Alexander Brandon (also known as Siren in the demoscene and tracker community) is an American musician, former member of Straylight Productions, who composed music mostly for games produced by Epic Games, or games based on Epic technology, including Unreal, Unreal Tournament, Deus Ex, Tyrian, Jazz Jackrabbit 2, and the cancelled game Jazz Jackrabbit 3D. Brandon is also a voice actor, having been cast most recently for the parts of Ancano and Amaund Motierre in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim by Bethesda Game Studios.
Brandon started composing music at the age of 14 when he got an Ad Lib music synthesizer card for Christmas. He worked in several MOD music groups over his composing years in the late 1990s, including the Kosmic Free Music Foundation. During that time, he also composed for several musicdisks such as Return to Stage 9.
Brandon has built several audio departments, starting with Ion Storm Austin in mid-2000. This was followed with an audio director position at Midway Home Entertainment in San Diego until 2007 when he started the audio department at Obsidian Entertainment. In February 2009, he built the audio department at Heatwave Interactive, also providing business development and overall media management. In April 2010, Alex launched Funky Rustic, an independent audio production studio, working out of Georgetown, Texas.
Past nicknames During his tracker career, Alex has used several nicknames: 1995: first tracks released under the name "Chromatic Dragon" end of 1995: name changed to "Siren" middle of 1996, during KFMF membership: name temporarily changed to "Sandman" end of 1996: name changed back to "Siren"
Note that there were several (two or three) tracker musicians around the world, who have used the nickname "Sandman" independently of Alex.
Influences Alexander Brandon's influences include Peter Gabriel, Dream Theater, Frost*, Andrew Sega, Steve Vai, and Ozric Tentacles, among others.Alexander Brandon at Fandalism
Personal life Brandon lives in Seattle, Washington.MAGFest - Alexander Brandon Retrieved 2018-04-19.
Works Video games YearTitleRole(s)Notes1995TyrianComposer, level designer, writing, story, dialogueWith Andres MolnarExtreme PinballSound effects1998Jazz Jackrabbit 2ComposerWith Sean Hiller and Bryan RudgeUnrealWith Michiel van den Bos, Dan Gardopée and Andrew Sega1999Unreal TournamentTyrian 2000Project leader, writing, dialogue, story, composerDark VengeanceComposerWith Andrew Schlesinger, Mark StylesVigilante 8Nintendo 64 version, with Dan Gardopée2000Vigilante 8: 2nd OffenseDeus ExWith Michiel van den Bos and Dan Gardopée2003Unreal II: The AwakeningWith Jack Wall, Clint Bajakian, Jeremy Soule and Crispin HandsBattlestar GalacticaDeus Ex: Invisible WarAudio Director, sound effects, musicActivision AnthologyComposer2004Thief: Deadly ShadowsCinematic post sound effects, special thanks2005NARCAudio managerGauntlet: Seven SorrowsAudio Director, music, sound effectsWith Inon Zur, Rednote Audio and Alistair Cooper2006Rampage: Total DestructionAudio engineerMLB Slugfest 2006Dialogue recordingSpy Hunter: Nowhere to RunAudio directorHappy FeetThe Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy2007TouchMasterNeverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the BetrayerAqua Teen Hunger Force: Zombie Ninja Pro-AmSpecial thanks2008Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of ZehirAudio director2010Bejeweled 3ComposerWith Peter Hajba and Allister BrimbleAlpha ProtocolAdditional Sound Effects & Foley2011Bejeweled: ClassicAudioDeus Ex: Human RevolutionComposerWith Michael McCann and Yohann Boudreault2012Dust: An Elysian TailWith HyperDuck SoundWorks2013Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesSound effectsLeisure Suit Larry: ReloadedAliens: Colonial MarinesAdditional sound design2014Wasteland 2Sound designDonkey Kong Country: Tropical FreezeContract audio2016Job Simulator: The 2050 ArchivesAudio2017Torment: Tides of NumeneraAudio director, sound design and implementationAven ColonyComposer2018Cloney: A Tapped Out AdventureThe Bard's Tale IV: Barrows DeepSound Design/Audio Consultant2020Wasteland 3Audio Director, voice acting, additional musicUnreleasedDead MatterCancelledJazz Jackrabbit 3Composer2024StormgateAudio Director / Composer
Other work YearTitleNotes1999AtmosphereS: CulturesWith Dan GardopéeAtmosphereS: MoodsAtmosphereS: Pulsesaudiophonik - music for the scene generationWith various others2000AtmosphereS: DreamsWith George "The Fat Man" SangerAtmosphereS: Rhythms2008Era's EndWith Bryan Rudge2010Earthscape2011Violet EclecticSongs for the Cure '11: EsunaWith various othersImpostor Nostalgia2013Nukem: Duke 3D RemixesDeus Ex: Sonic AugmentationSpectrum of Mana2014The Glory Days RemixedJust FunJust Fun MiamiThe Ad Lib Collection2016Sound Waves: A Tribute to Ecco the DolphinWith various others.Chronicles of Time: A Chrono Trigger Arrangement Project2018Just Fun Custom2019The Belmont AdventureWith various others2020Conspiravision: Deus Ex RemixedWith Michiel van den Bos2023Omegaforce2025Tournament Rematch: Unreal Tournament RemixedWith various others
Voice acting TitleRole(s)Deus Ex: Invisible WarGeneric Citizen, Tracer TongThief: Deadly ShadowsKeepersGauntlet: Seven SorrowsThe EmperorL. A. RushAdditional voicesMortal Kombat: ArmageddonDairouStrangleholdKwong FangWizard101Mr. SollyFlood, Tarley, Tarrak Hadfield, Dog Tracy, The Valet/The Manticore, Krokodile Dundara, Freddie Kroaker, Judge Nelson, Mr. Cane, Vinnie VicegripThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimAncano, Amaund MotierreDC Universe OnlineBlack Lightning, Black Adam, General Zod, Major Force, CyborgSOL: ExodusThe CommanderPirate101Optimus Caerulus, Danny Ratso, Kane, Meowiarty, Charon, HawkratesVacation SimulatorAdditional voicesPagan OnlineDabogWasteland 3Additional voices
Books
References
External links Developer Bio at Gamasutra Developer Bio at MobyGames Musicography and tracks collection for 1995–1999 (Chromatic Dragon / Siren period) Musicography for 1995–2002 (incomplete)
Artist profile at OverClocked ReMix
Interviews "Interview with Alexander Brandon". MotherShip Server: Kemmerer, Peter (June 1999) "Interview with Alex Brandon" . DeusEx-Machina.com: (Jan. 2001) "Alexander Brandon Interview: Going Solo". Game Music Online (November 1, 2007) "Epic Composer Interview: Alexander Brandon". Epic Games (May 16, 2012, archived) "PC classic commentary: Tyrian 2000 with Alexander Brandon". PC Gamer (July 3, 2014)