Scoring Cartoons w/ the Composer of The Cuphead Show!

·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

Ego Plum recalls seeing Ryan Haley covered in blood holding a hot dog at a Napalm Death and Gwar concert.

The episode begins with host Armando Torres introducing co-hosts Ryan Haley and James Willems, along with guest Ego Plum, a composer known for his work on Nickelodeon shows and The Cuphead Show. Early banter revolves around Ryan's Rams attire and humorous digressions. Ego Plum's credits are highlighted, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Harvey Beaks, Jellystone, and The Cuphead Show. A clip from Ryan's unreleased show 'Kids of Nah' is played, leading to discussions on Ego's collaboration with Ryan. Ego recounts surreal stories of meeting Ryan at concerts, like a Napalm Death and Gwar show where Ryan was covered in blood with a hot dog. The conversation shifts to Ego's music career, emphasizing his lack of formal training and influences from artists like Danny Elfman and Mark Mothersbaugh. He explains his scoring process, using software like Logic and working with musicians to translate his ideas. Exclusive clips from The Cuphead Show are shared, showcasing the 1930s-style jazz score and its integration with animation. Ego discusses the challenges of scoring for TV, where music serves the story rather than personal expression. He talks about working on legacy properties like Jellystone, inspired by composer Hoyt Curtin, and his involvement in projects like the upcoming 'Forbidden Zone 2' and 'Aliens, Clowns and Geeks'. Anecdotes include kidnapping Richard Elfman in a gorilla suit and performing in absurd stage shows like a Thanksgiving special with radioactive chicken heads. The episode concludes with Ego expressing interest in live performances of his cartoon music and reflections on balancing creativity with commercial work.

As heard by us

Ego Plum's Cuphead music talk finds the stress inside the swing, with a questionable cracker waiting at the edge.

The Funhaus Podcast steers its Ego Plum conversation toward the pressure-cooker feel of Cuphead, then lets the score explain much of why the game gets under the skin.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want Cuphead music decoded, then a Rams-geared Ryan dragged into the case of a cracker nobody should have put back in the package.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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