{{Short description|Portuguese American composer}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = | landscape = yes | caption = Lopes in 2024 | birth_name = Tiago Lopes | birth_date = | birth_place = Coimbra, Portugal | occupation = Composer | website = {{URL|teelopesmusic.com}} }} '''Tiago Lopes''', ({{IPAc-en|l|oʊ|p|s}} {{Respell|LOHPS}}<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Lopes |first=Tee |date=2022-12-30 |title=It doesn't bother me when people pronounce my last name as "Lopez". Totally understandable... But it sounds like "Loaps". Ok? Ok. |user=TeeLopes |number=1608897605802819585 |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=X |language=en}}</ref>) known professionally as '''Tee Lopes''', is a Portuguese American video game composer. He is best known for his contributions in the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series, starting with ''Sonic Mania'' (2017).
== Early life == Lopes was born in Coimbra, Portugal.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} In 2009, he uploaded his first ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' remix to YouTube,<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Tee - Sonic 3 - "Hydrocity zone 2" remix | date=14 May 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9KOBZ7i3-w |access-date=2023-10-31 |language=en |via=YouTube}}</ref> which led to his career as a video game composer. He would continue to upload remixes, original tracks, and other personal works to this day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tee Lopes - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@TeeLopes/videos |access-date=2023-11-01 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
== Career == Lopes first started his work as a hobbyist musician working for indie games and fan games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madnani |first=Mikhail |date=2023-06-29 |title=Tee Lopes Interview – The Music of Sonic, Streets of Rage 4, TMNT Shredder's Revenge, Soundtracks, and More – TouchArcade |url=https://toucharcade.com/2023/06/29/tee-lopes-interview-sonic-superstars-music-tmnt-streets-of-rage-video-game-soundtracks-and-more/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> After being well-known for ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' remixes on YouTube, he went on to compose an HD fan port of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''. After its completion, several of its developers including Tee Lopes created PagodaWest Games, an indie game developer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=2017-08-10 |title=Creating the old-school soundtrack of Sonic Mania |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/10/16124862/sonic-mania-soundtrack-tee-lopes-interview |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, him along with the developers of PagodaWest Games partnered with Sega to develop ''Sonic Mania'', a game that notably featured other well known ''Sonic'' fan creators such as Christian Whitehead and Headcannon.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Gavin |date=2021-12-27 |title=Tee Lopes Talks Sonic, Streets Of Rage, And Making Music On A PS1 |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/features/tee-lopes-talks-sonic-streets-of-rage-and-making-music-on-a-ps1 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was awarded IGN's People's Choice Vote for Best Original Music for ''Sonic Mania''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Original Music - Best of 2017 Awards Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Original_Music |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=IGN |date=30 November 2017 |language=en}}</ref> After ''Mania'', Lopes became a freelance composer and has continued to compose for video games such as ''Sonic Superstars'', ''Streets of Rage 4'', and ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deschamps |first=Marc |date=2023-09-21 |title=Sonic Superstars Reveals Battle Mode Details and New Music |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-superstars-battle-mode-details-new-music-tee-lopes/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Comicbook.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2021-04-08 |title=Streets of Rage 4 Mr. X Nightmare DLC adds three new playable characters |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/streets-of-rage-4-mr-x-nightmare-dlc-adds-three-new-playable-characters |access-date=2023-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cripe |first=Michael |date=2023-08-31 |title=G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra Trailer Reveals Beat 'Em Up Gameplay |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/g-i-joe-wrath-of-cobra-trailer-reveals-beat-em-up-gameplay/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Escapist |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Scullion |first=Chris |date=2023-08-22 |title=Demo released for Berserk Boy, a retro-inspired platformer with music by Sonic Mania's composer |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/demo-released-for-berserk-boy-a-retro-inspired-platformer-with-music-by-sonic-manias-composer/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=VGC |language=en-GB}}</ref> On the Twitch charity fundraiser ''Indieland 2023'', it was confirmed that Lopes was composing the soundtrack to the game ''Penny's Big Breakaway''. Additionally, he has composed for several web series, such as ''Sonic Mania Adventures'', ''SomecallmeJohnny'' and ''Scott the Woz''.
== Works == === Video games=== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Notes |- !2013 |''Major Magnet'' |rowspan=2|Lead composer |- !2017 |''Sonic Mania'' |- !2018 |''Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom'' |Opening theme |- ! rowspan="2" |2019 |''Team Sonic Racing'' |Music with several others |- |''League of Legends'' |"Arcade 2019: Ultracombo", with Jason Willey |- ! rowspan="2" |2021 |''Mighty Fight Federation''<ref>{{cite web |title=Mighty Fight Federation: Original Soundtrack - VGMdb |url=https://vgmdb.net/album/120158 |website=vgmdb.net |access-date=3 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref> |Music with several others |- |''Streets of Rage 4'' |''Mr. X Nightmare'' downloadable content |- ! rowspan="4" |2022 |''Sonic Origins'' |Animated cutscene score |- |''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge'' |Lead composer |- |''Banana Kong 2'' |Music |- |''Sonic Frontiers'' |''Divergence'' prologue animation score |- ! rowspan="2" |2023 |''Sonic Superstars'' |Music with several others |- |''Sonic Dream Team'' |Animated intro music |- ! rowspan="6" |2024 |''Penny's Big Breakaway'' |Lead composer |- |''Berserk Boy'' |Lead composer |- |''Contra: Operation Galuga'' |"Snow & Mechanica", with Jonny Atma |- |''Tomba! Special Edition'' |Credits theme arrangement<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/soundfujita/status/1837036794812191079 | title=素敵なエピソードが生まれた Tomba!のエンディング曲です。 | work=X (formerly Twitter) | language=ja | trans-title=This is the ending song of Tomba!, which gave birth to a wonderful episode}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2024}} |- |''G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra'' |Music with several others |- |''Metal Slug Tactics'' |Music<ref>{{cite web |last=Janca |first=Ben |title=Metal Slug Tactics - Official Launch Trailer |url=https://www.gamespot.com/videos/metal-slug-tactics-official-launch-trailer/2300-6465466/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=7 November 2024 |date=5 November 2024}}</ref> |- ! rowspan="4" |2025 |''Friday Night Funkin''' |"Senpai (Pico Mix)", with Saruky{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} |- |''Shinobi: Art of Vengeance'' |Music with Yuzo Koshiro<ref>{{cite tweet|user=SEGA|number=1935389592900759896|title=We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with the incredible Tee Lopes and the legendary Yuzo Koshiro for the SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance soundtrack!|date=18 June 2025|access-date=11 December 2025}}</ref> |- |''Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds'' |"Market Street", with Jonny Atma |- |''Marvel Cosmic Invasion'' |Lead composer |- |}
=== Web series === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Notes |- !2017 |''Sonic Mania Adventures'' |Lead composer |- !2018 |''SomecallmeJohnny'' |Guest composer |- !2020 |''Scott the Woz'' (season 4) |"Credits Theme" |- !2022 |''Caddicarus'' |Guest composer |- !2023 |''Scott the Woz'' (season 6) |"Staff Roll" |}
==References== {{reflist}} {{portal bar|Biography|Music|Video games|Portugal|United States}} {{Authority control}}
Category:American male composers Category:American video game composers Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Coimbra Category:Portuguese male composers Category:Sonic the Hedgehog Category:Year of birth missing (living people)