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Welcome
to the game

   X: peel back the light and step inside...  

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"A magnificent song [Mysteria]" RTVS (Radio and television of Slovakia)

​About 

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Butterfly Wars is a groundbreaking concept album and live show that merges contemporary classical instrumentals with singer-songwriter melodies, all inspired by video game aesthetics. This chamber music experience is an evocative, boroque gothic video game soundtrack. 

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Set against a backdrop of imaginative, game-inspired scenarios, Butterfly Wars brings its narrative to life through string quartet melodies, and songs 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 embodiment of the human spirit? Chapter one is 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. Butterfly Wars the live show is a work of abstraction, a video game vibe, and the album is a video game soundtrack.

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          Narrator: A veil of dust came away like a sullen bride off a cliff edge, and danced like a dirty martini on the rocks...

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Key Features:

  • Innovative Fusion: Experience a unique blend of contemporary classical music and singer-songwriter melodies.

  • Gothic and Evocative: Enjoy a live performance filled with gothic charm and emotional depth.

  • 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 and contemporary dance.

  • Live Debut and International Acclaim: Butterfly Wars premiered on Blue of the Night on RTÉ Lyric FM, it featured on A World In London and RTVS, and debuted live in Berlin to a full house and rapturous, sustained applause as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24. 

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About the Creator:

Butterfly Wars is the brainchild of composer Lou McMahon. 

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Gallery and Updates: Scroll through our subpages to view photos of our live show in Germany

and stay updated on the developments for our upcoming showcases via the blog...

things are getting darker...

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Lou McMahon Ensemble+ | Mysteria
04:26

Lou McMahon Ensemble+ | Mysteria

Mysteria is a theme song from the concept album Butterfly Wars by composer and singer songwriter Lou McMahon. Come along to witness this chamber music live as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24 in Neue Stage Friedrichshain, Berlin, on May 15th... In a realm woven by the mesmerising melodies of the Lou McMahon Ensemble+, behold the enchanting spectacle Butterfly Wars. A mystical theatrical creation where harmonious tunes, dance, and the digital realms of a video game collide. Imagine an intimate chamber performance conjuring the essence of a video game, merging classical-contemporary string quartet instrumentals with singer-songwriter serenades for piano and voice, with contemporary dance, crafting a realm of auditory magic mirroring the gothic splendour and gameplay of the space opera that is Butterfly Wars.
Lou McMahon | A Place Above the Clouds
07:19

Lou McMahon | A Place Above the Clouds

A Place Above the Clouds sheet music https://www.loumcmahon.ie/sheet-music-pdfs Embark on an ethereal journey with X-Lú above the clouds, where emotions soar and mischievous cloud bots lurk. X-Lú's unmatched skills in B-Fly games have supercharged her emotions beyond human capacity, jeopardizing her connection with her human crush. Guide her through critical choices to regain emotional balance and descend to Earth. There, she can heal her turbulent feelings and reunite with her cherished AI pup. The music follows X above the clouds, she's buoyant and bouncing from cloud to cloud with the whimsical patterns of her emotions, from the soaring butterflies of he loves me, to the glum ickiness of he loves me not. Immerse yourself in the tranquil melodies that compliment the gameplay, forging a serene atmosphere in this enchanting place above the clouds. #stringquartet #videogamemusic #composerlife credits from Butterfly Wars, releases October 24, 2023 Composed and arranged by Lou McMahon Performed by Lotta Marie and Aoife Burke This track was recorded remotely. all rights reserved
Lou McMahon Ensemble+ | Butter Flies
03:21

Lou McMahon Ensemble+ | Butter Flies

Butter-Flies is a pocket game within the game that X-Lú plays to gain emo boosts, to become sentient, and even human. Reminiscent of the classic "Space Invaders," the gameplay follows the B-Flies darting up and down the screen, necessitating the player's precision in shooting them down to reap emo boosts. The path to this game is not straightforward; X-Lú must first answer questions that probe her morals and values, unlocking the game only upon passing this test. This unique game-within-a-game adds a touch of menacing wonder, amplified by the pizzicato music that accompanies the little gothic critters erratic movements. The B-Flies theme is mickey mousing music, as they say in Hollywood. It's a 5/4 time action theme. credits https://www.loumcmahon.ie/sheet-music-pdfs

"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)

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