Episodes

  • Episode 5: Q-UP Composers discuss Drum & Bass hit OST | BGM Gems Bonus Interview
    Dec 15 2025

    Q-Up Composers Connor Lofdahl and Martin Nayeri sit with BGM Gems Co-Host Dawn Violet to discuss their Original Soundtrack for 2025's Q-UP, by Everybody House Games.



    Follow BGM Gems on Social Media

    https://bsky.app/profile/bgmgems.bsky.social

    See the video version of this discussion:
    https://youtu.be/UoTep7b1suQ


    Music sourced from the Q-UP Soundtrack on bandcamp

    https://kariomart.bandcamp.com/album/q-up-ost


    Music that inspired Q-UP as shared by kariomart and Blue Cayman

    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5NgS1nLT2BP9ia5U5u4Aus?si=4f96ce6a94f04598


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=480Q_aZUcxw


    RamonPang's carRADIO Drum & Bass mix

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IK3L7OrPE4


    Follow BGM Gems on your favorite podcatcher for the latest episodes discussing video game music large, small, and weird.


    A podcast made by humans.

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    28 mins
  • Episode 4: Max Payne 3 | BGM Gems 04
    Nov 24 2025

    HEALTH's one-of-a-kind score for Rockstar's Max Payne 3 sets the bar for composition in cinematic games. BGM Gems hosts Jordan Hatfield and Dawn Violet dissect a cult classic of video game music, and how it affected one of the most prominent industrial bands performing now.

    Music from Max Payne 3 by HEALTH in order of appearance:
    -Max Payne Theme
    -PAINKILLER
    -THE GIRL
    -SHELLS
    -9 Circulos by Emicida
    -MAX: FAVELA
    -MAX: NJ
    -DEAD
    -Max Payne 3 pause menu music (unreleased)
    -THE IMPERIAL PALACE
    -PILLS
    -TEARS

    Max Payne Theme composed by Kärtsy Hatakka & Kimmo Kajasto, performed for this episode by Dawn Violet
    Interview clip with Kärtsy Hatakka via Riffmag

    Excellent articles which informed this podcast:

    • https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-features/healths-john-famiglietti-on-max-payne-3-working-with-reznor-and-their-dark-upcoming-album-3235470
    • https://www.kerrang.com/health-interview-disco-part-ii-jake-duzsik-john-famiglietti-bj-miller-cover-story
    • https://pitchfork.com/news/45682-health-talk-max-payne-3-score/



    BGM Gems hosted by Jordan Hatfield & Dawn Violet
    Produced, engineered, and edited by Dawn Violet.

    A Podcast made by humans, published independently.

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Episode 3: Hotline Miami | BGM Gems 03
    Oct 8 2025

    Dennaton Games' neon-soaked duology is lauded for soundtracks of diverse, thumping techno music. BGM Gems hosts Dawn Violet and Jordan Hatfield look at the licensed score's influence and ask themselves if they like hurting people.



    Music from Hotline Miami and Hotline Miami 2 in order of appearance:

    • Silver Lights by Coconuts
    • Le Perv by Perturbator
    • Rust Ver. 2 by El Huervo
    • Divide by Magna
    • Hydrogen by M|O|O|N


    Noclip documentary

    BGM Gems hosted by Jordan Hatfield & Dawn Violet
    Produced, engineered, and edited by Dawn Violet.

    A Podcast made by humans, published independently.

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    56 mins
  • Episode 2: Quake | BGM Gems 02
    Sep 5 2025

    In the sophomore episode of BGM Gems, hosts Jordan Hatfield & Dawn Violet and consider whether Trent Reznor & Nine Inch Nails' soundtrack for Quake (1996) is even music at all.
    Listen, and Quake out.

    Music from Quake (1996) in order of appearance by Trent Reznor & Nine Inch Nails

    • Quake Theme
    • Hall of Souls
    • Parallel Dimensions
    • Damnation

    Further music from the Quake extended universe...

    • Descent Into Cerebron by Sonic Mayhem on Quake II
    • Castle Of The Damned by Aubrey Hodges on Quake 64
    • Volkerth on Quake Champions by Andrew Hulshult

    LGR Quake Review

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0XOKSat57Q

    Quake game sound effects created by Trent Reznor & Nine Inch Nails
    Additional music/ambience for this episode by ayr

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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Episode 1: Drum & Bass | BGM Gems 01
    Aug 15 2025

    In Episode 1 of BGM Gems, Dawn Violet and Jordan Hatfield break into the corner of music where Drum & Bass meets Video Games. From the 1990s to the 2020s, they'll look at DnB including

    • Rollcage
    • Echo Point Nova
    • Bomberman Hero
    • Ape Escape
    • F1 Racing Championship
    • ULTRAKILL

    ...and plenty more.

    Listen, or dance.

    Samples in order of appearance:

    Halifax by Aquasky on Rollcage Stage II

    Barcelona and Imola by Daniel Masson on F1 Racing Championship

    Cool of Battle by Floating Door on Echo Point Nova

    Tripod and Redial by Jun Chikuma on Bomberman Hero

    Deadline by Technical Itch on Rollcage Stage II

    Displaced by Amon Tobin on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

    Thread6 by Neil D. Voss on The New Tetris

    Blue Flame by Kenta Nagata on 1080 Snowboarding

    The Cyber Grind by meganeko on ULTRAKILL

    Theme music by ayr

    Produced, engineered, and edited by Dawn Violet.

    A Podcast made by humans, published independently.

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Cyberpunk 2077 | BGM Gems Pilot episode
    Jun 30 2025

    In the pilot episode of BGM Gems, host Dawn Violet is joined by Jordan Hatfield to discuss the music of CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077, including (but not limited to):

    • Original Score & Score EP
    • In-Game Radio & related releases
    • Phantom Liberty Original Score
    • Cyberpunk 2077: Edgerunners Soundtrack
    • SAMURAI

    Theme music "buckeye gem trees" by ayr

    Produced, engineered, and edited by Dawn Violet.

    A Podcast made by humans, published independently.

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    2 hrs and 46 mins