Bonfire Conversations

In this episode, I sit down with acclaimed Japanese-American composer and conductor Takeshi Furukawa to discuss his remarkable 20 year career in film, television, and video game scoring. From crafting the emotional, dialogue-free soundscapes of The Last Guardian and the Planet of Lana series (including Planet of Lana 2) to my guest's current work on Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ta...

Shaun Tan is the Australian author and illustrator behind The Arrival, The Lost Thing, and Tales from Outer Suburbia, and the Academy Award-winning director of the short film adaptation of The Lost Thing. For over two decades, he's built entire wordless worlds out of a single doodle, using metaphor rather than direct depiction to explore migration, identity, and belonging. In this conversation...

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Dominic Vega, the Audio and Mission Director for 007 First Light at IO Interactive. Dominic pulls back the curtain on how the studio engineered an immersive, unpredictable sandbox for the ultimate espionage fantasy. We dive deep into his unique double-role at IO Interactive, the technical mastery behind combining Wwise and the Glacier engin...

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I speak with narrative designer David Mervik, known for his work on LittleBigPlanet 3, Little Nightmares, Little Nightmares II, and the critically acclaimed Reanimal from Tarsier Studios. Originally planned around the game’s launch, this conversation was postponed due to the outbreak of war in my home country, Iran. During that period, experiencing real-wo...

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with composer and sound designer Mick Gordon for an in-depth conversation about his career, creative process, and approach to music. Mick Gordon is best known for his work on video games such as DOOM, DOOM Eternal, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Prey, and Killer Instinct. His music for the DOOM franchise helped red...

Mac Quayle is an Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated composer whose credits include Mr. Robot, American Horror Story, Pose, Ratched, and The Last of Us Part II. He has scored more than 40 films and TV projects and is known for his versatile contributions to contemporary screen music. In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Emmy-winning composer Mac Quayle for an in-depth conversati...

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, host I down with Hugo Martin, the acclaimed Game Director behind*DOOM (2016), DOOM Eternal, and DOOM: The Dark Ages. Together, we explore the creative evolution of the modern DOOM trilogy, the philosophy behind making something truly “badass,” and the design decisions that shaped one of the most influential first-person shooter franchises in history. Hugo...

CYBERPUNK FASHION IS HERE, and THE FUTURE IS WEARABLEIn this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Kamil Miniakhmetov, founder and CEO of ETHELING ; a futuristic fashion brand inspired by cyberpunk culture, sci-fi worlds, and the merging of humanity with technology. We talk about his journey from post-Soviet Russia to Indonesia, how Akira and Deus Ex: Human Revolution shaped his creati...

"Cinematographer Larkin Seiple (Weapons, Everything Everywhere All at Once, This Is America) joins Bonfire Conversations to discuss his creative process, building emotion through light, and crafting the haunting “woman with the scissors” scene in Weapons. Hosted by Hamidreza Nikoofar."In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I talk with award-winning cinematographer Larkin Seiple, the c...

Julian Winding, the Danish composer and electronic artist behind The Demon Dance from Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon, joins me on Bonfire Conversations. In this episode, we dive deep into his upbringing in Denmark and England, his early rock beginnings, and how he found his voice in electronic and film music. Julian opens up about collaborating with his uncle, Nicolas Winding Refn, on proje...

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, host Hamidreza Nikoofar sits down with Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, the visionary artist and game director behind Hell is Us and the art director of Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided. Jonathan reflects on his journey from Montreal to the global stage, the creation of the iconic Cyber-Renaissance and Cyber-Noir aesthetics that redefined cyberpunk...

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with award-winning filmmaker Mor Loushy, director of Netflix’s powerful three-part documentary series American Manhunt: The Osama Bin Laden Mission. With the remembrance of September 11 approaching, this story carries an even deeper weight. The series takes us inside one of the most dramatic manhunts in modern history — the decade-long search fo...

