JerryTerry's Secret Demo Reel

Hi, I'm Jerry. At the moment, I fix trains. But I also make music of varying styles, a skill that may be of use to you! You can reach me at jerry@jerryterry.computer for hiring inquiries.

Below are several loosely-grouped categories showing multiple different styles of demo. I feel most of them most strongly fit a "Video Game" context best, though they def fit a range of different BGM contexts (I can also do work scored to video / timed animatics).

Feel free to browse at your leisure.
(I'm particularly fond of the "Atmospheres" and "Emotionally Poignant" sections, myself)

'Video Game' Sound:

Literally any genre can be video game music, but here's some demos that either scream "THIS IS PRETTY VIDEO GAMEY", or ape specific game styles.

Bouncy Game:

A lil bouncy synth-led track, starts off minimal and then opens up in the middle in a satisfying way.

The VG Salon:

Cute little synth-led bossa nova-esque track. Feels like I'm getting my hair done, but also I'm maybe in a video game? Look, I committed to writing descriptions for these, I'm in it for the long haul now!!

3DS Jam:

I absolutely love that one specific musical aesthetic Nintendo adopted largely around the 3DS/Wii U era, and tried my hand at aping that kinda thing. You'll know what I mean when you hear it.

NES-with-embellishments:

Y'know that kind of (often indie) sound that incorporates a NES aesthetic but with additional layers? That kind of thing!

N64 Title Screen:

The kinda vibes of a budget N64 game about fighting monsters or dinosaurs or something. Think opening logos, into the main menu loop.

"If I made a Cruelty Squad level...":

I made this while daydreaming about Cruelty Squad. If I made a level, this would be the BGM.

The Tombs:

You enter the dusty catacombs, rusty broadsword in hand. A quite minimal atmospheric track, mildly inspired by the vibes of King's Field and Lunacid.

Sonic the Virtual Pet:

Track originally intended for a friend's tiny gamejam game featuring Sonic as a Tamagotchi-like pet. Remixes two classic Sonic 1 tunes, in a classic "Chiptune-esque Bossa Nova" style.

Classic Visual Novel:

A sound that I feel is quite reminiscent of early-2000's visual novels. Heavy use of classic AKAI library soundfonts, with a whispy, crystalline backing pad holding it together.

PS1 Vibes:

This is often a misnomer that irks some people - the PS1 often used a handful of preexisting genres that online people will generalize as "PS1 Music", despite the clear variety. Anyway, here's some PS1 music.

EP Chord and Break:

Your standard "dirty EP chords and minimal sample-based break" kind of 'PS1 music'. With some cheezy lil soundfont stabs thrown in for good measure to tie it together.

Clubby Sound:

A more "90's minimal club/dance" type of sound also often associated with the PS1.

Approaching Cyber City:

A sound more reserved for the Pre-Title opening cinematic. You approach the giant metal gates, intrepid establishing chords. Suddenly, the gate opens, the wave hits you, you're immersed in a bustling cyber wonderland for the first time. Or something like that.

Starting Village:

That heavily soundfont-based vibe of a classic PS1 rpg. Not the Prestigious sound of a Final Fantasy, think more an Alundra or Monkey Hero. But a staple nonetheless.

Sloppy Sample-based Brickwall:

Back to the sample-based break kinda style, this time with a more brickwall-style mastering.

Atmospheres:

A loose collection of tracks that evoke particular atmospheres, ranging from etheral, to cavernous, to moody.

Cosmic Waiting Room:

You've been waiting here for almost two hours now. You're starting to drift off. You were WISHING someone would answer that phone for the first hour, but now it's kind of comforting. You hope maybe they'll delay your appointment a little longer...

The Hanging Gardens:

You venture deep into the Hanging Gardens, following the tight path of the river between the trees. Your arm aches from hacking down vines, but you'll be where you need to be soon.

Smeary Dream:

The sights and sounds smear and blur in front of you. You hear voices, but can't make out what they're saying. You're sinking, you think. It's quite nice.

Deep Blue Cavern:

You're deep into the caves, now. The faint blue glow of the Fungus is guiding you past the pools, sitting stagnant below the swirling low mists.

Path to the lab:

You make your way through the underground cavern as its architecture becomes more deliberate. This must be the way. It's clear nobody's used this route for years, but you should be under the Lab soon.

The Ruined Lab:

Good lord! This place is in disarray. Desks torn to shreds. The giant specimen tubes smashed to pieces. Destroyed from the inside?? Who... or what... could have done this?

Lost in Thought:

You have a lot on your mind. You sit and take a breather to mull things over, but the weight of your situation soon leads you to spiral. Catch your breath, there's work to be done.

Disenfranchised:

The Cyber City wasn't what you thought it would be. The sheen quickly wears off once your eyes adjust. You stand on the rooftop, your friend looking down in silence. The two of you made a promise tonight.

Slice of Life:

And that promise? Was to stop letting it get to you, dummy!! Build a bridge and get over it... as long as you're sure to burn it afterward.

A cooler sound:

A couple of tracks that didn't quite fit these rigid categories, the only thing tying them together is they all have some element of a kind of... intentional 'coolness' to the vibe? Maybe.

"What's your name, kid?":

You meet a laid-back kinda guy. He says he can guide you through this place, as long as you keep your wits about you.

Funky Pop:

Very clearly a WIP song instrumental, but a fun and cool bass-driven sound that I'm fond of and wanted to share.

Retro-Cool:

We're about 15 years too late for that revival of "unprocessed LinnDrum samples" nostalgia, but I wanted to have some fun. I especially like the way the chords of the two different instruments work together at the end.

BWAUM:

Slow, deliberate, punchy synth and piano. Goes off the deep end, but enjoys its time while it lasts.

'Emotionally Poignant':

Tracks trying to convey a sense of emotional poignance in some way, whether it be sad or wistful or hopeful. I won't describe these ones, doesn't feel needed.

Battle with an Old Friend:

Watching the Meteor Shower:

Maybe Time to Try (Piano):

The Memory Was Erased:

I Promise We'll Go Back There:

Snappy, Quirky, or Frantic:

These categories are getting looser, but think fun lil fights, quirky lil guys, miscellany of a certain vague vibe.

A Quick Fight:

The Tinkerer:

Miniboss:

Let's Make Mischief:

Please Wait...:

Select Your Character:

HollaBreak:

Cheap but Fun:

Short Loops:

Tracks of various styles, all designed to be played as quite a short loop.

Spoken to the Heart:

Smashing!:

Tiny Lad:

Beating Windy Heart:

Allow me to Explain...:

Icy Tundra:

Relaxed and Unfazed:

Rise and Shine, My Child:

A Small but Fond Memory:

Silly Muffler:

Back on the Path, Confidence Renewed:

Specialist (Train Percussion):

I'm currently working on a videogame that, for thematic reasons, features specific percussion - ALL percussion samples used in the tracks were sampled from the underside of a train, hitting various parts with various tools at different strengths (creating a personal sample pack). Here's a couple of WIP tracks from that project.

Intro into loop:

The intro at the start of the game, leading into a repeating loop for the short prologue section.

Exposit:

Ambient track that plays during a few scenes where the overall mystery is being discussed/figured out.

O.W. Escape Setpiece:

A setpiece-heavy escape sequence featuring the motif of a certain character - it sounds a bit more floaty than fully urgent, due to the strange nature of the escape.

Jingles:

During the few-years run of a friend's podcast, I made jingles for a series of segments. They all feature variations of the main theme's 5-note motif, in different contexts. Here is a compilation of all of them: