Last fall, Aaron Walz gave notice after a successful seven year Human Resources career at Drake Terrace Retirement Community in his hometown, San Rafael, to start his own business in San Francisco. Walz Music, which offers composition, recording and production of music for video games and other media, is still in the initial growth process and is seeking more exposure, new clients and looking to continue moving forward. Aaron believes others might be interested and inspired by this local story. He has a CD album being released in May called From Another Shore featuring some of the best Walz Music tracks. There will be live performances in San Francisco and Sonoma County accompanying the CD release. These performances will feature Aaron’s music and also cover versions of other video game music. Walz Music’s vision includes some distinctive twists: First, they consider and create game music to be art and not just background fluff. Also, instead of using synthesizers exclusively for their tracks, they write and record for real acoustic instruments and voices. Aaron began composing when he was one digit old and soon was greatly inspired by game music, especially the Final Fantasy soundtracks by Nobuo Uematsu, now fairly well-known in the USA. Aaron did quite a bit of freelancing while he was earning his BA in music from Sonoma State University. Then, as Aaron says, “When corporate life became unfulfilling and too comfortable, I just decided to jump off the cliff and swim for it.” Immediately it was worth the risk as Walz Music received a “Best Soundtrack” award for the Independent Role Playing Game, Aveyond, from an online magazine, Game Tunnel. Walz Music has become the unofficial staff composition company for a few small up-and-coming companies such as Amaranth Games and Middlemind Games. Aaron has learned that running your own show is a huge investment in yourself, and also requires responsibility for things aside from your craft: marketing, accounting, design… and you are your own worst boss! However, he says, “The freedom and joy of doing what you love every day is certainly worth it.” From the Game Tunnel Review: www.gametunnel.com: It's the best music I've heard to date in reviewing titles for Game Tunnel and I've played quite a few games lately. It's really refreshing to start a game up and not only hear original music, but have it be music and not some form of synthesized beeps accompanied by a driving bass line. For more information, forums and live show dates, please visit www.walzmusic.com or www.myspace.com/walzmusic