The OneUps

Game Music

Know Your MAG: The OneUps

November 26, 2012 | Patrick Gann | Comments Off on Know Your MAG: The OneUps Share this Know Your MAG: The OneUps

We at OSV have probably written more about The OneUps than any other VGM-based band. Rather than list all the articles individually, I recommend you just search our tag for The OneUps.

This jazz band turned funk band has been doing some really special and important work in the world of VGM arrangements. So many bands go for straight up rock arrangements, or some variation of rock. With a very similar band setup, The OneUps manage to drop the driving beats and go for funky, swing-like grooves in almost all of their songs. Their albums have improved in quality from year to year, with the recent “Intergalactic” albums showcasing a sound unlike anything we’d heard before.

The band’s lead, Mustin, recently opened “Mustin Enterprises” in place of the old OneUp Studios. What this means for the future of the band, we’re still not sure, but we’re hoping to get more details at MAGFest after their Thursday night performance!
Doujin, Game Music

Are You Funky Enough? Intergalactic Continuum Giveaway Contest!

September 7, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 24 Comments Share this

[above: proof that I have no business messing around in Photoshop … or, in my case, GIMP]

UPDATE: You are free to submit more than one idea, so long as you don’t spam us with posts. To make it simple, let’s set a limit to three song ideas per person. Honor system applies, don’t create dummy email accounts or use proxy/tunnel to mask your IP address!

Yesterday, in our review of The OneUps’ latest album Intergalactic Continuum, we noted the extremely witty and clever track titles for the songs on the album. Now it’s time for you to make up your own title!

Here’s all you have to do: leave a comment on this article that includes a song, or a medley of songs from a game/franchise that you would love to have arranged by The OneUps. Then, give that dream arrangement a clever title. The funkiest (or funniest) entry will win a new, sealed copy of Intergalactic Continuum, courtesy of Mustin Enterprises and OSV. Free shipping within North America, but if you live anywhere else, we may have to ask you to Paypal 5 USD to OSV to cover international shipping. But we’re not limiting the contest to US/Canada residents, so anyone and everyone, feel free to submit your entry! We’ll close entries at noon EST on Thursday, Sept 13 and announce the winner the next day.

And hey, if we’re lucky, maybe The OneUps will use the entries as a source of inspiration. Who knows what we’ll hear at MAGFest 11?!
Doujin, Featured, Game Music, Reviews

Funky Fills, Without The “Filler” – Intergalactic Continuum (Review)

September 6, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 8 Comments Share this

Last year, The OneUps took on a new style and new image. They were officially a funk band, and they made sure everyone knew and understood what they were all about by launching the band into outer space with the album Intergalactic Redux.

In January, we got a glimpse of what their new album would include with their MAGFest set (the evening one, not the afternoon one). Now, nine months later, The OneUps are giving birthday to their full-length follow-up, entitled Intergalactic Continuum.

After the jump, we give you our review of the album. And check back tomorrow for a chance to win this album before it’s even available for purchase! (more…)
Featured, Game Music

MAGFest X Night 3: The Grand Finale

January 10, 2012 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on MAGFest X Night 3: The Grand Finale Share this MAGFest X Night 3: The Grand Finale

I can’t believe it’s already over. After a weekend of music, games, and friends, MAGFest X is officially a part of history. The event this year saw record attendance with approximately 6,100 attendees, an unprecedented number of bands across multiple stages and an absolutely stunning venue in the Gaylord National Resort & Spa. Writing this on the plane ride back home, I’m already looking forward to next year.

The last evening’s performances included some of the top acts, including the headlining band, the Eartbound Papas. We also saw Bit Brigade, The OneUps, and 20XX, all of which were impressive on stage.

Hit the jump for our impressions as well as some amazing photos of the performance s from Emi Spicer. (more…)
Game Music

MAGFest X Stage 2: The OneUps, Battlecake, and Rare Candy, Oh My!

January 8, 2012 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

There was a ridiculous amount of music featured at MAGFest this year. Not only were there the main stage acts that we’ve been covering a daily basis (we’ll have last night’s concert with the Earthbound Papas ready for you early next week as we process the slew of photos), there were also chiptune shows (more coverage later) as well as the regular jam space and a second stage with performances scheduled throughout the day.

Due to the hectic scheduling with so many things going on at once, I had to hand pick the acts to see on the second stage. The OneUps were an obvious pick, but after hearing Rare Candy at MAGFest VIII, I really wanted to hear them again, and Battlecake impressed me so much with their arrangement of the Songs for the Cure ’11: Remedy album that I absolutely had to catch them as well.

Hit the jump for our impressions of their sets. (more…)
Game Music

GDC 2011: Intergalactic Redux is Invading GDC?

March 3, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 3 Comments Share this

So, Josh and I are here in San Francisco for GDC 2011, and I was surprised by the first thing I saw at the door. Don’t those angular, rainbow-colored designs look vaguely familiar? They should, as we just reviewed and held our Intergalactic Redux contest in the past month and week, respectively!

Do you think it’s just a coincidence, or do The OneUps have fans in high places?

Hit the jump for another shot. (more…)
Doujin, Game Music

Intergalactic Redux Alliteration Contest!

February 10, 2011 | Patrick Gann | 9 Comments Share this

We’ve had plenty of coverage for The OneUps’ new EP, Intergalactic Redux. Now we’re prepared to give away two copies to our readers! But to win, you’ll have to get a little funky yourself with some modern poetic techniques.

The following phrase appears on the back cover of the album, as well as on their bandcamp page:

A collection of cosmic creations concocted for the most cognitive cochleae capable of conscious comprehension – re-imagined, re-arranged and re-recorded by The OneUps.

You know what’s happening there, right? It’s called alliteration. Repeating the same sound at the beginning of each word.

Now, we’re willing to work with you a bit, so it doesn’t have to be strict alliteration. We’ll also accept assonance and consonance as long as you can make it really pronounced.

Come up with a sentence or two describing some game music, game music composer, and/or game music performer that you really admire. Make sure to use alliteration (or the related techniques described above). Post it in the comments section here, or on our Facebook page. We’ll find it either way.

Two weeks from today (that’s February 24th) we’ll announce the winners. Will you be one of them? Give it your best shot, and be rewarded with this funky-fresh sextuplet of songs. That wasn’t even very good alliteration, but we’ll accept similar to that, so don’t stress! Just leave a comment and see what happens!