My influences

[Gavin C]

M.j,All of my initial influences for playing the piano came from video game soundtracks. There's real gold, there. Those composers have to create a mood. An emotion that adequately ties it together. 

Personally, mine were always nobuo uematsu (because final fantasy piano collections. I mean, seriously.) And shoji meguro. I want to be able to create that kind of emotional atmosohere. The one where the music can inspire complex emotions like hope or outline tragedy like they were painting a perfect picture of it. 

Tifa's theme from the final fantasy 7 soundtrack. "To zanarkand" from the ffx soundtrack. It isn't piano- but a good example of what i mean is "besaid island" from ffx. That song has a whole atmosphere to it. It's so summer-y and it feels like home. Relaxed and hazy. 

Or shoji meguro and "regret" from persona 5. That track sounds so utterly devoid of happiness- but it's so well put together! 

Or "bar crossroads," also from the persona 5 soundtrack. You can just feel the carefree bordering on cheerful mood it represents. 

Or "alleycat," wherein the heartbreak is almost so apparent, you don't even need context. 

"Alone," from the persona 4 soundtrack for the same reason. One day i just realized i was so moved by these songs. This background music- that i wanted to understand how to evoke emotion in others, the same way. Or be understood where words fail-i guess...corny as that sounds.

But, those are my inspirations...

[Gavin C]

Also if you've never heard the piano version of minecraft's "mice on venus-" the beginning of it. Like the first minute or two. Sounds like a peaceful sunset/sunrise looks. 

[Gavin C]

Also the sims build mode 3 and 5. Those sound really pretty.