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(min-width: 1025px){body .uag-hide-desktop.uagb-google-map__wrap,body .uag-hide-desktop{display:none}}@media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){body .uag-hide-tab.uagb-google-map__wrap,body .uag-hide-tab{display:none}}@media (max-width: 767px){body .uag-hide-mob.uagb-google-map__wrap,body .uag-hide-mob{display:none}}</style><link rel="icon" href="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/siteicon.jpg" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/siteicon.jpg" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/siteicon.jpg" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/siteicon.jpg" /> <style id="wp-custom-css"> /* Target mobile only: these three all relate to font sizing on mobile */ @media (max-width : 480px) { .wp-block-group { padding-right: 1.5rem !important; padding-left: 1.5rem !important; } } /* .wp-block-columns is used on the frontpage, and also on posts, but i only want this padding on the front page mobile (and the two tablepress pages, actually) */ @media (max-width : 480px) { .page-id-855 .wp-block-columns, .page-id-813 .wp-block-columns { padding-right: 0 !important; padding-left: 0 !important; } } /* @media screen and (max-width: 480px) { html { font-size: .9rem} } */ @media screen and (max-width: 480px) { p { line-height: 1.5;} } /** use full-width for mobile by re-defining responsive--alignwide-width variable **/ @media screen and (max-width:480px) { body { --responsive--alignwide-width: 100%;} } /* This Centers right and left aligned images on mobile */ @media screen and (max-width: 480px) { #page .alignleft, #page .alignright { float: none; margin: 1.25em auto; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; } } .entry-footer { display: none !important; } /* remove recent posts from frontpage */ .page-id-239 .widget-area { display: none; } .page-id-239 .site-info { display:none; } body { --latest-posts--title-font-size: 1.4rem; } /*Style the text in latest posts*/ .wp-block-latest-posts.is-grid > li { background-color:#e3e3f5; margin-bottom:1.5rem !important; } .wp-block-latest-posts>li>a { margin-top:-10px; /*width:303px;*/ text-decoration: none; color:black; padding-left:5%; padding-right:10%; margin-bottom:0px; font-weight:bold; } /* date text*/ .wp-block-latest-posts .wp-block-latest-posts__post-date { margin-top: 0px; color:black; padding-left:5%; margin-bottom:20px !important; } /* These add a background to the caption text and remove the spacing between image and caption */ figcaption { background-color: #ddddff; padding-top: 1rem; padding-bottom:1rem; padding-left:2rem; padding-right:2rem; margin-top:0px !important; margin-bottom:0px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.5 !important; font-size:1.25rem !important; color:black !important; max-width: 100%; } .wp-block-image img { margin-bottom: 0px !important; } /* removes top spacer from mobile on pages */ @media screen and (max-width:480px) { #page .wp-block-spacer { display: none !important;} } /* This places embeds (like youtube vids) midway into the left whitespace. it's not bad but i havent decided on it yet*/ .wp-block-embed.alignleft {margin-left:10%; margin-right:5%;} @media screen and (max-width:480px) { .wp-block-latest-posts.is-grid { flex-direction: column; }} h1, .h1, h2, .h2, h3, .h3, h4, .h4, h5, .h5, h6, .h6 { clear: none; } /* Styling for the search bar and show entries on tablepress */ .dataTables_filter input { border-radius: 10px; padding: .36rem; } .dataTables_length { margin-bottom:10px; margin-top:.02rem; } /* this shortens the vertical size of the select box by adding less padding top and bottom*/ select { padding-top:5px; padding-bottom:5px; } /* disabling the stupid link highlighting of TT1*/ a:focus { color:inherit !important; background-color:inherit !important; } .wp-block-latest-posts>li>a:focus {color:black !important; } /* targets hover effect on child cells in responsive table*/ table.dataTable .child td:hover { background-color:transparent!important; } @media screen and (min-width:480px) { .tablepress tbody td { font-size:1.2rem; line-height:1.5em; } } .tablepress thead th, .tablepress tfoot th { background-color:#c6a7e3; } .tablepress thead .sorting_asc, .tablepress thead .sorting_desc, .tablepress thead .sorting:hover { background-color: #c066f9; } @media screen and (min-width:480px) { .page-id-855 { --responsive--alignwide-width: min(calc(100vw - 8 * var(--global--spacing-horizontal)), 1440px); } } /* adds spacing to the game table rows*/ @media screen and (min-width:480px) { .tablepress-id-2 td { padding-bottom:15px; padding-top:15px; } } td.column-1.dtr-control::before { display:none !important; } @media screen and (max-width:480px) { td.column-2 { padding-right:15px !important; } } @media screen and (min-width:480px) { .tablepress { table-layout:fixed; } .tablepress-id-2 .column-1 { width: 16% !important; } .tablepress-id-2 .column-2 { width: 15% !important; } .tablepress-id-2 .column-3 { width: 13% !important; } .tablepress-id-2 .column-4 { width: 20% !important; } .tablepress-id-2 .column-5 { width: 20% !important; } .tablepress-id-2 .column-6 { width: 7% !important; } /*.tablepress-id-2 img { width: 180px; }*/ } td.column-1.dtr-control { padding-left:15px !important; /* padding-right:0px !important; */ } @media screen and (max-width:480px) { .column-1.dtr-control img {width:130px;} } /* tricky mobile styling for responsive tables */ @media screen and (max-width:480px) { .dataTables_wrapper .dataTables_filter input {width:70%;} .dataTables_filter {padding-left:170px !important; padding-bottom:5px;} } @media screen and (min-width:480px) { .wp-block-columns { border-radius: 8px; } } /* general re-routing of h3, mainly done to port over code from shmuplations more easily*/ body h3 { font-size: 1.4rem; font-weight: 600; } body { --global--spacing-horizontal: 40px; } /* slightly smaller h3 fonts for mobile*/ @media only screen and (max-width: 480px) { body h3 { font-size: 1.3rem; } } @media only screen and (min-width: 481px) { :root{ --responsive--aligndefault-width: min(calc(100vw - 8 * var(--global--spacing-horizontal)), 800px); } } /* target laptop screens with wider interview area*/ @media only screen and (min-width: 1500px) { :root { --responsive--aligndefault-width: min(calc(100vw - 8 * var(--global--spacing-horizontal)), 800px); } .post-thumbnail, .entry-content .wp-audio-shortcode, .entry-content > *:not(.alignwide):not(.alignfull):not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.wp-block-separator):not(.woocommerce), *[class*=inner-container] > *:not(.entry-content):not(.alignwide):not(.alignfull):not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.wp-block-separator):not(.woocommerce), .default-max-width, .wp-block-search, hr.wp-block-separator:not(.is-style-dots):not(.alignwide), .entry-content > .alignleft, .entry-content > .alignright, .author-bio, .search-form { max-width: var(--responsive--aligndefault-width); } body h3{ font-size:1.5rem; } body p{ font-size:1.5rem; line-height:1.5; } .wp-block-media-text__content p{ font-size:1.25rem; line-height:1.7; } } @media only screen and (min-width:481px) { body p { font-size:1.5rem; line-height:1.5; } .post p{ line-height:1.5; } /* .wp-block-group .wp-block-group__inner-container > * { margin-top: calc(var(--global--spacing-vertical) - 3px); margin-bottom: calc(var(--global--spacing-vertical) - 3px); } */ .wp-block-media-text__content p { /* font-size:1.25rem;*/ font-size:1.25rem; line-height:1.7; } /* spacing/margins for L/R aligned column content in posts*/ .single-post .wp-block-columns { margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 30px; } /* more padding for captioned images that are not left or right aligned */ figure:not(.alignright, .alignleft, .doubleimagecolumn-figure) > figcaption { padding-left:2.5rem; padding-right:2.5rem; } :root h4 { font-size:1.6rem; } .wp-block-media-text__content p{ margin-top:-10px !important; } } /**---------------------**/ /** 1920+ Sizings **/ /**---------------------**/ @media only screen and (min-width: 1920px) { :root { --responsive--aligndefault-width: min(calc(100vw - 8 * var(--global--spacing-horizontal)), 800px); --global--font-size-base: 1.5rem; --global--line-height-body: 1.5; --global--spacing-vertical: 30px; --global--spacing-horizontal: 40px; --global--spacing-unit: 24px; } :root h4 { font-size:1.7rem !important; } body h3 { font-size:1.55rem !important; font-weight:600; } .post-thumbnail, .entry-content .wp-audio-shortcode, .entry-content > *:not(.alignwide):not(.alignfull):not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.wp-block-separator):not(.woocommerce), *[class*=inner-container] > *:not(.entry-content):not(.alignwide):not(.alignfull):not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.wp-block-separator):not(.woocommerce), .default-max-width, .wp-block-search, hr.wp-block-separator:not(.is-style-dots):not(.alignwide), .entry-content > .alignleft, .entry-content > .alignright, .author-bio, .search-form { max-width: var(--responsive--aligndefault-width); } /* this targets the text of the opening intro block */ .wp-block-media-text__content p{ font-size:1.3rem; line-height:1.7; margin-top:-10px !important; } figcaption { font-size:1.25rem !important; /* margin-bottom:2.5rem !important; */ max-width: 999999px !important; max-height:999999px !important; } /* more padding for captioned images that are not left or right aligned*/ figure:not(.alignright, .alignleft) > figcaption { padding-left:3rem; padding-right:3rem; } /* makes sure not to apply "wide" caption padding to youtube L/R embeds, which I use columns for */ .wp-block-column figure >figcaption{ padding-left:2rem; padding-right:2rem; } .wp-block-latest-posts > li > a { font-size:1.5rem; line-height:1.9rem; } .wp-block-latest-posts .wp-block-latest-posts__post-date { font-size:1.07rem; margin-top:2px; } .wp-block-columns .wp-block-column h3:first-child { margin-top: -10px; } } /*--------------------*/ @media only screen and (max-width:480px) { .wp-block-media-text .wp-block-media-text__content { padding-left: 1.5rem; padding-right: 1.5rem; padding-top:2rem; } h4, .h4 { font-size:1.6rem; } h5, .h5 { font-size:1.6rem !important; } } /* these are for interview headings within the main article --need to add responsive stylings... 2.3rem @2560, 1.7rem @ipad/laptop? */ h5, .h5 { font-size:1.9rem; margin-bottom: 0px !important; } h5 strong, .h5 strong{ font-weight:600; } h5 + p { font-weight:600 !important; margin-top:0px !important; } @media only screen and (max-width:480px) { /* this targets the text of the opening intro block */ .wp-block-media-text__content p{ font-size:1.25rem; line-height:1.5 !important; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .wp-block-media-text .wp-block-media-text__content h4 { margin-bottom:0; } .wp-block-media-text .wp-block-media-text__content p { margin-top:15px; } } /* .marginbotminus20 { margin-bottom:-20px !important; } */ /* html,body { text-size-adjust: none !important; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none !important; -moz-text-size-adjust: none !important; -ms-text-size-adjust: none !important; } */ @media only screen and (max-width:480px) { figure { font-size:18px !important; } .wp-block-image figcaption { font-size: 18px !important; width:100% !important; line-height:1.5 !important; } figcaption { max-width: 999999px !important; max-height:999999px !important; padding-left:1.35rem; padding-right:1.35rem; } .wp-block-embed figcaption{ font-size:18px !important;} .wp-block-column figcaption{ font-size:18px !important;} } /* wordpress sometimes fails to add the table styling for images, especially in columns--this way images and the like should be freely resizable in style-editor.css as well */ figure.wp-block-image{ display:table !important; } .wp-block-image figcaption{ display:table-caption; caption-side:bottom; } .wp-block-gallery figure{ display:flex !important; } @media only screen and (min-width:481px) { .wp-block-columns .wp-block-column h3:first-child { margin-top: -10px; } } @media only screen and (min-width:481px) { .wp-block-latest-posts.is-grid > li { border-radius: 14px; } .wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image img { border-radius: 14px 14px 0px 0px; } figure.wp-block-image:not(.alignleft, .alignright, .wp-block-column *,.alexalignleft) { margin-top: 40px !important; margin-bottom:40px; } /* margins top and bottom for center aligned youtube vids */ .wp-block-group__inner-container > figure.wp-block-embed.is-type-video { margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; } .wp-block-gallery figure.wp-block-image{ margin-top:0 !important; } .wp-block-gallery { margin-top:40px !important; margin-bottom:40px !important; } /* i think this should apply to all column margins, basically videos since l/r images are defined specifically below... */ .wp-block-column:not(:first-child){ margin-left: 2.25rem; } .leftimageplustext .wp-block-column:first-child { flex-shrink:0; } .leftimageplustext .wp-block-column:not(:first-child) { margin-left: 2.25rem; } .leftimageplustext .wp-block-column .wp-block-image figure { margin-right: 0; margin-top:2px; } .leftimageplustext .wp-block-column, .rightimageplustext .wp-block-column { flex-basis:unset !important; } .rightimageplustext .wp-block-column:last-child{ flex-shrink:0; } .rightimageplustext .wp-block-column .wp-block-image figure { margin-left: 0; margin-top:2px; } .rightimageplustext .wp-block-column:last-child { margin-left:2.5rem; } } @media only screen and (min-width:481px) { .wp-block-columns.are-vertically-aligned-center.has-white-color.has-text-color { margin-top:-10px; } .wp-block-group .wp-block-columns .wp-block-column p:first-child { margin-top: -10px; } } @media only screen and (max-width:480px) { .wp-block-uagb-social-share { justify-content: center; align-items: flex-end; column-gap: 0rem; background: #1d1d1d; padding: 10px; margin-top: -40px !important;; margin-left: 0 !important;; width: calc(100vw + 1px) !important; max-width: 101vw !important; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top:20px !important; border: solid grey 3px; border-left:none; border-right:none; } .wp-block-group.alignwide.has-black-color.has-text-color.has-background { margin-top:-20px; } .uagb-social-share__wrap { justify-content: center !important; align-items: center; /* gap: 5px;*/ margin-top: -10px; margin-right:0 !important; } .uagb-ss__source-wrap svg { width: 45px !important; height: 45px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width:480px) { .wp-block-latest-posts > li > a { font-size:1.6rem } .wp-block-latest-posts .wp-block-latest-posts__post-date{ font-size:1.1rem; margin-bottom: 15px !important; } } .taglyfe { background-color: #d9d9ed; padding: 15px; padding-top: 12px; margin-top: -29px; font-size: 1.3rem; /* font-style: italic; */ font-weight:600; margin-bottom:40px; padding-right: 25px; } .taglyfe::before{ /* content:" "; */ margin-left:5px; font-style: initial; } .taglyfe a{ text-decoration:none; /* transition: .25s; */ } /* .taglyfe a::before{ content:"\00a0 "; } .taglyfe a::after{ content:"\00a0 "; } */ @media only screen and (min-width:480px) { .taglyfe a:hover{ background:rgba(114,124,112,.4); padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom:2px; border-radius:4px; } } @media only screen and (max-width:480px) { .taglyfe{ display:none;} } @media only screen and (min-width:481px) { .tagsandsns{ margin-top:-29px !important; margin-bottom:35px !important; box-sizing:content-box; } .tagsandsns-column2 { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: flex-end; background-color: #d9d9ed; margin-left:0 !important; padding-right:1.5rem; /*! margin-right: 0 !important; */ } .wp-block-post-terms { margin-bottom:0 !important; } .wp-block-uagb-social-share-child:last-child { margin-right:0 !important; } .wp-block-uagb-social-share { margin-left:0; margin-right:0; } .uagb-ss__source-icon { line-height:0 !important; } .wp-block-uagb-social-share-child { margin-left:0px !important; } .wp-block-uagb-social-share-child:hover { filter:drop-shadow(2px 2px 2px black); } .wp-block-uagb-social-share-child:first-child svg { width:38px; } .uagb-social-share__wrap { /* column-gap:0; */ margin-right:0; } } @media screen and (min-width: 481px) { .taglyfe{ line-height:1.5; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ figure.wp-block-media-text__media { outline: solid black 13px; } } /* .bigfoot-footnote{ left:0 !important; } */ .bigfoot-footnote__content p{ font-weight:400; } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ figure.wp-block-media-text__media { outline: solid black 13px; } } /* .bigfoot-footnote{ left:0 !important; } */ .bigfoot-footnote__content p{ font-weight:400; } .bigfoot-footnote__button { position: relative; z-index: 0; top: -0.1em; padding: 0; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0.2em; border: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: