Interview No. 194
Interviewer: @The-Great-One
Original Patreon Post Date: May 20th, 2026
Today's guest is one of the major combatants of the Newgrounds Audio Deathmatch. However, his music range stretches far beyond that. From mastering the piano at an early age, to learning how to speak multiple languages, and finding the love of his life here on Newgrounds. I am most pleased to welcome, the incredible @LucidShadowDreamer.
Q: We begin at the beginning. Where were you born?
A: I was born in Vaasa, a city in western Finland, in which I still live to this day.
Q: What did your parents do for a living?
A: My mom worked at a daycare, whereas my dad was a dentist. Well, my mom still works in the field, whereas my dad is happily retired.
Q: You have had two painful situations in your life. One falling into nettle bushes and the other getting your finger caught in the door. Have either of these affected your life in the present day? How did both of these happen?
A: Wow, I had completely forgotten about the whole... Door incident. I don’t even remember writing this, haha, yet it’s all true. EXCEPT! I seem to have left a far more shocking incident out in my earlier writings. Either way, none of them have affected my present in any meaningful sense. As for the nettle situation, I was too small to even remember it, but I am told I fell into a ditch full of nettles as a toddler. Perhaps that is something best left forgotten. The door, I suppose, conspired to teach me a lesson about carelessness when rushing. As I hinted though, a far more serious painful event occurred when I was three years old, and I was chopping some weeds with big scissors, because... Because... Well, either way, my mom told me to be careful when playing around with scissors, to which I replied something along the lines of “of course”, mere seconds before chopping a piece of my finger off. So that wasn’t great. One of my first memories, actually. That said, apparently children have more stem cells than adults, so that part of my finger eventually grew back. I strongly advise against experimenting with regrowth of digits, though!
Q: How and when did you become interested in fighting?
A: So, I don’t actively partake in any combat sport, although I’ve tried a couple of them out. I suppose I just got into a fair number of brawls as a child/early teen. I don’t recall starting most of them, but I’m sure I wasn’t fully innocent either in the moment when it happens, there’s an adrenaline spike, of course, which I recall being somewhat thrilling. But if memory serves it has been more than a decade since I’ve been in any type of serious situation involving fighting.
Q: You are fluent in both Swedish and Finnish. You would learn English through reading, a specific notion on the Game of Thrones book series. How did reading in another language help you learn it? What can recommend to those who want to learn a new language this way?
A: Great question! Aside from actual integration, reading and writing have to be some of the best ways of learning a language, especially if coupled with genuine interest in the medium and/or topic. That said, it’s hard to do before picking up some basic skill ls. Choice of material is also important; if one hasn’t yet built up enough of a vocabulary, one might be wise to stick to books with a more familiar terminology, even if they feel “below one’s level” in terms of maturity or some other metric.
Q: You would also learn English through movies and video games. Which movies? Was Final Fantasy a video game series that you would also learn English through?
A: Finland also has a tendency to subtitle movies and shows instead of dubbing them, which I imagine helped quite a bit. It led to a lot of listening practice, although as a consequence, my accent/vernacular will forever be somewhere between US/UK English. I also played a lot of JRPGs with a heavy emphasis o n Final Fantasy, which are essentially novels disguised as games. My first time playing through FFVII I’m sure I didn’t understand much at all (not to speak of the wonky yet cute translation), but by the umpteenth time I understood most of it!
Q: Your mother would teach you Der Flohwalzer (The Flea Waltz) at the age of 13. What drew you to learn the piano?
A: I started learning the piano right before I turned 14, but this event you mention actually happened when I was about ten years younger than that. It was the only song I learned at that age, because it was fun. Then she wanted me to learn children’s songs, which didn’t interest me in the slightest. So, I simply didn’t! I would improvise (poorly) from time to time, but I only started playing properly when I realised I don’t actually have to play children’s songs... Which took me ten years, for some reason. Then I started learning “Nemo” by “Nightwish”, and one thing led to another.
Q: What can you tell us about To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X. Why did you want to learn this piece for the piano?
A: This is the first “proper” piano piece I learned. It was a huge motivating factor in my early days of playing, along with “Hikari” from Kingdom Hearts (Kyle Landry’s arrangement, to be precise). It’s just a beautifully haunting composition, with a lot of imbued meaning to me. So it was a no-brainer.
Q: Why is Taikatalvi by Nightwish your favorite Finnish song?
