Conversation: "Mick Gordon" on Childhood, Life, Fame, Creativity, and His Work Process

Description:

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with composer and sound designer Mick Gordon for an in-depth conversation about his career, creative process, and approach to music. Mick Gordon is best known for his work on video games such as DOOM, DOOM Eternal, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Prey, and Killer Instinct. His music for the DOOM franchise helped redefine how heavy music functions in interactive media and earned widespread industry recognition, including Best Music at The Game Awards 2016. His work has since influenced films, trailers, and games across the industry. In this conversation, Mick reflects on his childhood and early influences in Australia, the path that led him to composing, and key turning points in his career. He discusses his philosophy of “change the process, change the outcome,” perfectionism, working under pressure and deadlines, and how he approaches finding a distinct creative voice in an evolving industry. The discussion also touches on his recent work on Routine and the design decisions behind its soundscape. The episode concludes with Penny for Your Thoughts, a lighter segment exploring Mick’s influences, favorites, and broader reflections on creativity. Bonfire Conversations is a podcast focused on the creative mind—how artists think, adapt, and evolve across disciplines. 🎧 Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with filmmakers, composers, game creators, and artists Chapters: 0:00 Introduction & Welcome 0:07 Mick Gordon's Career Overview 1:46 Understanding the Mick Gordon Phenomenon 2:06 Childhood in Australia 3:17 The Australian Landscape & Imagination 4:10 Play, Exploration & Creativity 5:06 Video Games as Escape 6:25 Early Musical Influences 7:47 The Synesthetic Experience of Music 9:20 Connecting with His Father Through Music 11:36 The Thunderbirds Blues Band 13:47 The Golden Rule: Audience First 14:08 Finding Opportunities in Gaming 15:02 Luck Meets Preparation 16:20 AI vs Human Creativity 19:42 Finding Your Voice 20:05 The Artist's Paradox: Solitude & Connection 22:30 Music as a Shared Language 25:28 It's No Longer Mine Once I Ship It 26:39 Why AI Copies Fail 27:42 Change the Process, Change the Outcome 28:35 Facing Fear & Insecurity 30:35 Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies 31:27 Using Contrasts in Music 34:01 Practice & Experimentation 34:50 Daily 30-Minute Sound Design Practice 36:30 Building Your Sound Library 38:48 The Perfectionism Question 39:28 Tools & Consistency 44:27 Fame & Recognition 45:05 How Fame Has Affected His Work 46:43 Personal Connection to Games 49:43 The Weird Nature of Fame 51:25 Routine: A 12-Year Passion Project 52:18 The Journey of Routine (2012-2024) 55:33 Doing Everything Yourself 57:03 Sound Design in AAA Games 58:30 Charles Dean: The Sound Design Mentor 1:00:04 BFG Division - A Case Study 1:01:12 Game Audio vs Film Music 1:02:01 Wilbert Roget & 19 Years of Friendship 1:03:43 The Hardest Emotion to Express 1:04:48 Wolfenstein: Personal Emotional Moments 1:06:30 Why Do You Still Make Music? 1:07:21 Music as Default 1:09:15 Top Five Favorite Films 1:32:39 Sketches vs Perfect Versions 1:33:41 The Only Thing They Fear Is You: Mockup Success 1:34:35 Trent Reznor's One-Day Recording Philosophy 1:35:27 Great Songs Appear Out of Nowhere 1:35:52 It's 30 Years of Preparation in One Day 1:36:03 Dream Questions You've Never Been Asked 1:37:37 Closing Remarks & Gratitude #mickgordon #doom #interview