rgba(110, 110, 110, 0.2); font-size: 2rem; line-height: inherit; } .bigfoot-footnote__button { position: relative; height: .8em; width: .8em; border-radius: 50%; } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .bigfoot-footnote.is-positioned-top { position: fixed; bottom: 0; top: auto; left: 0; right: auto; -webkit-transform: translateY(100%); -ms-transform: translateY(100%); transform: translateY(100%); width: 100%; margin: 0; border-radius: 0; opacity: 1; -webkit-transition: -webkit-transform 0.3s ease; transition: transform 0.3s ease; left:0 !important; width:100vw; } .bigfoot-footnote.is-active { -webkit-transform: scale(1) translateZ(0); transform: scale(1) translateZ(0); opacity: 0.97; -webkit-transform: translateY(0); -ms-transform: translateY(0); transform: translateY(0); } .bigfoot-footnote.is-bottom-fixed { position: fixed; bottom: 0; top: auto; left: 0; right: auto; -webkit-transform: translateY(100%); -ms-transform: translateY(100%); transform: translateY(100%); width: 100%; margin: 0; border-radius: 0; opacity: 1; border-width: 1px 0 0; -webkit-transition: -webkit-transform 0.3s ease; transition: transform 0.3s ease; } .is-positioned-bottom{ position: fixed; bottom: 0; top: auto; left: 0; right: auto; -webkit-transform: translateY(100%); -ms-transform: translateY(100%); transform: translateY(100%); width: 100%; margin: 0; border-radius: 0; opacity: 1; border-width: 1px 0 0; -webkit-transition: -webkit-transform 0.3s ease; transition: transform 0.3s ease; left:0 !important; width:100vw; } .bigfoot-footnote.is-bottom-fixed.is-active { -webkit-transform: translateY(0); -ms-transform: translateY(0); transform: translateY(0); } .bigfoot-footnote.is-bottom-fixed .bigfoot-footnote__wrapper { margin: 0 0 0 50%; -webkit-transform: translateX(-50%); -ms-transform: translateX(-50%); transform: translateX(-50%); max-width: 100%; } .bigfoot-footnote.is-bottom-fixed .bigfoot-footnote__tooltip { display: none; } .bigfoot-footnote__wrapper { position: relative; z-index: 14; width: 22em; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit; overflow: hidden; margin: 0; background-color: #fafafa; border-radius: 0.5em; line-height: 0; max-width: 100% !important; max-height:999999px !important; } .bigfoot-footnote__content { position: relative; z-index: 8; display: inline-block; max-height: 15em; padding: 1.1em 1.3em 1.2em; box-sizing: inherit; overflow: auto; -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch; background: #fafafa; border-radius: 0.5em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; line-height: normal; max-height:999999px !important; } .bigfoot-footnote__content img { max-width: 100%; } .bigfoot-footnote__content *:last-child { margin-bottom: 0 !important; } .bigfoot-footnote__content *:first-child { margin-top: 0 !important; } .bigfoot-footnote__tooltip { display:none; } .is-positioned-bottom .bigfoot-footnote__tooltip { top: -0.65em; } .is-positioned-top .bigfoot-footnote__tooltip { bottom: -0.65em; } .bigfoot-footnote{ border:double black 10px; max-height:10000px !important; } .bigfoot-footnote__content p { font-size: 1.25rem !important; line-height:1.4 !important; font-style: italic !important; max-height: 1000000px; } .bigfoot-footnote__button { height: .9em; width: .9em; } } .footnotes{display:none;} #alexmenu li a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } #masthead{ display:none; } .entry-header{ display:none; } .site-main { padding-top:0px; } .site a:focus:not(.wp-block-button__link):not(.wp-block-file__button) img { outline:none; } .frontpagesns{ border:none !important; } .frontpagesns .wp-block-column:nth-child(2){ align-self:flex-end; padding-right:2.5rem; /* align-self:center; padding-right:2.7rem; margin-top: 8px; */ } @media screen and (max-width : 480px) { .page-id-239 .wp-block-columns { padding-right: 1.5rem !important; padding-left: 1.5rem !important; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .frontpagesns .wp-block-column:nth-child(2){ display:none; } .wp-block-columns .frontpagesns { padding-right:0 !important; padding-left:0 !important; } .frontpagesns .wp-block-column{ margin-bottom:0 !important; } } /* testing out border smoothing on articles*/ @media screen and (min-width: 481px) { .wp-block-media-text { border-radius:24px 24px 0 0; } .wp-block-media-text__media{ border-radius:24px 0 0 0; } /* adjust margins beneath figures (images, videos etc) but only in groups, ie for main content*/ /* .wp-block-group figure { margin-bottom:20px !important; } */ figure + h3 { margin-top:0px !important; } figure:not(.is-type-video) + p { margin-top: 20px !important; } .bigfoot-footnote__tooltip{ background:#363636; } .bigfoot-footnote__content{ background:#363636; color:white; text-shadow:1px 1px black; } .bigfoot-footnote__wrapper{ background:#363636; } .bigfoot-footnote.is-scrollable .bigfoot-footnote__wrapper:after { background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(bottom, #363636 50%, rgba(54, 54, 54, 0) 100%); background-image: linear-gradient(to top, #363636 50%, rgba(54, 54, 54, 0) 100%); } .bigfoot-footnote.is-scrollable .bigfoot-footnote__wrapper:before { background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(bottom, #363636 50%, rgba(54, 54, 54, 0) 100%); background-image: linear-gradient(to top, #363636 50%, rgba(54, 54, 54, 0) 100%); } } /*---------------------------------*/ /*---devnames accordion stuff------*/ /*---------------------------------*/ /* summary { display:flex; align-items:center; } */ details:first-child { border-radius:20px 20px 0 0; } details:first-child summary { padding-top: 10px; } details:last-child summary { padding-bottom:15px; } details:only-child summary { padding-top:15px; padding-bottom:15px; } details:last-child { border-radius:0 0 20px 20px; } details:only-child{ border-radius:20px; } details { /* font-size: 1.3rem; */ font-weight:700; width: 100%; background: #e5e5f4; position: relative; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ details { width:100%; } } details .summary-title { user-select: none; } details:hover { cursor: pointer; background: rgba(0,0,0,.088); } details:hover svg { background: rgba(0,0,0,.044) } details .summary-content { cursor: default; padding: 1em; padding-top:10px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; background: #f3f3f3; } details summary { list-style: none; padding: 6px 15px; padding-left: 1em; } details summary:focus { outline: none; } details summary:hover .summary-chevron-up svg { opacity: 1; } details .summary-chevron-up svg { opacity: 0.5; } details .summary-chevron-up { pointer-events: none; background: #e5e5f4; } details .summary-chevron-up svg { display: block; } details summary::-webkit-details-marker { display: none; } details .summary-chevron-up { margin-left:auto; } #downarrow{ opacity:0; } details[open] #downarrow { opacity:1; } details[open] #uparrow { opacity:0 !important; } .summaryflex{ display:flex; align-items:center; } @media screen and (max-width:480px) { .summary-title { font-size:1.25rem; } details summary { padding-left:.8em; } .summary-content { font-size:1.25rem; max-height:9999999px; } } #baguetteBox-overlay figcaption{ display:none !important; } /* potential ipad stylings with slightly enlarged fonts and consistent 810px default content width */ @media only screen and (min-width: 481px) and (max-width:1367px) { :root{ --responsive--aligndefault-width: min(calc(100vw - 8 * var(--global--spacing-horizontal)), 800px); } .wp-block-group p { font-size:1.5rem; line-height:1.5; } .wp-block-group h3{ font-size:1.55rem; } .wp-block-group h5{ font-size:1.9rem; } .single-post .wp-block-columns { margin-top: 35px; margin-bottom: 30px; } figcaption { padding-left:2rem; padding-right:2rem; } } .aligncolumnstraight{ margin-top:-5px !important; } .gradientheader { background: #d9d9ed; padding: 1.5rem 1rem; border-left: solid 15px rgba(0,0,0,.9); border-radius: 0 20px 20px 0; padding-left: 1.5rem; margin-top:50px !important; } @media screen and (min-width:480px){ /* .alexalignleft { margin-left: calc((var(--responsive--alignwide-width) - var(--responsive--aligndefault-width) - 64px) / 2) !important; } */ .textonimagez { margin-left: calc((var(--responsive--alignwide-width) - var(--responsive--aligndefault-width) - 64px) / 2) !important; position:relative; width:fit-content; } .textonimagez h4{ position:absolute; bottom:0; right:0; color:white; background:rgba(0,0,0,.5); font-size:2rem; padding:1rem; padding-top:.5rem; } .textonimagez figure{ margin-bottom:0 !important; margin-top:0 !important; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .textonimagez { position:relative; padding:0 !important; max-width:100vw !important; width: 100vw !important; position: relative; left: 50%; right: 50%; margin-left: -50vw !important; margin-right: -50vw !important; } .textonimagez h4{ position:absolute; bottom:0; right:0; color:white; background:rgba(0,0,0,.4); font-size:1.7rem; padding:.5rem; padding-top:.3rem; padding-right:.7rem; padding-bottom:.3rem; } .textonimagez figure{ margin-bottom:0 !important; margin-top:0 !important; max-width:unset !important; } } /* @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .textonimagez { position:relative; width:100%; padding:0 !important; } .textonimagez h4{ position:absolute; bottom:0; right:0; color:white; background:rgba(0,0,0,.5); font-size:1.3rem; padding:.5rem; padding-top:.3rem; } .textonimagez figure{ margin-bottom:0 !important; margin-top:0 !important; } } */ /* this is a min-height for interview titles that are only 1 line high*/ .uagb-post__title{ min-height: 2.534em; } .single-post b, .single-post strong { font-weight: 600; } @media screen and (min-width:481px){ .valkenblock p{ font-size:1.3rem !important; margin-left:-20px !important; } } /* ipad front page */ @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1367px){ .home .wp-block-columns p { font-size: 1.4rem; }} @media screen and (min-width:481px){ .smalltube{ width:55% !important; }} @media screen and (min-width:481px){ .wp-block-video.smalltube2 { width:55%; }} @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1200px) { .smalltube{ width:75% !important; }} @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1200px) { .wp-block-video.smalltube2 { width:75%; }} @media screen and (min-width:481px){ .cavemenu{ background: #fef2f2; padding: 1rem 2.5rem; border-radius: 4px; border: solid black 2px; } .cavemenu a{ text-decoration:none; } .cavemenu a:hover{ text-decoration:underline; } } #junyainoue, #manabunamiki, #takashiichimura, #hiroyukitanaka, #shinobuyagawa, #hidekinomura, #akirawakabayashi, #tsunekiikeda, #cavefacts { scroll-margin-top:3rem; } #makotoasada { scroll-margin-top:5rem; } figure.wp-block-gallery{ width:50%; } .post .blocks-gallery-item { margin-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom:0 !important; } /* .wp-block-gallery { flex-direction: column; flex-wrap:nowrap; } */ .wp-block-gallery .wp-block-image { margin-bottom: 0 !important; } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .post figure.wp-block-gallery{ width:unset !important;} .post .blocks-gallery-grid{ flex-wrap:nowrap; } } /* for stacking images vertically; applies to upper image */ @media screen and (min-width:481px){ .twovertical { margin-bottom:-30px !important; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .twovertical { margin-bottom:-20px !important; border-bottom:solid 7px gray; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .taglyfe{ color:transparent; background-color: lightgrey !important; margin-bottom: 0 !important; line-height: 1.2; display: flex; font-size: 100%; padding-left: 0; padding-right: 0; overflow: scroll; scrollbar-width: none; padding-bottom: 0; padding-top:0; border-bottom: grey 3.5px solid; white-space:nowrap; } .tagsandsns .wp-block-column:first-child { order: 2; } .wp-block-uagb-social-share { border-bottom:none; } .taglyfe::-webkit-scrollbar { display: none; } .taglyfe a{ color:black !important; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:14px; padding-top:14px; margin-left:-5px; } .taglyfe a:first-child{ margin-left:0; } .taglyfe a:nth-child(odd){ background:darkgrey; } .taglyfe a:nth-child(even){ background:lightgrey; } .tagsandsns{ margin-bottom:0; } .uagb-ss__wrapper { margin-left: 2.5vw !important; margin-right: 2.5vw !important; } .wp-block-uagb-social-share{ max-width:100vw !important; } } @media screen and (min-width:480px){ .post-6590 h3:not(:first-child) { margin-bottom:-10px !important; }} h5, .h5 { letter-spacing:unset; } /* stylings for double and triple columns, see kirby for example */ @media screen and (min-width:480px){ .triplecolumn .wp-block-column{ margin-right:10px !important; margin-left:0; } .doubleimagecolumn .wp-block-column:first-child { display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; } .doubleimagecolumn .wp-block-column:not(:first-child) { margin-left: 1rem; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .triplecolumn .wp-block-column figure { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; } .wp-block-columns .wp-block-column:nth-child(2) figure{ margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; } } .mahounames { margin-top:5px !important; } .namegrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(400px, 1fr)); line-height:1.4; } .namegrid-item { font-weight:600; } @media screen and (min-width:480px){ .namegrid{ font-size:1.5rem; } } .gradientheader-open { background: #d9d9ed; padding: 1.5rem 1rem; border-left: solid 15px rgba(0,0,0,.9); border-radius: 0 20px 20px 0; padding-left: 1.5rem; } figure.wp-block-gallery.gallery40 { width: 40%; } figure.wp-block-gallery.gallery60 { width: 60%; } .site-info{ display:none !important; } .widget-area{ display:none; } /* LT suggest */ .uagb-post-grid .uagb-post__image img { max-width: none !important; /* object-fit: cover; */ } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1350px){ .navcontainer{ background-position-y: -48vw !important; } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1066px){ :root{ --responsive--alignwide-width: min(calc(100vw - 6 * var(--global--spacing-horizontal)), 1240px); } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1013px){ :root{ --responsive--alignwide-width: min(calc(100vw - 4 * var(--global--spacing-horizontal)), 1240px); } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1112px){ .wp-block-media-text.is-image-fill .wp-block-media-text__media { min-height: 350px; } .wp-block-media-text { display: block; } .tagsandsns div:first-child { flex-basis: 70% !important; } .tagsandsns div:last-child { flex-basis: 30% !important; } .wp-block-media-text__content{ padding-top:20px !important; padding-bottom:25px !important; } .wp-block-media-text__media { border-radius: 24px 24px 0 0; } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1002px){ body.single-post { --responsive--alignwide-width: 100%; --responsive--aligndefault-width: 800px; } .wp-block-media-text__media { border-radius: 0 !important; } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-height:760px){ .navcontainer { height:80px !important; } .titlelogo { font-size:37px !important; } .logoicon img { width: 65px !important; } .wp-block-media-text{ margin-top:20px; } } @media screen and (min-width:481px){ .tagsandsns { flex-wrap:nowrap; } .wp-block-columns .wp-block-column:not(:last-child) { margin-bottom: 0; } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:829px){ html { font-size: .9rem} .wp-block-column .wp-block-image figure{ max-width:33vw; } /* .wp-block-columns .wp-block-column{ flex-basis:unset !important; } */ .wp-block-columns{ flex-wrap:nowrap; } } /* at this point, the 800px content area needs to be switched over to "cell phone" centered stylings */ @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:729px){ html { font-size: .9rem} .wp-block-column .wp-block-image figure{ max-width:100%; } /* .wp-block-columns .wp-block-column{ flex-basis:unset !important; } */ .wp-block-columns{ flex-wrap:nowrap; } .leftimageplustext .wp-block-column:not(:first-child) { margin-left: 0; } .rightimageplustext .wp-block-column:last-child { margin-left:0; } .wp-block-image .alignleft{ margin-bottom:35px; } .wp-block-group__inner-container .wp-block-columns{ flex-direction:column; } .wp-block-group__inner-container .wp-block-column { align-self:center; } .rightimageplustext .wp-block-column .wp-block-image figure { margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: -5px; } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:970px){ .logoicon img { display: none !important; } } /*front page carousel sizings*/ @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1340px){ .uagb-post__title{ font-size:1.4rem !important; } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1277px){ .uagb-post__title{ font-size:1.3rem !important; } } @media screen and (min-width:481px) and (max-width:1214px){ .uagb-post__title{ font-size:1.5rem !important; } } .twotubes .wp-block-embed__wrapper iframe { max-height:100% !important; } .twotubes .wp-block-embed__wrapper { flex-basis:50% !important; } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .twotubes { flex-direction:column; gap:5px; } } /* comments */ #comments { background: #efefff; color: black; padding: 3rem; padding-top: 2rem; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 0; max-width: calc((var(--responsive--alignwide-width)) - 15vw); border: double black 7px; } .post { margin-bottom:30px; } .comments-title, .comment-reply-title { font-size: 2rem; } .post-navigation{ display:none; } #comments a{ color:black; } #comment, #author, #email, #url { background: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.9); color:white; border:double white 5px; } #comment:focus{ color:white; } #submit { background-color: #1d1d1d; color:white; } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ #comments { padding:1.5rem; max-width: calc((var(--responsive--alignwide-width)) - 0vw); } .comments-area.show-avatars .comment-metadata { padding-top:0; } } /* commissions page*/ #post-12307 .wp-block-gallery{ width:80%; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } @media screen and (max-width:1150px){ #post-12307 .wp-block-gallery{ width:100%; } } #post-12307 figcaption{ color:white !important; font-size:1rem !important; line-height:1.3 !important; } #post-12307 .wp-block-columns{ border:double 10px black; } #post-12307 .blocks-gallery-item figure img { border-radius:8px; } #post-12307 .blocks-gallery-item figcaption { border-radius:8px; } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ #post-12307 .wp-block-columns { padding:calc(0.666 * var(--global--spacing-vertical)); border:none; } #post-12307 .wp-block-gallery{ width:100%; } #post-12307 .wp-block-gallery .blocks-gallery-item{ width:90%; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; } #post-12307 .blocks-gallery-grid{ display:block; } } /* Archive Responsive Font-sizing hackz*/ @media screen and (min-width:1666px) and (max-width:1768px){ .uagb-post__title a { font-size: 1.35rem !important; } } @media screen and (min-width:1214px) and (max-width:1323px){ .uagb-post__title a { font-size: 1.35rem !important; } } @media screen and (min-width:767px) and (max-width:887px){ .uagb-post__title a { font-size: 1.35rem !important; } } .home strong { font-weight:600; } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .uagb-post__inner-wrap{ padding-bottom:15px !important; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ p { max-height:999999px !important; }} @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .mobilenamehide{display:none;} .namegrid {display:block;} } @media (min-width:600px) and (max-width:781px) { .wp-block-column:not(:only-child) { flex-basis: unset !important; flex-grow: 0; } .wp-block-columns:not(.is-not-stacked-on-mobile) > .wp-block-column:not(:only-child) { flex-basis: unset !important; flex-grow: 0; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ html,body,body h3,h5 { text-size-adjust: none !important; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none !important; -ms-text-size-adjust: none !important; -moz-text-size-adjust: none !important; } h3,.h3{ max-height:999999px; } figcaption.blocks-gallery-caption { max-height:99999px; font-size:1.125rem !important; } } .wp-block-gallery .wp-block-image:first-child{ margin-right:0 !important; } @media screen and (min-width:480px){ .wp-block-columns:not(.is-not-stacked-on-mobile) > .wp-block-column:not(:first-child) { margin-left: 2.25rem; }} @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .threehorimobile figure { flex-basis:33%; } } @media screen and (max-width:480px){ .wp-block-video figcaption { max-height:999999px !important; font-size:18px !important; } } .tagsandsns{ gap:0 !important; } .wp-block-gallery { display: flex; flex-direction: row; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: flex-start; gap: 0 !important; } .blocks-gallery-grid{ flex-grow:1; } </style> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-15833 single-format-standard custom-background wp-embed-responsive is-dark-theme no-js singular"> <div id="page" class="site"> <a class="skip-link screen-reader-text" href="#content">Skip to content</a> <header id="masthead" class="site-header"> <div class="site-branding"> <p class="screen-reader-text"><a href="https://shmuplations.com/">shmuplations.com</a></p> </div><!-- .site-branding --> </header><!-- #masthead --> <div id="content" class="site-content"> <div id="primary" class="content-area"> <main id="main" class="site-main"> <article id="post-15833" class="post-15833 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-uncategorized tag-square tag-final-fantasy tag-nobuo-uematsu tag-kenichiro-fukui tag-tsuyoshi-sekito tag-1403 entry"> <header class="entry-header alignwide"> <h1 class="entry-title">The Black Mages – Interview Collection</h1> <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <img width="570" height="350" src="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/blackmages00.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/blackmages00.jpg 570w, https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/blackmages00-300x184.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" style="width:100%;height:61.4%;max-width:570px;" /> </figure><!-- .post-thumbnail --> </header><!-- .entry-header --> <div class="entry-content"> <style> #alexmenu{ background:rgba(0,0,0,.3); padding: 10px 0; border-radius: 30px; } #masthead-wrapper{ display:none; } div.entry-content{ margin-top:113px; } .alexnav { position:fixed; top:0; left:0; right:0; width:100% !important; max-width:100% !important; margin-top:0px; z-index:1; } .navcontainer { height:92px; background-image: url("https://shmuplations.com/irem-larger3.jpg"); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-size:cover; background-position-y:-800px; /* border-top:black solid 1px; */ display:flex; box-shadow:0px 3px 6px black; transition: transform .4s, padding .4s; padding: 10px 0; box-sizing:content-box; } .alexmenucontainer{ margin-left:auto; padding-right:2rem; align-self:center; } #alexmenu { display:flex; list-style:none; margin-right:-.3125rem; } .titlelogo { align-self:center; margin-left:20px; font-size:40px; font-weight:1000; -webkit-text-fill-color:#f4cbff; font-family:Helvetica; text-shadow:2px 2px black; } .logoicon img{ display:block; border-radius:50%; border:solid white 1px; width:75px; background:rgb(101, 101, 101, .6); } .logoicon { margin-left:30px; 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.logoicon img{ max-width:unset; width:12.725vw; margin-top:3px; } .titlelogo{ display:none; } div.entry-content{ margin-top:14vw; } #alexmenu{ padding:5px 0; background:none; } #alexmenu li:nth-child(3){ display:none; } #alexmenu li a{ padding:7px; font-size:5.68vw; line-height:1.125rem; } .alexmenucontainer{ padding-right:.9rem; } } </style> <nav class="alexnav"> <div class="navcontainer"> <div class="logoicon"><a href="https://shmuplations.com"><img decoding="async" src="https://shmuplations.com/shmupicon.png"></a></div> <div class="titlelogo"><a href="https://shmuplations.com" style="text-decoration:none; color:#f4cbff;">shmuplations</a></div> <div class="alexmenucontainer"> <ul id="alexmenu"> <li><a href="https://patreon.com/shmuplations">patreon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.shmuplations.com/archive/">archive</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.shmuplations.com/commissions/">commissions</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.shmuplations.com/about/">about</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://shmuplations.com/alexscroll.js"></script> <script> window.onload = function() { var divs = document.getElementsByClassName('taglyfe'); var acc = divs[0].getElementsByTagName('a'); var ii; for (ii = 0; ii < acc.length; ii++) { acc[ii].addEventListener("click", function() { localStorage.setItem("searchtag", this.innerHTML); }); acc[ii].addEventListener("contextmenu", function() { localStorage.setItem("searchtag", this.innerHTML); }); } }; </script> <div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center is-image-fill is-style-default has-black-color has-text-color has-background" style="background-color:#efefff"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media" style="background-image:url(https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/blackmages00.jpg);background-position:50% 50%"><img decoding="async" width="570" height="350" src="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/blackmages00.