Providing an enchanting fusion of the vocals of singer/composer Aisha Vaughan, combined with the dynamic synths from Composer Kieron Pepper, “Toy Soldiers” is a hauntingly beautiful cover of Martika’s original, recrafted for the video game “Tin Hearts”. The reimagined cover, which marks the latest release from Black Razor Records, promises a heartfelt journey, reflecting the story within the critically-acclaimed video game, Tin Hearts.
Watch the “Toy Soldiers” Music Video:
Buy the Double A-side Release Here
Creation of the tracks:
Comments from Kieron Pepper, Composer on “Toy Soldiers”:
“After receiving the brief to make a haunting version of ‘Toy Soldiers’, I knew straight away I'd have to call Aisha - a good friend whose musical ability and incredible voice have been at the top of my collaboration wishlist for years. Her quick response, and the quality of the stems to work from, was outstanding and made the production and mixing process a total joy.
Alongside the request for the cover of Toy Soldiers, was another brief to write a song in the same style, which I wrote with Effie, an upcoming artist/singer/songwriter who I've been working with at the WaterBear College of Music. After the call she had most of the song all laid out with piano arrangement, lyrics and melody. I immediately built an arrangement around this with drums and extra programming and we recorded extra vocal layers; which was hastily mixed before we presented the ‘Tin Soldiers’ track to Wired Productions.
To get the very best result for this original song, we made the decision to ask Aisha to recreate Tin Soldiers using the same ingredients, which she did in 24hrs. I found this process particularly satisfying. Once the music was placed in the trailer for TIN HEARTS, this affirmed our suspicions that we had all been part of something rather special.”
Comments from Effie, Songwriter on “Toy Soldiers”:
“I hadn’t done anything like this before, apart from the writing process which is second nature to me, so I leapt at the chance to write in this way. I was given the theme and general vibes and just ran with it. I met up with Kieron and we worked restlessly over the next few days to produce this song with my original arrangement and voice. Handing it over to Aisha to bring her sound and performance was another unexpected twist, which added some more magic. I really love how ‘Tin Soldiers’ turned out.”
Developed by Rogue Sun and published by Wired Productions, Tin Hearts is a narrative puzzle adventure telling a tragic fable of what brilliant minds do when the love for life, and the love for invention, are threatened by life itself. Embark on lemmings-like puzzles to relive the emotional and heartbreaking story of a genius inventor, Albert Butterworth. Spanning across four distinctive acts with 50+ puzzles masterfully woven throughout a grand Victorian home, steadily uncover a variety of whimsical inventions with unique abilities to provide a safe route of passage for a troop of tin soldiers to travel.
Tin Hearts is out now on PC (Steam, GOG, EGS & Utomik), Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 & 5. PCVR and PSVR2 are set to release this holiday season.
Find Out Where To Buy: https://wiredproductions.com/games/tin-hearts/#where-to-buy
For more information visit: www.BlackRazorRecords.com
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About Black Razor Records
Black Razor Records launched in 2022 and is a wholly owned label of Wired Productions. Its mission is to bridge the gap between the video game and music worlds and to provide music creators a platform to showcase and commercialise their talent. All music originates from video games, whether in-game or for promotional purposes. By collaborating with great writers and producers, the loadout is complete. Music is in the DNA. Game on!
Black Razor Records first commercial release is Arcade Paradise EP – a collaboration between writers Kieron Pepper (ex-Prodigy live drummer 1997-2007), Ben Pickersgill (Brighton producer [Klax, Critical]), and singer Stu Brootal (Ivar & The Horde). All proceeds from this first release via the Black Razor Records Bandcamp, is to be donated to the video games mental health charity, Safe In Our World.
About Wired Productions
Wired Productions is an independent video games publisher based in Watford, UK. Wired has produced and published award-winning titles across all major platforms and its games are curated to deliver on its mantra: ‘Driven by Passion.’ Bringing games to market in both physical and digital media, recent notable launches include Tin Hearts, Tiny Troopers: Global Ops, The Last Worker, Arcade Paradise, Martha Is Dead, The Falconeer, Deliver Us The Moon. Upcoming titles include Gori: Cuddly Carnage, Hotel Architect and The Falconeer: Bulwark.
Join the Wired community via @wiredp on socials
Aisha Vaughan
Aisha Vaughan is a singer/composer and producer currently based in Elan Valley, Wales. Influenced by Sci-fi, Fantasy and Science, Aisha creates a musical landscape that is unique, dark and beautiful. Piano, Harp and electronic synth textures suffused with organic elements and powerful vocals creates music that is inspiring, soulful and masterfully arranged. "Weightless, otherworldly qualities…a gratifying vulnerability” - Uncut "Just Beautiful" - Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 "Gorgeous. I have had it on a loop all week" - Lauren Laverne BBC 6Music
Kieron Pepper
Composer Kieron Pepper is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, known primarily for his work as the first live drummer for The Prodigy (1997-2007) and subsequently as a member of The Radiophonic Workshop, bass player for Brit Pop legends Sleeper and co-writer/producer for a variety of acts from Wargasm (UK) to Alabama 3. In between these passions he is the Director of Artist Development at WaterBear College of Music, mentoring new artists, bands and producers.
Effie:
19 year old Effie comes from Suffolk and has been writing since the age of 12, a passion that has evolved and grown with time. Growing up listening to Country & Blues, these roots can be heard entwined in her songs today.
Effie is inspired by Florence & The Machine and brings a similar drive and energy to her arrangements, when writing, singing and playing guitar and piano. Other inspirations include Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Radiohead.
Effie now lives in Brighton, studying at the WaterBear College of Music where she met mentor Kieron Pepper - Director of Artist Development; who approached Effie in the last few days of her first academic year to see if she'd be interested in writing a song to a brief around the computer game Tin Hearts.