Seasons in Mellowtide [OST Composing Jam #3]

This is my submission for the OST Composing Jam III! "Seasons in Mellowtide" is a story-driven farm-life simulator. You play as a character who, while hot air-ballooning, is caught in a terrible storm and crash-lands in the mysterious (and inescapable) land of Mellowtide. In a vision, the Spirit of Tides (who oversees the land) says that, in order to return to the outside world, you must learn the secrets of Mellowtide and preserve the balance of the seasons. Farm, befriend, explore, but be careful: one day, even when you do have the chance to leave Mellowtide, you may decide not to go...

Please follow along with these track descriptions as you listen :)

1. Seasons in Mellowtide (Title): this is the main theme for the game.

2. Atop The Skies: this is the character creation music. During this scene, the main character is in a hot air balloon. First, the player chooses which season to begin the game in. Then, you get to design your avatar. I enjoyed experimenting with the Cinematic Studio Solo Strings library-- the harmonics and trills are so gorgeous, but the col legno also has a cool effect. All three articulations are used in this piece :)

3. Stormbreak: after getting unexpectedly in a terrible storm, the hot air balloon is damaged and begins to plummet towards the ground. As it breaks from the storm, we get our first glance at the beautiful Mellowtide: mountains, valleys, forests, a beautiful seaside bay with a small fishing town perched nearby... but the beauty is short-lived, as the balloon hurtles to the ground.

4. Song of the Tides: In a vision, the Spirit of the Tides appears. She explains that there is no escape from Mellowtide, and that the balance of the seasons is under threat. You must find a way to protect Sundial Rock (at an undisclosed location) from destruction, lest the seasons fall into complete disarray. If you can do this, the way out of Mellowtide will appear. I wanted this music to be as celestial and ethereal as possible, so I again used CSSS as well as EW Choirs.

5. Take The Day: I wanted the music of the game to change based on the season, and this piece (which plays while you are in Mellowtide Town) was the only one I was able to bring to fruition due to lack of time. Rather than include each season as a separate track, all four seasonal variants of the piece play in a row. The first, Spring, is light and airy, using a solo string quartet; the second, Summer, is more rich and full, using the full string orchestra; the third, Autumn, is a bit more chill and acoustic, using the guitar and solo winds. Finally, Winter uses some 16-bit sounds to create a more muted, icy sound. Each variant uses the same core music, but are quite different from one another.

6. Pietro's Kitchen Sink: This is the shop music, and it's quite an eccentric track: Pietro, the store owner, has accrued so much junk that his store, aptly named 'Pietro's Kitchen Sink', is like a whirring machine of clutter.

7. Overcast: this music plays when it is raining or snowing in game. I again used the CSSS Solo strings library for this track.

8. Goodbye Mellowtide: After the main story is over, you are presented with the option of returning home (to your partner and family outside of Mellowtide) or staying there with your newfound life. The choice is bittersweet regardless.

Please let me know what you think of this short soundtrack! Feedback is welcome!