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-15837 size-full" srcset="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/blackmages00.jpg 570w, https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/blackmages00-300x184.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content"> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Black Mages - Interview Collection</h4> <p style="line-height:1.7"><em>These three interviews with the members of The Black Mages were originally found at the GSLA archive. Each interview coincides with the release of their three cds in 2003, 2004, and 2008. While not the most in-depth discussion, they contain rare commentary from each member on their individual Final Fantasy arrangements; as such, they're probably best enjoyed by listening and re-visiting those works as you read.</em></p> </div></div> <div class="wp-block-columns alignwide tagsandsns"> <div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:63%"><div style="background-color:#d9d9ed;" class="has-text-color has-black-color has-background alignwide taglyfe wp-block-post-terms wp-elements-b026fa27a45936b04b62835189c01233"><a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/">Square</a> | <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/">Final Fantasy</a> | <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/">Nobuo Uematsu</a> | <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/">Kenichiro Fukui</a> | <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/">Tsuyoshi Sekito</a></div></div> <div class="wp-block-column tagsandsns-column2" style="flex-basis:37%"> <div class="wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap 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142.2-102.3 0-5.7-.6-11.6-2.1-17 33.6-17.2 21.2-67.2-16.1-67.2z"></path></svg></span></span></a></div> <div class="wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec6ba908"><a class="uagb-ss__link" data-href="https://twitter.com/share?url=" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span class="uagb-ss__source-wrap"><span class="uagb-ss__source-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512"><path d="M400 32H48C21.5 32 0 53.5 0 80v352c0 26.5 21.5 48 48 48h352c26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48V80c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48zm-48.9 158.8c.2 2.8.2 5.7.2 8.5 0 86.7-66 186.6-186.6 186.6-37.2 0-71.7-10.8-100.7-29.4 5.3.6 10.4.8 15.8.8 30.7 0 58.9-10.4 81.4-28-28.8-.6-53-19.5-61.3-45.5 10.1 1.5 19.2 1.5 29.6-1.2-30-6.1-52.5-32.5-52.5-64.4v-.8c8.7 4.9 18.9 7.9 29.6 8.3a65.447 65.447 0 0 1-29.2-54.6c0-12.2 3.2-23.4 8.9-33.1 32.3 39.8 80.8 65.8 135.2 68.6-9.3-44.5 24-80.6 64-80.6 18.9 0 35.9 7.9 47.9 20.7 14.8-2.8 29-8.3 41.6-15.8-4.9 15.2-15.2 28-28.8 36.1 13.2-1.4 26-5.1 37.8-10.2-8.9 13.1-20.1 24.7-32.9 34z"></path></svg></span></span></a></div> <div class="wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-72487c5f"><a class="uagb-ss__link" data-href="mailto:?body=" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span class="uagb-ss__source-wrap"><span class="uagb-ss__source-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z"></path></svg></span></span></a></div> </div></div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group alignwide has-black-color has-text-color has-background" style="background-color:#efefff;padding-right:2rem;padding-left:2rem"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container"> <p style="line-height:1.3"><strong>Nobuo Uematsu (keyboard)</strong><br><strong>Kenichiro Fukui (keyboard) </strong><br><strong>Tsuyoshi Sekito (guitar)</strong></p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>There are six of us, including me, the producer and keyboardist. We are all Square staff.</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>I also play keyboards. And I arrange and mix the music.</p> <p><strong>Sekito: </strong>I also arranged the music. I play guitar in the band.</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>There's really so many musically talented individuals at Square, I didn't have to worry about not having enough people. I was more concerned about teamwork.</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>Game development is all about desk work, but I want to do fun stuff like live shows too. (laughs) With The Black Mages it feels like we've gathered all this surplus energy into one place.</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>There were lots of requests from fans for an arrangement of the Final Fantasy battle songs. And since many of the original songs are unusual rock pieces, I'd always wanted to perform them as a band. Then Sekito and Fukui showed me a few arrangements they did for fun.</p> <p><strong>Sekito: </strong>Oh, that's right.</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>They sounded exactly like I wanted them to. Those became the prototypes for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRhPgzHb_KA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Decisive Battle</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs67QjagDtM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Battle Theme</a> on the album. After that, things progressed very quickly…</p> <div class="wp-block-columns rightimageplustext"> <div class="wp-block-column"> <p><strong>Sekito: </strong>The tempo of Battle Theme was slowed down compared to the original song to give it a more grounded feel. The guitar solo took me two nights to come up with. It's only about 16 bars long, and it's not something that grabs the spotlight on first listen, but if I had to use a metaphor, it would be like the "good wife" who selflessly supports the other notes. (laughs)</p> </div> <div class="wp-block-column"><div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/blackmages01a.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-15842" width="338" height="366"/></figure></div></div> </div> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>The lengthy "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSEI7tkA0_k" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Dancing Mad</a>" was 18 minutes long when we first finished it, (laughs) and it was like, "What the hell..!?" We shortened it after a lot of trial and error, but it's still over 12 minutes.</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>The arrangement was difficult. Usually, I create my music with a computer and sequencer, and I'm not thinking about how a live band might perform them. (laughs) There were some phrases I thought were really cool, but when I went to actually play them, it turned out I couldn't!</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>This was originally game music… then we said, OK, let's try to make rock arrangements… then we decided we'd do live shows… and now it's just blown up into this even bigger thing. (laughs)</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>At first, I was only planning to produce the album. I was going to ask other people to do the live shows.</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>But I said to you, "Uematsu, we need your help. We don't have enough people to play all the parts in these songs."</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>And that's how I got drafted. (laughs) As for the songs on the album, we've kept with the general rock stylings, so I think people will get a lot of listening enjoyment out of them. We didn't include any songs from FFIII, FFIV, or FFIX either, so I'd like to keep going with a second and third CD where were try some new things.</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>I want you to use it as driving music. (laughs) Pump the gas and let her rip!</p> <figure class="smalltube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe title="Final Fantasy: The Black Mages Full Album" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sVKIKj4pLvY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Black Mages' first album.</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Sekito: </strong>I mostly want people to listen to the guitar sound. I use a lot of effects, so I hope people find it interesting. My hope is that this album could serve as a bridge between guitar freaks and game fans.</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>I play organ and synthesizer in the live performances.</p> <p><strong>Sekito: </strong>You'll be able to see Uematsu's organ playing in all its glory!