Tee Lopes
{{Short description|Video game music composer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = TeeLopes2.jpg
| caption = Tee Lopes in 2024
| birth_name = Tiago Lopes
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|11|19}}
| birth_place = Coimbra, Portugal
| occupation = Composer
| discography = Tee Lopes discography
| website = https://www.teelopesmusic.com/
}}
Tiago Lopes, better known as Tee Lopes, is a Portuguese-American composer primarily for video games. He is best known for his contributions for the Sonic the Hedgehog series beginning with the 2017 video game Sonic Mania.
Early life
Lopes was born in Coimbra, Portugal in 1986. As a young child, he created music for personal enjoyment with several programs, including Music 2000 for the PlayStation. In 2009, he uploaded his first Sonic the Hedgehog remix to YouTube,{{Citation |title=Tee - Sonic 3 - "Hydrocity zone 2" remix | date=14 May 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9KOBZ7i3-w |access-date=2023-10-31 |language=en}} which led to his career as a video game composer. He would continue to upload remixes, original tracks, and other personal works to this day.{{Cite web |title=Tee Lopes - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@TeeLopes/videos |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.youtube.com}}
Career
Lopes first started his work as a hobbyist musician working for indie games and fan games.{{Cite web |last=Madnani |first=Mikhail |date=2023-06-29 |title=Tee Lopes Interview – The Music of Sonic, Streets of Rage 4, TMNT Shredder's Revenge, Soundtracks, and More – TouchArcade |url=https://toucharcade.com/2023/06/29/tee-lopes-interview-sonic-superstars-music-tmnt-streets-of-rage-video-game-soundtracks-and-more/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |language=en-US}} After being well-known for Sonic the Hedgehog remixes on YouTube, he went on to compose an HD fan port of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. After its completion, several of its developers including Tee Lopes created PagodaWest Games, an indie game developer.{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=2017-08-10 |title=Creating the old-school soundtrack of Sonic Mania |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/10/16124862/sonic-mania-soundtrack-tee-lopes-interview |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Verge |language=en}} In 2017, him along with the developers of PagodaWest Games partnered with Sega to develop Sonic Mania, a game that notably featured other well known Sonic fan creators such as Christian Whitehead and Headcannon.{{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Gavin |date=2021-12-27 |title=Tee Lopes Talks Sonic, Streets Of Rage, And Making Music On A PS1 |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/features/tee-lopes-talks-sonic-streets-of-rage-and-making-music-on-a-ps1 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}} After Mania, Lopes has become a freelance composer and has continued to compose for video games such as Sonic Superstars, Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, and G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra.{{Cite web |last=Deschamps |first=Marc |date=2023-09-21 |title=Sonic Superstars Reveals Battle Mode Details and New Music |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-superstars-battle-mode-details-new-music-tee-lopes/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Comicbook.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2021-04-08 |title=Streets of Rage 4 Mr. X Nightmare DLC adds three new playable characters |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/streets-of-rage-4-mr-x-nightmare-dlc-adds-three-new-playable-characters |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Cite web |last=Cripe |first=Michael |date=2023-08-31 |title=G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra Trailer Reveals Beat 'Em Up Gameplay |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/g-i-joe-wrath-of-cobra-trailer-reveals-beat-em-up-gameplay/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Escapist |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Scullion |first=Chris |date=2023-08-22 |title=Demo released for Berserk Boy, a retro-inspired platformer with music by Sonic Mania's composer |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/demo-released-for-berserk-boy-a-retro-inspired-platformer-with-music-by-sonic-manias-composer/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=VGC |language=en-GB}} On the Twitch charity fundraiser Indieland 2023, it was confirmed that Lopes was composing the soundtrack to the game Penny's Big Breakaway. He has also composed for several web series, such as Sonic Mania Adventures, SomecallmeJohnny and Scott the Woz.
Discography
= Video games=
= Web series =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Notes |
| 2017
|Sonic Mania Adventures |Lead composer |
|---|
| 2018
|SomecallmeJohnny |Guest composer |
| 2020
|Scott the Woz (season 4) |"Credits Theme" |
| 2022
|Caddicarus |Guest composer |
| 2023
|Scott the Woz (season 6) |"Staff Roll" |
Awards
Tee Lopes has won an award for IGN's People's Choice Vote for Best Original Music award for his work on Sonic Mania.{{Cite web |title=Best Original Music - Best of 2017 Awards Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Original_Music |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=IGN |date=30 November 2017 |language=en}} He has also been nominated for a Independent Composer of the Year award in VGMO's 2019 Annual Game Music Awards for his contributions to the Team Sonic Racing soundtrack.
References
{{reflist}}
{{portal bar|Biography|Music|Video games}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American male composers
Category:American video game composers
Category:Musicians from Coimbra