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Emma Harvey, founder of Harvey Voices, one of the UK’s leading voice talent agencies. Emma shares her journey from drama school to building a powerhouse agency representing some of the industry’s most recognized voices. We discuss:- How Harvey Voices began and grew into one of the UK’s top agencies- What Emma looks for when signing new voic...

On this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with GmanLives — the Australian critic and YouTuber known for his sharp takes, dry humor, and love for first-person shooters. We talk about his journey from childhood gaming memories to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in video game criticism. Along the way, we dive into:The origins and history of the GmanLives channelHis unique appr...

In this heartfelt and revealing episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer of the critically acclaimed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We dive deep into her creative process, her unique path from finance to storytelling, and the emotional, philosophical, and human layers that make Expedition 33 such a profound experience. Jennifer opens up about her multi...

In this very special episode of Bonfire Conversations, I finally sit down with Ludvig Forssell—composer and audio director behind Metal Gear Solid V, Death Stranding, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. We talk about his journey from Sweden to Japan, how he landed his first gig at Konami, and what it’s really like collaborating with Hideo Kojima. Ludvig shares stories from behind the scenes, the...

Join me by the fire for a soulful and deep conversation with Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory, whose work on Journey, Flow, The Banner Saga, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, and the new Towerborne has redefined what music can do in games. In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, we talk about childhood, creativity, meeting your heroes, memoirs, curiosity, and the emotional layers of composing...

Dive deep into the sonic landscape of Andor Season 2 (Available on Disney Plus) with composer Brandon Roberts! In this exclusive Bonfire Conversations interview, Brandon shares the incredible journey of stepping into the Star Wars universe, following in the footsteps of John Williams and Nicholas Britell, to score one of the most critically acclaimed chapters in the saga. Discover the behind-the-s...

🚀 Dive deep into the transformative power of voice with Loire Cotler, the extraordinary vocalist behind the iconic vocals of Dune (Hans Zimmer) 🎶. In this captivating interview 🎙️, Loire shares her insights on music therapy 🧘‍♀️, the spiritual connection between sound and human consciousness 🌌, and the unique vocal language she developed for Dune 🏜️. Discover how her work transcends traditiona...

Welcome back to Bonfire Conversations! In this episode, I sit down with Christopher Lennertz, the mastermind behind the gritty, high-energy score of The Boys, the thrilling music of Back in Action, and legendary video game soundtracks like Medal of Honor, Mass Effect, and The Godfather. We dive deep into:🎬 The Boys – Crafting the dirty, chaotic sound of the hit Amazon series🎥 Back in Action – Sc...

UI design is one of the most overlooked yet crucial aspects of game development. In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Fernando Forero, the legendary UI designer behind The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Diablo 4. We break down what makes great UI/UX, how it shapes our gaming experience, and the biggest challenges in designing immersive interfaces.🔹 Topics We Cover:✅ What mak...

In this exclusive interview, I sit down with the extraordinary Eivør Pálsdóttir 🎤—a Nordic muse whose captivating voice has enchanted audiences around the globe 🌍. Hailing from the mystical Faroe Islands, Eivør masterfully blends ancient folk traditions with modern cinematic soundscapes 🎶. With award-winning albums, breathtaking live performances, and iconic contributions to projects like God o...

Join us for an exclusive interview with acclaimed two times Oscar-Nominated cinematographer Jarin Blaschke 🎥—a long-term collaborator of visionary director Robert Eggers. Discover the creative genius behind some of Eggers' most iconic films, including The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman, and the Oscar-nominated Nosferatu. In this in-depth conversation, Jarin dives into his signature techn...

Step into the world of psychological horror with Mateusz Lenart, the visionary director behind the highly acclaimed SILENT HILL 2 Remake. In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, we explore the creative process that brought this iconic nightmare back to life. Mateusz shares insights on: Lessons learned from his career. The challenges and triumphs of remaking a beloved classic. The role of sound a...

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Grammy-nominated composer Winifred Phillips to talk about her incredible journey in video game music. Winifred has scored iconic titles like Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, God of War, Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, The Sims 4, and LittleBigPlanet 3. We discuss her creative process, how the industry has evolved over the ye...