</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>Well, that would be great. Layering the organ and the synthesizer, yeah. (laughs)</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>Well, there'll be twin guitars and twin keyboards. I hope you are looking forward to their heated battles.</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>I don't like to fight. (laughs) The live concert will consist of two parts, the first half of which will be an open recording for Uematsu Radio. Then there will be a special guest. Who it will be is still a secret.</p> <h3 class="gradientheader wp-block-heading">The Black Mages - 2004 Interview</h3> <p style="line-height:1.3"><strong>Nobuo Uematsu (keyboard)</strong><br><strong>Kenichiro Fukui (keyboard)</strong><br><strong>Michio Okamiya (guitar)</strong><br><strong>Tsuyoshi Sekito (guitar)</strong><br><strong>Keiji Kawamori (bass guitar)</strong><br><strong>Arata Hanyuda (drums)</strong></p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>You know, relying on sequencing can make things sound very monotonous. The rhythm is more lively when you actually play it. I think you'll know what I mean if you listen to the new album.</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>I'd really wanted live drums on the previous album. I'm happy that we were able to achieve that this time.</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>Sorry, I'm still a salaryman. I have to attend regular meetings you know. (laughs)</p> <p><strong>Hanyuda: </strong>I did the recording sessions between meetings and would get soaked with sweat. But it's a blessing that a mere office worker is allowed to do something like this!</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>The previous album was just Sekito and me, but this time Okamiya has joined us to broaden the scope of the music.</p> <p><strong>Hanyuda: </strong>The big draw this time are the three different styles of arrangement. Fukui's is fusion-tinged hard rock, and you can straight-up rock out to it. Sekito's arrangements are tricky and intricate. <em>What is this rhythm!?</em> (laughs) They're difficult to play. And Okamiya's songs bring a completely different feel from The Black Mages' earlier stuff.</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>I think these will be even more difficult to play live…</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>That's why we won't play any new songs this time. Because it makes me nervous… just kidding. (laughs)</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>We recorded, what… 11 songs, right?</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>Actually, there were 12 songs, but we didn't have time to record them all, so we decided to save them for the third volume. Actually, I've really been wanting to make a third volume. I already have about half of the song selection locked in.</p> <p><strong>Sekito: </strong>For this CD, I arranged <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDLzloKPgA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Vamo'alla flamenco</a> from FF9. The introduction of the original song is an important part, so I kept the basics faithful. Then I made some changes of my own. You know, I'd always thought it was a cool song, but when I asked about it later, it turned out to be a song for a mini-game…</p> <p><strong>Kawamori: </strong>Oops, I told you that. (laughs) But it is really popular among players.</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>I did the arrangements for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMS49EZLufY" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">To Zanarkand</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrOeRGSKfjQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">The Man with the Machine Gun</a>. I especially wanted to take To Zanarkand in an unexpected direction, something that would make the listener go, "Whoa!" So I kept the piano melody of the original song, but changed the rhythm and arranged it in a very dramatic way. After filling it out a bit, I ended up adding vocals too.</p> <p><strong>Sekito: </strong>The lyrics were written by Alex, who translated FFX. He also came up with the title "The Skies Above."</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>I told him that the lyrics didn't necessarily have to be informed by the game, but he captured the image perfectly. The singer will be a surprise until the live performance. Actually, there's also a song with a female vocalist. I'll give you a hint: it's someone I've worked with before. I wonder if she's familiar with Final Fantasy…?</p> <p>The truth is I'd really like to tour around the country, starting with Hokkaido and so on… but I'm looking forward to seeing the reaction of the audience in Osaka.</p> <p>I don't really think about it much, but the members of The Black Mages are always near me. And we don't intend to limit ourselves to just playing rock music. We've also played with an orchestra, and someday I would like to break down the barriers and combine those two.</p> <p>Fukui mentioned that our second album has a wider range of music, but this is all going in the right direction… there so many different genres of music in the world, right? I love imagining the possibilities of The Black Mages and a chorus group, for example. What's cool is that when I suggest such things, I don't get any negative comments from any of the members. Even when I want to do something very difficult, someone always comes up with an ingenious idea to make it work. It's not that we are just good friends--it's that we're able to talk through our disagreements and listen to each other. And no one has ever lost their temper in that process.</p> <p><strong>Hanyuda: </strong>Won't we sound more like a legit rock band if we just say that we sometimes get into fights, though?</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>I guess so. (laughs)</p> <figure class="smalltube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe loading="lazy" title="The Black Mages II: The Skies Above" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/abXQOeEA-oc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Black Mages' second album, "The Skies Above"</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Hanyuda: </strong>I've been playing in bands since I was a student, so I'm surprised and at the same time happy to be able to play in this way. I will do my best not to make any mistakes, so please buy the CD and come see us live.</p> <p><strong>Fukui: </strong>The new CD features a full band, but I want our shows to be exciting, not just a straight run-through of the songs. I'm looking forward to seeing you in Osaka, my hometown.</p> <p><strong>Kawamori: </strong>There will be a lot of catchy songs, so I think the audience will enjoy the shows even more than before. Also, please look forward to Sekito's stage banter--he's in charge of gags.</p> <p><strong>Sekito: </strong>Well, we're always challenging ourselves. (laughs) We are working on the album at a rapid pace, and I hope we can keep that sense of urgency in our live performances.</p> <p><strong>Uematsu: </strong>The second album will include vocals, and I think it will be more varied than you might expect. Also, this is the first time we're doing a live concert in Osaka, so I'm looking forward to that. I would like to use this as a springboard to do shows overseas as well.</p> <p>There have been orchestral Final Fantasy performances in Los Angeles and Leipzig, but I've often been asked by foreigners who come to those concerts, "Why don't you play Black Mages shows here?" I was surprised how well they know us! So I would like to give it a try.</p> <p>Actually, there was an offer to do a show in Taiwan last year, but ultimately it didn't happen due to the members' schedules. I've got a good handle now on how the orchestral concerts will be received, but I wonder how a live rock concert would go over.</p> <h3 class="gradientheader wp-block-heading">The Black Mages - 2008 Interview</h3> <p><strong>Nobuo Uematsu (keyboards)</strong></p> <p>We've chosen the title of the new album: "THE BLACK MAGES III Darkness and Starlight." The jacket is drawn by Hideo Minaba, who also drew the jacket for our last album.