ReMix:Secret of Mana "Footsteps to Destiny" 4:46

The title is NOT a lie, as our Secret of Mana: Resonance of the Pure Land mixflood continues with Guifrog, who incorporates some foot stompin' beats into this symphonic/EDM/folk hybrid, collaborating with Chris | Amaterasu on violin:

"Onto the fast facts:

1. This is a collab with Chris | Amaterasu and his magic violin -- sir, this mix surely took some time, but you've made me learn a lot. HUGE thanks for everything!
2. What you hear in parts such as 0:38 and plenty others is me doing some beats with my own shoes. That's my metaphor for that context in the game where the player's walking towards the complex fate of the world, hence "Footsteps to Destiny."
3. I was kinda inspired on Irish music when I made this.

Secret of Mana has a deep, meaningful story. The last moments are sad, but decisive, and you just can't fight your fate. You're made of magic; will you die by the hands of a magical beast that will destroy the world, or you'll save the world by killing it and, as a consequence, killing everything that's magical - just like you? In "Footsteps to Destiny," the point is to recreate emotions from that tense moment, using some Irish elements, Chris | Amaterasu's amazingly warm violin, and my own tap-dancing sounds to reinforce the metaphor.

My main concern is, this mix MIGHT sound kinda liberal given how overexcited I was while expanding on the original source, but I also got some help from Jorito (thanks a world, man!) who gave me some suggestions and I tried my best to apply 'em as I could. Here's a breakdown, if needed:

• 0:00-0:34: My attempt at changing the original 3/4 piano arpeggio to a 4/4 piano one
• 0:58-1:19: Violin focuses on main melody with some hand from the piano; 0:58-1:26 has a light synth arpeggio which also attempts to emulate a 4/4 version from original 3/4
• 1:27-1:54: Chords from the source's second section. Up to 1:40, the violins cover the source material, whereas :41-54 has some original melody spice
• 1:55-2:24: My attempt at changing the original 3/4 bass arpeggio to a 4/4 in synth. The flute part plays (or tries to) around the main notes from source's first section
• 2:25-2:52: Arp turns original 3/4 to a 4/4; violin focuses on main melody as the piano helps; custom chords applied here
• 3:28-3:42: Arp turns original 3/4 to a 4/4
• 3:45-4:13: Arp turns original 3/4 to a 4/4; violin focuses on main melody as the piano helps; custom chords applied here

Chris adds:

Just a big fan on the SoM series and this sounds pretty epic, so I hope people enjoy. =)

Guifrog has a penchant for trying elaborate, crazy arrangement ideas and making them work, and he's done it again, blending orchestral, EDM, solo violin, some rather nice overblown flute riffing, and footstompin' percussion into a fast-paced, pulse-pounding treat. The EDM bits aren't of a modern variety, but that's probably good, since they stay out of the way a bit more and let the strings & flute shine. The flute acrobatics at 2'10" are brilliant and, along with Chris's emotive violin lines, end up as highlights that define the mix, in a good way. Album director Jorito writes:

"Even though Guifrog was one of the remixers that signed up in 2011, he also was one of the few who refined his remix after the reboot. In the game, this song plays just before the final battle, and the story uncovers a crucial decision that has to be made but with drastic consequences. "Footsteps to Destiny" is a great homage to this key event in the game, with a slow, even introspective, start before it unleashes the epicness fit for this moment. Chris's live violin really adds to the drama, and, if I close my eyes, I can totally imagine Guifrog's track in the game, telling the story that unfolds."

Guifrog gives us a narrative, exciting, & surprising arrangement which uses a minimal EDM backbone to tell a primarily orchestral/folk tale in an escalated, invigorated fashion. Great stuff!