for that cover of the Fremen theme which was pivotal in getting me to work on the cover.
Why should more people listen to the Dune soundtrack?
I'd be curious to hear what people would make of it nowadays, without the context of the era and what computer video game music was like at the time. One thing I can say is that it was different from everything else we'd ever heard, especially in a video game. The biggest appeal for a modern audience would be to play the game for a few hours to experience the music. You'll find that, like in Undertale, Dune is able to inform the player as to what they're doing and where they are, both in the game and emotionally.
Which would you prefer: a Dune remake or a Dune sequel?
Oh man, either would be fine. I've read all the books—the original 6 and the 14 written by his (Frank Herbert) son. The thing is, the game is simply based on the 1st book. The next two books expand on the characters and their families after their passing. After that, the series jumps a few thousand years in the future, while the prequels take place some 10,000 years prior. It's a vast, vast world that Frank Herbert created for us. Most of it happens outside the planet Dune which represents the pivot point for the entire series. More Dune...that's all I want.