</p> <p>There's opera in it too, and it's quite experimental. In fact, I and the other members of TBM also contributed to the chorus. I was very excited to record it. (laughs)</p> <p>The English lyrics of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBTmopsDJNk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Maria and Draco</a> include the phrase, sung by Maria, "I am Darkness and you are Starlight." It symbolizes Maria and Draco, so to speak. Hanyuda-kun came up with the idea, and I thought to myself, "That's it!" As is always the case, everyone kept coming up with ideas, and we respected each other very much, so the album was made in a very good atmosphere.</p> <p>The way Sekito layers his guitar lines is masterful. We were both very serious about the arrangements, always trying to complement each other: "Ok, if you do that, then I'll add this." We promised each other at the beginning that we would not get too technical with the arrangements because we wanted to enjoy playing live, but before we knew it, the compositions became wickedly difficult. I've got to practice my butt off before the shows scheduled for this summer!</p> <p>The song LIFE at the end of the album is not from Final Fantasy but an original. We included it as a memorial to a boy who passed away recently, who was a friend of ours and loved video games and game music just as much as we all do.</p> <figure class="smalltube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe loading="lazy" title="The Black Mages III Darkness and Starlight" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h4B90nCxTCw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Black Mages' third album, "Darkness and Starlight"</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Arata Hanyuda (drums)</strong></p> <p>I arranged <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlm8ONWSyNo" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Assault of the Silver Dragons</a> from FF9. The original song is a magnificent orchestral piece, but the melody was more hard rock, so I thought it would be fun to arrange it.</p> <p>The bond between the members has deepened, and in a real sense, the rock of Final Fantasy has blossomed. The image that we've been experimenting with up to the last album has come to fruition in a wonderful way. The drums are also very energetic. The average age of this band is 40+ (laughs), but for a bunch of geezers we did our best! We are very proud of this album, so please give it a listen!<br><br><strong>Michio Okamiya (guitar)</strong></p> <p>I arranged the final boss battle theme of FF5, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMwJhkQ7EA4" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">The Extreme</a> from FF6, and the third part of Maria and Draco from FF6. Maria and Draco has four parts, and each part was arranged by a different member. I have a special place in my heart for the last boss music in FF5. It was the first piece I worked on by myself since I started working in advertising. Of course, I love the other songs as well. My goal with all of my arrangements was to make sure these could be performed live in an exciting way.</p> <p>I was able to put almost everything I wanted into this album. I hope you will buy it and listen to it!</p> <p><strong>Tsuyoshi Sekito (guitar)</strong></p> <p>Maria and Draco was selected by Mr. Uematsu, but I arranged the first part myself. I also arranged <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA6LknzqJdY" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Premonition</a> from FF8. The original version of Premonition has many symphonic elements, and I did my best to recreate that atmosphere with just the six members of The Black Mages.</p> <p>Being our third cd, I hope you don't listen to it in isolation, but consider it as part of a trilogy. That way you'll see the evolution. "Oh look, they've grown an inch!" (laughs)<br> <br><strong>Keiji Kawamori (bass)</strong></p> <p>It's been more than three years since the last CD. But when we started working together again, the communication among the members was so smooth that I couldn't believe it had been so long, and I felt a strong sense of solidarity and just the sheer enjoyment of playing in this band.</p> <p>I arranged <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msbiZ6VLK_U" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">The Final Battle</a> from FF9, and for me it's all about the "hell voice," that groaning sound that is heard in the background at the beginning. Back when I was developing FF9, Uematsu asked me to record a sound like the moans of hell, so I said OK and took two days off from work to record it... in hell. (laughs) I reproduced it perfectly for this CD, so definitely listen for that.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe loading="lazy" title="The Black Mages - Darkness and Starlight Live FULL CONCERT" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RdldFfsJc98?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A full Black Mages concert from 2008.</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Kenichiro Fukui (keyboards)</strong></p> <p>I arranged the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etZMqTvlSzY" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Opening - Bombing Mission</a> from FF7, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXe73aXIO5w" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Distant Worlds</a> from FF11, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-erhhXpUvEA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">This is the Last Battle</a> from FF3. I also did the second and fourth parts of "Maria and Draco," but they were all very challenging. In total it was about 15 minutes worth of music.</p> <p>The two parts from Maria and Draco that I worked on have a lot in common, using the same theme, but the arrangement is very different. As the song progresses toward the latter half, it gets more and more exciting. The tough part was connecting my section after Uematsu-san and Okamiya-san's rampage. (laughs)</p> <p>This time around, we challenged ourselves to create a fusion of rock and opera, and we took the best elements of the first two CDs. It's a very accomplished work!</p> <p><strong>Hideo Minaba (artwork)</strong></p> <p>I drew the jacket for the second album too, but this time around I changed the number of colors and added a different touch. Since "Maria and Draco" will be included on this album, I tried to evoke the essence of a stage production: lighting, resplendent costumes, and so forth. Also, I wanted an atmosphere that was like, "are they going to kiss…?" I always try to include some touch of eroticism in my paintings. The Black Mages is a risque group of guys, so I think that's important. (laughs)</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="571" height="46" src="https://shmuplations.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/footer-test2.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-1534"/></figure></div> <div style="height:1px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p><em><strong>If you've enjoyed reading this interview and would like to be able to vote each month on what I translate, please consider supporting me on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.patreon.com/shmuplations" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patreon</a>! 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rel="author">shmuplations</a></span></div><div class="post-taxonomies"><span class="cat-links">Categorized as <a href="https://shmuplations.com/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag">Uncategorized</a> </span><span class="tags-links">Tagged <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/?/square/" rel="tag">Square</a>, <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/?/final-fantasy/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy</a>, <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/?/nobuo-uematsu/" rel="tag">Nobuo Uematsu</a>, <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/?/kenichiro-fukui/" rel="tag">Kenichiro Fukui</a>, <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/?/tsuyoshi-sekito/" rel="tag">Tsuyoshi Sekito</a>, <a href="https://shmuplations.com/archive/?/2003/" rel="tag">2003</a></span></div> </footer><!-- .entry-footer --> </article><!-- #post-15833 --> <div id="comments" class="comments-area default-max-width show-avatars"> <div id="respond" class="comment-respond"> <h2 id="reply-title" class="comment-reply-title">Leave 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