LOU MCMAHON
Composer | Reporter
Welcome
to the game
X: peel back the light and step inside...
"A magnificent song [Mysteria]" RTVS (Radio and television of Slovakia)
About
Butterfly Wars is a body of orchestral works and a live show that merges contemporary classical instrumentals with singer-songwriter melodies, all inspired by video game aesthetics. This experience is an evocative, gothic, concept video game soundtrack.
Set against a backdrop of imaginative, game-inspired scenarios, Butterfly Wars brings its narrative to life through classical works that sometimes underscore contemporary dance. The gameplay follows the journey of its sullen protagonist, X, an AI Influencer who grapples with the question; am I the seed of AI or the human spirit?
Chapter I is a string quartet album set in the magical realm of Mysteria, a dark, luscious, digital botanical place above the clouds. X is tasked with dealing with her newly discovered sentience and... feelings? in order to muster the strength to save Mysteria from a curse, while decoding a rogue dataset that is generating terrifying creatures. Performed live by a string quartet and a dance company in 2024, the string section adapts to trio and duo for performances with gaming visuals.
Chapter II is an orchestral expansion, into a symphonic melancholy alien. In collaboration with Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg at Live Score Berlin by Audiocreatures. Dead Sound. Coming soon in 2026…
Narrator: A veil of dust came away like a sullen bride off a cliff edge
Key Features:
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Innovative Fusion: Experience a unique blend of contemporary classical music and singer-songwriter melodies.
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Gothic and Evocative: Enjoy a live performance filled with gothic charm and emotional depth.
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Game-Inspired Scenarios: Immerse yourself in imaginative narratives reminiscent of your favourite souls-like and choice based video games, brought to the stage in the form of music, visuals and contemporary dance.
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Residency: Games Ground, Berlin 2024, 2025, 2026…
About the Creator:
Composer and vocalist with an interest in the topic of AI. NONE of the music in this project is created using AI. Lou started this project to develop an orchestral body of work in the area of video games…
Gallery and Updates: Scroll through our subpages to view photos of our live shows and stay updated on the developments for our upcoming showcases via the blog...
"Whether you consider this chamber suite, recorded mostly by a string quartet to be a pleasant alternative to the frenetic pace of most computer games, or rather an instrumental intro and outro to a magnificent song, author Lou McMahon can be very proud of her latest work: Vladimir Potančok, Radio_FM, RTVS (Radio and television of Slovakia)