Theophany: “the manifestation of God or a god to a person”

Musical artist Jason Gallaty, better known by the moniker Theophany, is a video game soundtrack remixer and active member of a number of music and arts projects within the digital realm; namely OverClocked Remixes, Ember Labs, and Enig’matik Records.

However, his tracks are a tier — if not tiers — above the majority of other remixers and such fetal artists on the net. In August 2011, Theophany released his debut Crystal Flash EP; specifically for the 25th Anniversary of Metroid. As one would suspect, knowing this, the record is a collection of tunes from the renowned series transformed into wonderfully sublime creations all his own.

Fantastic album cover for Theophany's Crystal Flash EP.

Incorporating occasional placid hip-hop and dub elements along with a heartstring ensemble and trickling piano-work, favored tracks from the Metroid series are beautifully poisoned into sweeping scores of crushing sadness and deepest mystery. With Theophany, the perils and wonders of a thousand worlds over can be felt through closed lids and open ears. The final track, “Alone in the Universe”, houses a sense of solitude the likes of which I personally have never before heard in music. To describe the sensation to my fullest, it feels as if a void has nucleated inside of you and threatens to devour your entirety as you realize that you truly are alone in the universe. Yet even with such swallowing catharsis, that wasn’t enough for Theophany.

In December of 2012 — on the ominous 21st, to be exact — he released his first full remix album, Time’s End. As if we weren’t already satisfied with a journey through the cosmic abyss, we are shoved over the edge to once again dive into his phantasmal world. Time’s End is an amalgamation of songs from the beloved and feared video game The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.

Equally, if not more, stunning album artwork for Time's End.

For those piteous souls who are unaware, Majora’s Mask quite simply bears one of the greatest game plots of all time, right up there with Shadow of the Colossus and Metroid Prime. In summation, the protagonist finds himself in a strange land where the moon will crash down upon the world in three days time. Using a magical instrument, the hero must heal the sorrows of the people of the land, and ultimately of the demonic antagonist. The storyline is also flooded with mysterious characters and elements of horror to collectively form a twisted realm of anguish and despair. In terms of portraying this world, Theophany was spot on.

Each track on Time’s End constructs the chronological reality of the hero’s quest in an incredibly accurate manner. The first track immediately casts the listener into the shadows, where uneasy strings hum a tune of foreboding. In “Clocktown”, some relief is offered as a radiant, Irish harmony washes over the listener. Such innocent cheer is short-lived however, and one may find himself weeping by the end of track five. At long last the album comes to a close with a devastating symphony depicting the end of time, wherein the fate of this condemned land lies in the hands of the hero. All of the pain and hardships accrued, and the flickering hopes and dreams of numerous races, amalgamate in a near singular moment spread over about eight minutes of desolate yet incredible resolution and desperation.

Dramatic, I know, but that’s exactly what is so savory and delicious about his music.

If you are feeling a bit apprehensive, due to the fact that perhaps you are not much of a “gamer” and do not feel that this music would be right for you, I implore you, bright reader, not to seal your gates. Theophany’s music is an awe-inspiring creation which holds a place in the ears of all who love the music of odyssey, tragedy, and raw effusive power.

Oh, and did I mention he’s given both records out for free? (Although paying for such craftsmanship would not be so out of the question…)

To get your first glimpse of this music god, visit his Bandcamp page here: http://theophany-rmx.bandcamp.com/

To get a pleasant sampling, tune in to WRCT this Friday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m., during Massive Music Weekend, for a half-hour block of Theophany’s mastery. And don’t forget to tune in during all of MMW for half-hour sessions of numerous other artists including Twin Sister, St. Vincent, and Vanilla.

That’s right… it’s that time of year again! Massive Music Weekend will be taking place from 12 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17. That’s 60 hours of your favorite DJs playing their favorite artists in half-hour blocks.

Check out the Facebook event for more details on MMW: https://www.facebook.com/events/127763900731459/

The official MMW schedule will be posted here in the next few days, so stay tuned. In the mean time, be sure to follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest MMW and WRCT news.

More photos from our poster screen-printing day can be viewed on our Flickr. Thanks to everyone who helped out!

Each week, we feature a short interview with one of our DJs who recently put on a particularly great show. This week, KMFD takes the cake. On Monday’s edition of “The Singularity”, KMFD played two hours of 45s slowed down to 33 rpm. Neat stuff.

LEAN OVER THE BOWL AND TAKE A DIVE. ALL OF YOU ARE DEAD, BUT I AM ALIVE. TUNE INTO THE SINGULARITY. MONDAY FROM 10am to NOON with KMFD.

Missed KMFD’s award-winning show on Monday? No worries. You can listen here.

What is the concept behind your show, “The Singularity”?
The Singularity is hard to put a finger on. Free format allows for a lot of liberty in programming, so I want to make each show as singular as possible, like a lost treasured object. It’s not just a playlist, but a concatenation of my last week conveyed in sound; it’s the moment when past and present become one, when the noise becomes a song. It plays with notions of connectivity, time, growth, and infinity.

Essentially my Singularity is about etching new ideas of the melded past, present, and future, and broadcasting them to everyone. It’s about being able to play The Gerogerigegege after Don Covay and make it work.

I have deep, specific memories of amazing radio shows I’ve heard both in Pittsburgh and on the road, and I want to be able to relay that feeling for other people. AM 860 (WAMO’s adult contemporary/classic R+B station)’s closing down was a big loss to me. WRCT has a legacy of great freeform and experiemental programming, and I was really bummed out when JB/The Underwater Culprit stopped doing Does Your Hometown Really Care, so maybe that inspired me to try filling part of that void.

But The Singularity is the void.

What is your favorite song that you played last week? Which one sounded the coolest slowed down to 33 rpm?
I can never pick favorites. I love Bo Diddley, and I think “Ooh Baby” sounded coolest slowed down. But the verse of “Intimate Friends”, the tune E. Badu samples on “Fall In Love (Your Funeral)”, sounds really pushed at 33. It’s cool to hear Tina Turner’s voice sound deeper than Robert Plant on “Whole Lotta Love”, and Run-DMC “You Talk Too Much” is key. “AK-47” sounded extra dark and sardonic, and White Lung plays so fast that when you slow them down, it’s an entirely different song.

Describe your dream date.
Sitting in a booth at the Double R Diner with bottomless coffee and change for the jukebox.

What is your favorite food?
I operate exclusively on a diet of swedish fish. The mercury scare is too real, man. For real, my favorite foods are on the menu at Thai Gourmet, or they’re some hearty American/American Fusion peasant food from my kitchen

What is the best thing about Pittsburgh?
The colors.

Here’s the man himself: