Imagine Dragons: A Decade in Gaming Culture

Dan Reynolds and Ben McKee of Imagine Dragons performed onstage at the Game Awards 2021 in Los Angeles. Founded by Geoff Keighley, the Game Awards began a decade ago with the vision of adding prestige to video game award ceremonies. Keighley’s notable 2011 collaboration between Imagine Dragons and iconic Nintendo composer Koji Kondo set a precedent, stemming from the band’s rising popularity and their ties to gaming.

Imagine Dragons’ connection to gaming started in 2012 with Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed III” using their hit “Radioactive.” Since then, their music has featured in various games. Notably, their track “Believer” featured in a Nintendo Switch Super Bowl ad in 2017, and they wrote “Enemy” for Riot Games’ and Netflix’s “Arcane,” which has amassed nearly 1.5 billion streams on Spotify.

Reynolds, an avid gamer, shared that the band’s mutual love for gaming influences their work. Their gaming enthusiasm, from “League of Legends” matches backstage to the collaborative release of “Children of the Sky” for the Xbox game “Starfield,” highlights their deep ties to the gaming community.

Imagine Dragons’ latest album “Loom” is set for release on June 28, featuring their signature sound of vibrant, danceable anthems. The album mirrors Reynolds’ happier life chapter and maintains the band’s introspective lyrical style. Criticized for their mainstream appeal, Reynolds embraces their pop identity and focuses on creating music that genuinely reflects their life experiences.

Angélica Garcia: Embracing Bicultural Heritage

Angélica Garcia, the Los Angeles-based artist known for her multifaceted musical background, is set to release her third album, “Gemelo” (“Twin”), featuring both English and Spanish lyrics. Previously, her works like the 2016 “Medicine for Birds” and 2020’s “Cha Cha Palace” explored Garcia’s bicultural roots.

Realizing she was missing a part of her heritage by not writing in Spanish, Garcia integrated her maternal lineage from Mexico and El Salvador into “Gemelo,” which delves into themes of duality. The album blends electronic sounds with Garcia’s expressive voice, influenced by artists like Kate Bush and Bjork. The songs navigate Garcia’s bilingual experiences, emotions, and cultural identity.

Produced by Carlos Arévalo of Chicano Batman, “Gemelo” was crafted during the pandemic and reflects Garcia’s introspection about her heritage and personal growth. Her music journey, influenced by her early life harmonizing with her family and her formal education, continues to thrive as she embraces both her English and Spanish linguistic heritage.

Garcia’s narrative in “Gemelo” is rich with poetic introspection, exploring grief and personal history in songs like “Juanita” and “Color de Dolor.” The album represents Garcia’s artistic evolution, celebrating her bicultural identity and musical versatility.