A: It has gotten some competition, since! But it’s definitely up there. I just like the sentiment, style and atmosphere of it. I suppose it evokes a sense of childhood wonder, with a magical, wintery touch.
Q: You would be introduced to Newgrounds through Jazza with his movie MINI STIX. What about it drew you to the site? What made you want to join after that?
A: One of my friends introduced Newgrounds to me more than two decades ago. It was still fairly early days of the internet (which had only been public for 11 years at the time, compared to the 33 now), so Newgrounds instantly became a place of fun and discove ry, for me. The seeming lack of filtering, and the bustling creativity of the community meant it felt like there was no limit to what one could find there! Newgrounds is still one of the best online spaces to develop creatively to this day.
Q: You would follow Jazza through his Paladin series and would be inspired to make music on Newgrounds through his animation :the Composer:. What was it about :the Composer: that inspired you to start making music?
A: The Composer just struck an emotional chord for me, as it did for many others. Whilst I followed Jazza’s work, I followed many other people as well. It was actually through listening to Step’s (Stephan Wells) and Mattashi ’s compositions made for the NATA competition – “The Adventurer” and “Together” – that I realised I could upload my compositions to Newgrounds! I started playing the piano in early 2009, and started composing during the same year. I had started uploading my work to a now extinct website, but I wasn’t at all satisfied with it. Newgrounds, which had been with me for nearly a decade at this point, ended up being the perfect place.
Q: Before we step into your music on Newgrounds. You would participate in a musical with an elaborate costume. What musical was it and what was your part?
A: For three years, I studied in a class with an emphasis on music. Our final production was a musical, for which the translated title would be “Through my Eyes”. It involved a quirky cast of characters that were stuck in an embassy together. I acted as the spiritual guru of one of the leading roles. The whole thing was a certified blast! It happened literally three weeks before I joined NG.
Q: Your first song on Newgrounds would be entitled Emptiness. You wanted to show Newgrounds what kind of music you could make and were looking for feedback. Looking back on this song and how far you've come, what advice would you have given to yourself back then?
A: I think I used to have this idea that I should figure everything out by myself. If anything, I would give the past me the advice that it’s okay to not reinvent the wheel for everything. At the same time, being able to problem solve without much outside input can also be valuable, especially in building a unique relationship to things. I do think that my attitude at the time heavily influenced my way of composing. That said, my technical skills, mixing skills, structural skills etc. would be far better today had I been more open to studying music and doing proper research.
Q: Walking With the Shadows would be your first attempt at mixing. You made this on a new computer you got from your piano teacher. Who was your piano teacher? Did they see something in your music?
A: I already had the computer, but he gifted me a copy of Cubase, the DAW I still use. Whilst for the most part, I’m self -taught, for a while I had a piano teacher called Mats Granfors. He himself has had success composing for Arashi, amongst many other accolades. I wrote my first full -length composition after he just casually gave me homework to compose something. He said he didn’t expect me to actually finish a piece! A version of the composition, “Heavenly Waterfall” is still uploaded on NG.
Q: A piece that you would remake for multiple times to celebrate the season is Christmas Memories. I love this, and each iteration that you release. What is it about this piece that makes you want to remake it year after year?
A: Honestly, I think it is that I was never fully satisfied with it! It has great potential, but it doesn’t live up to what it could be. I know the reason, though. It needs lyrics , ofc! I haven’t made a version in many a year, but maybe some day I can collaborate with a certain someone on actually fulfilling its destiny...
Q: What can you tell us about the band Detektivbyrån and how they've inspired you with this tribute song?
A: I actually came across them through PewDiePie; I think he used “En Annan Typ Av Disco” as an outro song for a while. I just thought the sound felt so fresh that I got a bit obsessed for a while. The tribute song was me expressing that!
Q: When It's Cold would be your entry in the Art-Inspired Music Contest. Inspired by Frost Gem SkyrisDesign. How did you come across this piece and what about it inspired this song?
A: Aside from music, I really love art . I sometimes go down rabbit holes of perusing art on NG, some of which is reflected in my favourites on my page. I’ve always told myself that when I turn 70, I’ll start painting. I love all types of art, but there’s something about fantastical landscape drawings that inspires me to fill the space with music. If you think of it in terms of video games, you get your character themes, your situation themes, menu themes and so on, BUT also location themes. Simply put, landscape paintings tickle the itch to create music that would fit the location!
