{{Short description|French video game music composer (1965–2025)}} '''Stéphane Picq''' (16 August 1965{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} – 3 February 2025) was a French composer of video game music, primarily for ERE Informatique/Exxos and Cryo Interactive.
==History== Picq first began composing in 1987. He retired from the industry in 1998 and moved to Madagascar. In February 2006, he announced<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abandonware-forums.org/showthread.php?25580-Je-bazarde-3-cartons-d-anciens-jeux!!|title = Je bazarde 3 cartons d'anciens jeux!!| date=15 February 2006 }}</ref> that he was building a new studio in Madagascar and might release a compilation of old songs.
On 13 November 2015, ZOOM Platform and the Jordan Freeman Group revealed that Picq, original musical composer for ''MegaRace 1'', had joined the MegaRace Reboot Team and would be composing the soundtrack with other team members, including Jordan Freeman and Max Petrosky, along with some special guests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lightningreleases.com/stephane-picq-officially-joins-megarace-reboot-team/|title=Stéphane Picq Officially Joins MegaRace Reboot Team|date=13 November 2015}}</ref> The news had actually broken on the previous day, 12 November 2015, via the MegaRace Reboot's official Facebook page.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/MegaraceReboot {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>
On 22 August 2016, ZOOM Platform and the Jordan Freeman Group released Picq's complete ''MegaRace 1'' soundtrack re-mastered in stereo for the first time ever on various digital download services including Amazon MP3, CDBaby, Google Play, and iTunes.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/MegaraceReboot {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/megarace-reboot-soundtrack-the-original-st%C3%A9phane-picq/1144211728|title = Megarace Reboot Soundtrack: The Original Stéphane Picq Tracks (Stereo Remasters) - EP by Stéphane PICQ|website = iTunes| date=22 August 2016 }}</ref>
In an interview in July 2020, he looked back on his career and in particular on the reasons that led him to leave the video game industry. The composer explained that the lack of artistic freedom made him tired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eklecty-City |date=25 July 2020 |title=Interview with Stéphane Picq the composer of Lost Eden |url=https://www.eklecty-city.fr/interviews/interview-with-stephane-picq-the-composer-of-lost-eden-and-dune/}}</ref>
In 2023, Picq announced on Eklecty-City the reissue of ''Dune: Spice Opera'', the original soundtrack to the video game ''Dune'', released in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eklecty-City |date=2023-09-29 |title=Stéphane Picq annonce la réédition de Dune Spice Opera |url=https://www.eklecty-city.fr/musique/stephane-picq-dune-spice-opera-2024/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=Eklecty-City |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
Picq died from cancer<ref name=LeMag /> in February 2025, at the age of 59.<ref name=LeMag>{{Cite web|url=https://mag.mo5.com/266017/le-compositeur-de-cryo-stephane-picq-nous-a-quittes/|title=Le compositeur de Cryo Stéphane Picq nous a quittés|language=fr|date=4 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Dune, Lost Eden And MegaRace Composer Stéphane Picq Has Passed Away Aged 59 |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/02/dune-lost-eden-and-megarace-composer-stephane-picq-has-passed-away-aged-59 |access-date=4 February 2025 |publisher=Time Extension |date=4 February 2025}}</ref>
==Musical style== Picq claimed to own dozens of instruments from all over the world and the ability to play all of them.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} His musical style incorporated "organic sonority", as he features many "organic sounds" such as breaths, water, sighs. The most representative examples are found in ''Dune: Spice Opera'', but this technique is also used on other Cryo soundtracks (for example, "Thaa's Secret" in ''Lost Eden'').
==Selected works== *''Extase'' *''KULT: The Temple of Flying Saucers'' *''KGB'' *''Dune: Spice Opera'' (the soundtrack to the game ''Dune'') *''MegaRace'' *''Commander Blood'' *''Dragon Lore'' *''Lost Eden'' *''Atlantis: The Lost Tales'' *''Riverworld''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.ocremix.org/artist/445/stephane-picq Artist profile] at OverClocked ReMix * {{musicbrainz artist|id=604866bf-8fbd-481a-81fb-f4ac2e5e897e|name=Stéphane Picq}} * {{discogs artist|Stéphane Picq}} * {{imdb name|1701198}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Picq, Stephane}} Category:1965 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Electronic composers Category:French composers Category:French electronic musicians Category:French emigrants to Madagascar Category:French male composers Category:French techno musicians Category:French video game composers