Chris Funk Assembles MonoNeon, Mikaela Davis, Reggie Watts, Lucius and More on ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Inspired LP ‘Spelljams’
The Decemberists’ Chris Funk has released a collaborative album inspired by the beloved and iconic table-top roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. The LP, Spelljams, was created in conjunction with the new Dungeons & Dragons game Spelljammer: Adventures In Space and is comprised of 19-tracks – which are now available to stream on Bandcamp.
For the companion LP, Funk invited a wide array of artists who share a love for Dungeons & Dragons to contribute, including Reggie Watts, Lucius, MonoNeon, OSEES and Mikaela Davis. Funk, who is an active member of Portland, Ore.’s music and Dungeons & Dragons scenes, also included original compositions by TEKE::TEKE, Devon Gilfillian, Red Fang, Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, Deru & Arooj Aftab, Wizard of Waz, Califone, Magic Sword, Shabazz Palaces, Penny & Sparrow, Y La Bamba, Black Marble, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, and Cardioid & pink paint. In a statement shared by Funk, it was disclosed each artist was challenged to write “an original composition based on Light of Xaryxis.”
Funk worked directly with the game’s story designer Chris Perkins curating the soundtrack to assist in escorting players through Spelljammer. Of the project, Funk said, “Helping facilitate bringing this world to life through music and the amazing artists’ visions that were selected was an honor of a lifetime. I am of the opinion when people think of Dungeons & Dragons that there is a preconceived underscore of what these worlds might sound like.” He continued to share, “With this bold return to Spelljammer we were excited to push the boundaries deep into Wildspace, working with artists from diverse musical backgrounds that could challenge what music in the multiverse of the world’s greatest roleplaying game might sound like.”
Along with the Bandcamp release, Spelljams will be released as a deluxe 2LP set which is available for pre-order now and is expected to ship on Jan. 1, 2023.
Listen to Spelljams and see Funk’s post announcing the project below.
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