Raleigh, North Carolina (June 10, 2025) – Two-time British Academy award-winning composer/producer and percussionist Jason Graves, renowned for his cinematic and textural soundtracks on Still Wakes The Deep, Dead Space, Tomb Raider, Far Cry Primal, Until Dawn, and Hulu’s Prey (additional music & percussion), has launched a new sound library venture Sulcata Sound, releasing world-class produced VSTs free for use, including Graves’ custom libraries ‘Jason’s Piano’, ‘API Drums’, and ‘Replicant Synth’ (coming soon). All performed, recorded and produced by Graves in collaboration with programmer Frederic Poirier and mixer Joël Dollié, download these free instruments at: https://sulcatasound.com.
Jason Graves: “I’ve been collecting instruments and recording unique sounds for more than fifteen years. Sulcata Sound is my official audio repository for this constantly growing, project-driven collection. Music conveys emotions instantaneously. These instruments are crafted for compositional inspiration. They are designed to tell a story, from the ‘instrument’ itself (a bit of a stretch for many of my more esoteric, found-sound sources) and microphone choice, to the post-processing through specific and often drastic outboard hardware.”
Sulcata Sound libraries are programmed for Decent Sampler, a free sample player plugin that allows you to play sample libraries in the Decent Sampler format. Graves adds: “I hope these sounds inspire you as much as they have me. And, at the very least, encourage you to take the next steps toward your own personal journey of discovery and adventure in the world of music.”
Alongside ‘The Free Series’ of sample libraries from Sulcata Sound, Graves is offering learning resources through Sulcata University, an interactive online musical education program offering free tutorials and exclusive training ranging from small-size class group sessions to one-on-one consultation covering an array of subjects including: Harmony Essentials: Intervals and Scales, Harmony Essentials: Modes and Scales Extensions, Harmony Essentials: Chords & Progressions, Modern Cinematic Scoring, The Art of Cinematic Orchestration, Mixing and Mastering OST Files, and more.
VST Instruments available now for FREE:
JASON’S PIANO
Produced By: Jason Graves, Joël Dollié, Frederic Poirier.
Instrument: Boston GP-193 Performance Edition II
Recording:
- Matched pair of Telefunken ELA M 260 tube mics, omni capsules.
- API 3124V mic preamps.
- RME M-32 AD converters (24-bit, 48k).
Credits:
- Performed, recorded and edited by Jason Graves.
- Decent Sampler scripting and GUI by Frederic Poirier.
- Mixed by Joël Dollié.
Overview: “Warm. Emotional. Unique. Every time I sit down at this piano, I’m inspired. I’ve used these soft piano samples in many a time pinch for different projects or when my drummer fingers can’t quite get those notes performed exactly the way my composer brain insists. This piano has been recorded for every soundtrack I’ve written since it first arrived in 2020. It keeps proving itself indispensable!” – Jason Graves
API DRUMS
Produced By: Jason Graves, Joël Dollié, Frederic Poirier.
The Drum Kit:
- Mapex Black Panther Blaster
- Maple shells with Walnut rings
- Kick 22×18 (Aquarian Super Kick II, Aquarian Regulator)
- Tom 12×9, 16×16 (Remo Pinstripes & Aquarian Classic Clear)
- Snare 6.5x 14 (Ludwig Black Beauty, Remo Powerdot & Clear Ambassador)
- Paiste Signature Series Cymbals (14″ Signature Dark Energy Hi-Hats, 12″ Signature Splash, 19″ Signature Full Crash, 20″ Signature Full Crash, 20″ Signature Dry Ride)
Microphones:
- OH: AKG B-ULSII Transformer x2
- Room: AEA R-88a
- Kick: Audix D6
- Snare Top: Shure SM57
- Snare Bottom: Audix i5
- Tom High: Audix D2
- Tom Low: Audix D4
- Hi-Hats: Shure SM7B
- Ride: Beyerdynamic M 160
Outboard:
- API 3124V & Neve 1073 mic preamps
- API 2500 Bus Compressor
- API Analog Summing Mixer
- RME M-32 AD converters (24-bit, 48k)
Credits:
- Performed, recorded and edited by Jason Graves
- Decent Sampler scripting and GUI by Frederic Poirier
- Mixed by Joël Dollié
Overview: “It’s punchy and warm with plenty of sustain and power. And adding the Paiste Signature Series of cymbals was the icing on the proverbial percussive cake. We’ve elected for processing that adds some weight and balance to the whole kit, but still left plenty of room for you to make your own creative choices (especially for those who wish to utilize the MULTI-OUT option). These are my favorite drums in a small kit setup, recorded with my favorite microphones, going through my favorite outboard. I’ve recorded a 4-piece kit with five cymbals. The final results make me smile every time I hear them!” – Jason Graves
For more information on Sulcata Sound, visit https://sulcatasound.com.
About Jason Graves
Two-time British Academy Award-winning composer Jason Graves is renowned for his textural concept scores and innovative orchestration in cinematic narrative games such as Still Wakes The Deep, The Dark Pictures Anthology, Moss 1 & 2, Tomb Raider, Far Cry Primal, Until Dawn, The Order: 1886, and the Dead Space trilogy. Jason’s repertoire is truly diverse, from aleatoric and sweeping orchestral journeys in space, to haunting and immersive soundscapes in historical, gothic and supernatural worlds, to manipulating ancient instruments in a natural environment and crafting whimsical waltzes for an intimate pastoral palette. Following his contributions to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Graves was also the lead composer of Call of Duty: Warzone. In film and television, his additional music can be heard in DC Comics’/CW series Swamp Thing and Twentieth Century Studios’ Predator movie, Prey, on Hulu and Disney+.
