Award-winning composer for video games and Scottish artist, Barry “Epoch” Topping (PARADISE KILLER, SENTRY, THATCHER’S TECHBASE, ENCOUNTERS) returns with The Needs, 11 songs of lavish reflection in a modern city pop style. The album takes the listener through an emotional exploration of identity and change set against the backdrop of late summer. It fuses city pop, rock, and dance music into a rich, dreamy blast of video game-tinged modern pop music.

But The Needs is more than just an album title, Barry explains: “It’s a new ensemble built around a core of the musicians that worked with me on Paradise Killer: Fiona Lynch, Fabian Hernandez, Thomas Temple, and Kyle Murray-Dickson. A new trio of horns Elin Andersson, Nicklas Dahlin, and Simon Fransman round out the full lineup. Having such talented musicians involved in a much bigger way has allowed us to challenge ourselves and make the best, most over-the-top music we’ve made yet. ‘The Needs’ was created as a vehicle for my own reflections and is intended to help listeners reflect and find solace too. No album can be universal but if ‘The Needs’ can help people feel seen or understood then I’ll feel like it’s been a success. Getting to make the album has been an extremely rewarding experience.

Since Barry “Epoch” Topping is a household name for game soundtracks, of course also “The Needs” is influenced by that field: “I’m heavily inspired by the music of video games, so it felt natural to carry that inspiration throughout the album – musically, visually and conceptually. I worked closely with Giannis Milonogiannis, my game development partner at POLYGON BIRD Games, to create a main character for the album. Our idea was for this character to act as a stand-in for the listener while being part of the broader story for people who want to look deeper.”

Release Notes

• New album from PARADISE KILLER composer Barry “Epoch” Topping
• Featuring long-time collaborators Fiona Lynch, Fabian Hernandez & Thomas Temple
• 11 original tracks of video game-tinged modern pop music inspired by city pop, jazz fusion, dance-pop and more
• Features single “Heart of the Moon”
• Original artwork by Giannis Milonogiannis (OLD CITY BLUES, RONIN ISLAND, FUTURE STATE: GOTHAM)
• 12” lyric insert
• Comes with obi strip

Track List

SIDE A
A01. The Needs - Part I: Solstice
A02. 10%
A03. Sparrows
A04. From The Top
A05. Heart of the Moon
A06. Mayday

SIDE B
B01. Red
B02. Farcasting
B03. Demons (Work It)
B04. Karakuchi Suite
B05. The Needs - Part II: Equinox