Q: A favorite piece of mine by you is Medley of a Shattered Mind. You would draw inspiration from Phonometrologist. What was it about his music that drew you in to make this? How and when did you meet Phonometrologist?
A: I think I came across Phonometrologist through A.I.M. that same year, as I listened to “The Place of a Skull”. I’m not here to gatekeep anyone’s relation with music, as music can fulfill many a role and function. However, I just always sensed that in a lot of Phonometrologist’s compositions, a lot of thought had been put into them, almost on a philosophical, existential plane. That spoke (and continues to speak) to me, and is something I strive for in my own music, where appropriate. There’s a sad story behind it, but my favourite composition of his is “Return”, if you want to have a listen to see if you have a similar listening experience.
Q: You would distance yourself from the world and wrap yourself up in anime with A Song for Someone Else. Why were you distancing yourself? How did this song come into life from your isolation? What are your top 3 animes?
A: I don’t know that there was anything in particular I was distancing myself from, but I certainly have a habit of going on serious binges. Experiences like that leave a void, asking to be filled. So, I filled it with this song. It was also a bit of a paint by the numbers experiment, with the main inspiration being Yiruma. I can’t list a real top three, with so many good ones to choose from. Instead, I have stolen and repurposed your question to give three more unexpected recommendations:
- Ginga Nagareboshi Gin – A classic in the Nordic countries
- Toward the Terra – A random anime movie I watched as a kid
- Ringing Bell – A more recent addition to my “dark and weird” list
I’m not an anime hipster though; I’ve watched most of the recent good stuff too.
Q: We have had a number of singers here on Newgrounds. With Jazza being one of them. You would bring us your voice through Mad Microphone Test, Yesterday (Cover), Stairway to Voice Acting, and Hallelujah For 300 Fans!. How and when did you decide to try your hand at singing?
A: Is this some type of malicious framing attempt? I had hoped that these would remain hidden, ahaha. But why not. I think with learning languages and learning to sing, one should be proud of the journey there. ALL OF THE CRINGE! I am still not fantastic, but I have certainly improved since these. As for how and why, there’s just something about the human voice that has unmatched expressiveness. So as an expresser of... Things, I would like to be able to channel my voice.
Q: The next couple of questions we're gonna take a little slow, because the story here could be a ballad all on its own. Let's start from the top. I actually found out about you through another Newgrounds musician's work. How did you meet etherealwinds and come together to make Vivo Revenis from Final Fantasy?
A: Jordi and I had been in the same musician circles on NG for a while. In chatting to our mutual friends, we had both heard of each other. You mentioned “To Zanarkand” earlier. I have a cover of it, where you can read mine and Jordi’s first ever interaction, which is surprisingly poetic. At the end of 2015 we started messaging on his initiative, after he had read some of my blog. We both have a shared love for Final Fantasy, which is what sparked the idea to cover a song from the very first game!
Q: When did you and etherealwinds start to become closer? When did you get married?
A: To be honest, the spark was instant. After realising that messages through Newgrounds might not be the best format, we moved over to chatting and video calling on Skype. At the time though, our life situations wouldn’t allow us to enter a relationship, so we stayed “just friends” for three years. Then, in 2018, Jordi visited Finland, where we officially became a couple. After my visit to England in 2019, he moved here. Four years later, in the summer of 2023, we got happily married!
Q: You would celebrate your one year anniversary, with There's a Wind in the Allée of Memories. This is a beautiful song and an amazing tribute to your husband. When I saw this song during my scanning phase I just had to know more. I like many others here was incredibly surprised that you two tied the knot. How has married life been? When did you wake up one day and be given the drive to make this beautiful piece?
A: Yeah, I suppose since we’re both quite individualistic as well, along with collaborating with many other NG composers, it’s not necessarily immediately obvious that we’ve been a pair for so long, from an outside perspective. Married life has been great! We’ve been told we come across as an old couple, which I know is said jokingly, but I wear it with a sense of pride. Whilst being Married is great, it didn’t change too much, as we’ve more or less moved as one since long before. This piece is a continuation of a long tradition of mine of serenading etherealwinds (Jordi). My first “secret” serenade, “In Love With the Wind” is actually one of my most listened to tracks on Newgrounds, interestingly enough, considering I think most listeners are oblivious to the backstory. Music, when it’s at its best, tries to express something. But my love for him far outweighs my ability to express in words. I think music does a better job of it, but even that may fall a bit short.
