Australian Trio Tripod's Unexpected Grammy Nomination Journey with Montaigne

The Australian musical comedy trio Tripod, consisting of members Scod (Scott Edgar), Yon (Simon Hall), and Gatesy (Steven Gates), are experiencing an unexpected career highlight. After 27 years of making music and laughter together, they find themselves in the running for a Grammy Award, one of the music industry’s most distinguished accolades. They have been nominated alongside Sydney singer Montaigne and LA-based games composer Austin Wintory.

Unlikely Contenders in a World of Giants

In an incredible twist, Tripod and their collaborators have been nominated in the category of Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media for their work on Stray Gods, a musical role-playing game. This game, which features their lyrical compositions, is developed by Melbourne indie Summerfall Studios and finds itself competing with major titles like Call of Duty and Hogwarts Legacy.

A Journey of Passion and Innovation

Tripod has always been about blending music with comedic storytelling. Their journey began 27 years ago and has included unique projects such as This Gaming Life with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Their collaboration with Austin Wintory for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate led to even more creative ventures, ultimately culminating in the Grammy-nominated project for Stray Gods where music plays a pivotal role.

Montaigne, a talented Sydney singer, had a simpler path to the Grammys. She had expressed her interest in creating music for a game. When the team at Summerfall noticed her tweet, they quickly seized the opportunity to bring her onboard as they had already considered her for the role.

A Product of Isolation and Collaboration

The development of Stray Gods spanned two years, largely during the COVID pandemic, which added a layer of complexity to the creative process. The involved team worked in isolation, producing a massive volume of interactive musical content to synchronize with the game's branching storyline.

The upcoming Grammy event marks the first time that all five contributors, Tripod, Montaigne, and Wintory, will meet in person. Despite Tripod's intended hiatus, the Grammys have unexpectedly brought them back into the limelight, potentially hinting at more collaborative work in the future.

Grammys, Music, Comedy