Our spotlight is on Sound/Music and we are delighted to speak to Marcus Bagshawe (17S) on how he turned his passion into a career.

Name: Marcus Bagshawe

Job Title: Sound Designer

What field of sound/music do you work in?

I work in the video game industry as a sound designer and, for the past 3 years, have been with a medium-sized company in Brighton called The Chinese Room. However, I have also done freelance work in the past, composing music for short films and advertisements.

What does your day-to-day routine look like in your role?

Most days, I walk or take the bus to the office, make a coffee, and start planning my day. I often have a meeting to catch up with other departments I work with, such as code, design, art, and animation, to ensure we're aligned on our goals. We have about 80 people working on the same project at the moment, and one of the biggest challenges we face is ensuring that every discipline communicates well with each other.

The role of a sound designer for games can include working on many aspects of a game’s audio, from going out to record sound effects such as footsteps and city ambience, to programming interactive audio systems that playback and manipulate audio in real-time to enhance the immersion and interactivity of the game’s soundscape. Ultimately, the goal is to create a detailed, rich sound environment that drives the game's narrative forward. To achieve this, I spend a lot of time iterating and experimenting to find the right sound for each moment, as well as handling technical tasks like programming all the sounds into the game engine and ensuring they behave as intended.

Another fun aspect of the job is playing the game! It’s really important that we take the time to play it, both to stay aligned on the bigger picture and to provide feedback. We often have playtests of sections of the game on Fridays, and occasionally, the team gets a few days to sit together and play the game from start to finish.

One more perk of the job is that the office is just a minute's walk from the beach, which means lunchtime sea swims when the weather is nice!

What are your earliest memories of being interested in a career in sound/music?

I’ve been captivated by a love of music since around the age of 9, which led me to learn a few instruments and play guitar in several bands at school. However, I didn’t think too much about what I wanted to do in the future or what a career in music might look like. Once I joined Shiplake for sixth form in 2015 and started studying music technology, it became clear to me that I wanted to pursue something related to music and audio technology.

What is it about this industry that drew you towards that career?

One of the things I love about video game audio, compared to something like film or TV, is the unique balance of creativity and technology. There’s a great mix of both, and I find each aspect equally enjoyable.

How did Shiplake or what you studied after Shiplake influence your passion?

Shiplake played a significant role in nurturing my passion for music and allowing me to explore music technology further. I was fortunate to have some exceptional teachers during my time there, particularly Mr. Curran, who introduced me to many great artists, consistently encouraged me to pursue music studies, and had a very positive influence on me. My music technology teachers, Mr. Sims and Mr. Ward, were also instrumental in developing my interest in audio technology.

After Shiplake, I pursued a degree in Creative Music Technology at the University of Surrey, where I met many fascinating people who shared my passion for music and sound, from whom I learned a great deal. The structure of the course was quite unique, emphasizing a broad range of styles and approaches to music and technology. During my university studies, I developed a deeper understanding of sound and its application in interactive media, such as video games, which ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in sound design.

What skills and personal attributes do you need to be successful in this industry?

Like most jobs, interpersonal skills are always important as you often need to work with different types of people and departments, that being said, you can also spend a lot of time on your own in a quiet sound insulated studio room. So I think it’s important to be okay with working alone for long periods of type and having the discipline to manage your time and focus effectively. It’s also important to be open to feedback and criticism, sound is a very subjective medium, and the way a person perceives and experiences sound can vary widely. So you need to be open to other people’s perspectives and creative input and not take anything personally.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your industry/role?

The most challenging aspect for me is knowing when to stop. When working on a large project, it’s easy to become fixated on refining a specific aspect or sound. However, since we all operate under deadlines, it’s crucial to recognise when something is good enough and to move on to the next task.

Who are you most inspired by in your industry?

The game audio industry is a relatively small community, filled with talented and kind individuals. It’s hard to point out one person in particular, but people are very open to sharing knowledge, and I often come away very inspired after speaking with some of the big names at industry networking events.

If there is one piece of advice that you could give your younger self – or someone

aspiring to a career in sound/music, what would it be?

Don’t stress over whether or not it will work out—just enjoy the process of learning. If you have a genuine passion for something and are willing to put in the hard work, it will work out eventually.

What do you miss about Shiplake and are there any memories from your time at the college you would like to share?

I miss the engaging lessons and the curiosity I had for the subjects I studied. It was a truly enjoyable learning environment, surrounded by great people, and I look back on my time there with fondness. Performing at the school concerts was always a highlight, especially jamming with my best mate, Quin, who remains a very close friend.

A massive thank you to Marcus for such a insightful interview, it was a priviledge to learn how he has turned his passion into such a unique and interesting career.

If you would like to find out more about Marcus's work, a link to his website can be found here www.marcusbagshawe.com.

If you are an Old Viking and would be interested in sharing how you turned your passion into a career, please contact connected@shiplake.org.uk.