Q: Then I Knew is a perfect love song. There is just nothing wrong with it. The only thing I'm curious about is why did you have etherealwinds solo this song? Why not do a duet?
A: I think I’ve never worked harder on a song than “Then I Knew”. My perfect version of it would be me singing all of it, as it is written from that perspective. But whilst my singing has improved, my technical abilities are not yet (nor will they be for a while ) at a point where they could do the song justice. So, I thought it would be pretty fun and meta for Jordi to sing my part! In a way, we are one, after all.
Q: You are an avid competitor in the Newgrounds Audio Deathmatch. You have come close to winning multiple years in a row. What is it about the Deathmatch that appeals to you year after year? Do you think this year will be yours for the taking?
A: You know, every year, I’m not sure if I’ll throw my hat in the ring. There are years when I take it more seriously than others. But there’s one thing in particular that keeps pulling me back. The NGADM is the perfect arena for growth as a composer. It provides a fantastic opportunity to create songs that stand out, to be compared and judged subjectively. It serves as a great motivator, and especially the two-week deadline gets the gears turning. Whilst winning would be fun, it’s certainly not my driving motivator, or I think I would’ve stopped competing years ago!
Q: You've been with the site for over 13 years now. What have you learned about music during that time from the site? What have you learned about the growth of the online culture and how music production has affected it over time?
A: 22 years if you count as an accountless observer! The greatest part about Newgrounds is the community. I’ve been given lots of helpful advice, partaken in countless collaborations and competitions, and given back to starting composers. I suppose I’ve learned that music is for us; for all of us. As for the culture, rules change, like when covers started getting discouraged for legal reasons, or AI music came into the scene, but in the end what it’s all for and about is people.
Q: What is in your opinion, the definition of music?
A: Organised sound. The spoken word may fit under the same umbrella, but then again, isn’t that music too?
Q: What advice can you give to up and coming musicians, singers, and composers here on Newgrounds?
A: Success can be achieved in many ways, but I can tell you that the people that stick around and get invited places are the people that are perceived fondly. In other words, keep it up, talk to people, but don’t be a copper nanotube.
Q: What can we expect to see from LucidShadowDreamer in the future?
A: That’d be telling!
On a more serious note, whilst my activity on NG fluctuates in frequency, I’ve got plenty of things in the works, but many may still take years before they grow into a sharable format. In the meantime, please enjoy what I do put out and don’t hesitate to get in touch!
We now come to the questionnaire invented by French talk show host Bernard Pivot, and adapted by my idol James Lipton.
Q: What's your favorite word?
A: Mångata, which doesn’t have a word in English. As for an English word, I’m trying to spread the usefulness of Nychthemeron.
Q: What is your least favorite word?
A: Munting. Do yourself a favour and don’t look it up. NSFW.
Q: What turns you on?
A: The switch.
Q: What turns you off?
A: The fuse.
Q: What sound or noise do you love?
A: The tickling of the ivories.
Q: What sound or noise do you hate?
A: I’m actually quite sensitive to grating sounds like nails on a chalkboard. I know, how unique am I, right?
Q: What's your favorite curse word?
A: Fuck. I mean, it’s just so flexible! Fuck! I fucked up when fucking, but I abso -fucking -lutely didn't give a fucking fuck about how fucking fucked the fuck was.
Q: What job or profession would you most like to take rather than your own?
A: I’m honestly quite happy! I’m a teacher and a composer/performer. I suppose more than a career change, I’d just like to learn to optimise what I do a bit better, especially in terms of time and flexibility.
Q: What job or profession would you least like to take?
A: Probably anything too simple and repetitive, unless I can wear headphones.
Q: If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say to you when you arrive at the pearly gates?
A: Oops, I made a mistake, see ya later!
LucidShadowDreamer I had encountered on a handful of times throughout the forums. I was definitely aware of his music, which I loved. He had been on my list for a while, so while doing the initial scan I found out that he was married to etherealwinds, whose music I was more familiar with. I like many others didn't realize they tied the knot. The deep dive that followed was incredible. They're duet of Vivo Revenis reminded me of why I do The Interviewer in the first place. This was just an amazing story that had to be shared with the rest of Newgrounds. Anything can happen on this site, absolutely anything.
