In our CasinoBeats Rhymes and Life feature we are revealing the soundtracks that provide a backdrop for the gaming industry.
In this edition, we spoke to Alex Dop, Composer at Push Gaming, who revealed the origins of his love affair with Placebo and what led to him commencing his journey as a composer.
What was your first-ever gig, and what was it like?
Music has been a lifelong passion of mine initially sparked by my very first concert. I watched Placebo live at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester with my older cousin which was pure magic. Though I was only 10 and mostly remember the distant view from our seats, the energy of that night ignited a passion within me.
I can’t thank my cousin enough for taking a chance and introducing me to the power of live music. That single concert set me on a path that ultimately led me to become a composer at Push Gaming today. Looking back, I can only imagine it wasn’t the most thrilling experience for my cousin to babysit me at a rock concert, but the impact it had on me was undeniable.
What’s the best performance you have ever seen live, and why was it so good?
Two performances instantly come to mind, both very different. One has to be seeing Elvis with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform at the O2 Arena. A full orchestra and band backed the isolated feed taken from old Elvis shows and it was one of the most musically impressive things I’ve ever seen; the way the conductor led the well-oiled machine of different instruments was really impressive.
On the other end of the spectrum, Leeds Festival offered a raw and electrifying experience. Crammed into a tiny tent I saw a band called Letlive which was just starting to gain traction in the UK and their lead singer, Jason Butler put on one of the best performances from a frontman that I have ever seen. The energy in the tent was incredible and he even broke down in tears before launching his microphone to the back of the crowd and running after it…over the crowd!
Is there an artist who, in your eyes, can do no wrong? If so, why?
Unfortunately, there is not. All of my favourite artists have created some stuff that I don’t like or don’t quite resonate with me. Rage Against The Machine, Kendrick Lamar, and Jóhann Jóhannsson were all up there as flawless and all have done something that I ended up not liking at one point or another.
What is your most cherished album, and what makes it so special to you?
Probably Rage Against The Machine’s first album. So much so that I learnt the whole album on guitar and bass. It’s the perfect mix of my two favourite genres, metal and hip-hop, and it blew my mind when I realised blending these genres was possible.
What song always makes it to your gym playlist? What activities do you usually do in the gym while listening to it?
I’m a fan of listening to the heaviest music possible when I work out, especially when running. It gives me the extra boost that I need. Either that or quite heavy hip-hop. It’s probably not a case of just one song making it onto my playlist, but it ends up being a very similar playlist every time and of course, it tends to be quite noisy. I typically do a few weights but generally, I’m a fan of running or the rowing machine.
Which artist or song helps take your mind off work? Why have you chosen this artist and genre?
Parallel 1 by Four Tet. This was my most played song of 2023 and probably will be for 2024 as well. It’s my palette cleanser and general musical rest button. I use it to start my day before making music myself, to reset after composing throughout the work day, and to relax when going about my daily activities.
If you could go on a night out with any musician, who would it be, and where would you take them?
I’d probably take Chris Stapleton to a local open mic night and just watch him mesmerise the room and hopefully get to play a few tunes with him.