Most recently Graves composed and produced the soundtrack for Still Wakes The Deep, a survival horror game developed by The Chinese Room. Graves performed numerous instruments on the score, including a single analog synthesizer and a metal sound sculpture named “The Rig”, built specifically for the project. The only other sounds in the score were composed for live string quartet and woodwind quartet, with Graves personally orchestrating and mixing the live players, synthesizer and sound sculpture for the in-game engine. To help match the feel and tone of Still Wakes the Deep, Graves commissioned a unique instrument just for the game’s score. Known affectionately as ‘The Rig’, this metal sound structure takes the shape of an oil rig and is used to create the unearthly, metallic sounds that permeate the game’s score. To fill out the body of this sound, Graves also used a Moog Model D synthesizer, which adds another layer of eeriness when combined with The Rig.
For Supermassive Games, Jason scored the first season of the interactive drama The Dark Pictures, Supermassive’s cinematic survival horror anthology series taking place in multiple time periods and settings, including the 17th Century during the Salem Witch Trials, Chicago in the late 18th Century, to 1970s USA, and through to present-day and into sci-fi. In its first season, the series’ standalone installments have encompassed the South Pacific, Iraq, New England, ancient Sumerian temples, psychos, demons, and aliens. Within the sci-fi genre, Jason also returned to the mysterious rings of Saturn to score Ready At Dawn’s A.I. psychological thriller, Lone Echo II, and is scoring The Dark Pictures: Directive 8020, the first installment of the second season of The Dark Pictures Anthology.
Returning to the magical world of Moss: Book II, the award-winning sequel to the fan favorite VR game Moss, Jason scored Quill’s new adventure and further elevated the player experience with his elegant, heartfelt, and thematic score performed by a ‘pub band’ of soloists to underscore Quill’s heroism and heartbreak. The heart and soul of the “beautiful soundtrack” (IGN) features Jason on solo piano, acoustic guitars, and Celtic harp, with additional instrumental performances from Kristin Naigus (Irish whistles, flute, oboe, English horn), Reinoud Ford (cello), and Tom Strahl (bouzouki, oud). Critically acclaimed as “the perfect soundtrack” (VR Realm), “emotionally charged and gorgeous,” (Android Central), and “a wonderfully crafted work by Graves that builds upon the foundation laid in the 2018 game while elevating every possible aspect of the music” (Soundtrack Universe), the sequel’s score was nominated at the 2023 DICE Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition.
Jason’s penchant for scoring emotionally engaging narratives was apparent in his “delectable score” (Push Square) for the charming and beautifully animated storybook adventure Moss, hailed as “VR’s finest game to date” (Eurogamer). The “magical soundtrack” (IGN) paints a “pastoral soundscape with enchanting Waltz-esque flair” (Polyarc), including the song “Home To Me” featuring vocalist Malukah, and won Best Music for an Indie Game at the 2019 Game Developers Conference.
As a classically-trained composer and world percussionist, Jason created an entirely live, organic “phenomenal score” (Kotaku) for Far Cry Primal, blending a diverse array of sounds from the natural environment and incorporating many animal effects into the score. The evocative soundtrack includes a ram’s horn and solo flute, Aztec death whistles, evocative vocals, and ritualistic percussion, with raw sounds from the Stone Age natural environment including bushes, bones, antlers, clay pots, logs, dirt and wooden artifacts.
Game Informer hailed Jason’s original score for Sony’s supernatural drama Until Dawn as a “superb dynamic orchestral score” and GameSpot called it “a chilling soundtrack…which crescendos and subsides to highlight panic, terror, and anguish.” Jason combined live orchestra with many of his signature sounds – found percussion, experimental instruments and haunting soloists come together to form a unique and ever-changing adaptive score that is “part of what makes the game so memorable.” (Venture Beat)
Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics entrusted Jason with their innovative reboot of the iconic Tomb Raider franchise, giving him creative freedom to infuse atmosphere, emotion and authenticity to Lara’s origins story through his score. The end result blends found sounds, authentic percussion and a truly unique custom instrument interwoven with orchestral themes and textures.
Jason is universally celebrated for creating the innovative, unique soundtracks for the Dead Space franchise, Electronic Arts’ best-selling original title called “the scariest game ever made.” Jason’s groundbreaking score was hailed by critics as a “truly original soundtrack” and “the best score of the year.” It was recognized with a myriad of nominations worldwide and won two BAFTA awards – one for Original Score and one for Use of Audio. For the latter, the Academy stated, “It’s the music soundtrack that boasts horror and tension.” The Dead Space remake (2023) retains Jason’s iconic score, described by The Guardian as “pure terror in musical form.”
Jason studied under film composers Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein and Christopher Young, while earning a degree from the University of Southern California’s prestigious film scoring program. His diverse musical background as a composer, drummer, keyboardist, guitarist and world percussionist allow him to perform on many of his scores and he has conducted and recorded his live orchestral scores at Abbey Road Studios, AIR Studios, Capitol Records, FOX, Paramount Pictures, Skywalker Sound and Ocean Way Studios.
