Some topics are well-covered in music, but I can’t think of another album dedicated to the process of game development.
By Graeme Smith
The novelty initially drew me to Melissa Bianco’s album, Chance of a Lifetime, but what had me holding on through the whole record was her ability to weave a compelling tale from it. She makes the often-unglamorous process come to life across ten tracks.
“For over two decades, most of my creative life centred on game development (and still does), including time as a producer on City of Heroes and City of Villains, where I worked with large teams on long‑running creative projects,” explains Bianco.
That experience factors into her songwriting not just in the obvious subject matter of her lyrics, but also in her approach to music.
“I’m comfortable working in layers, letting ideas develop gradually, and trusting my instincts about when something feels finished,” she says.
By laying out the hard work and gritty details of the process of game development, Bianco has created something truly inspirational. The album says: this is difficult, but you can make it happen with the right attitude and resilience. We follow her as she rises through the roles from admin, to developer, to producer.
The storytelling holds together the album’s genre mix that meanders between pop, rock, and blues. Thematically, the lyrics explore the concept of positivity when it comes to making big decisions and taking risks, taking a reflective approach.
“I found myself thinking about the moments where I’d said yes; sometimes with confidence, sometimes without knowing exactly where it would lead,” says Bianco. “The album came from that place of hindsight, and from noticing how opportunity often only makes sense once you’ve lived with the outcome.”
“Chance of a Lifetime is both a celebration of possibility and an acknowledgement of how fragile and fleeting those moments can be.”
The fleetingness comes to the fore in Changes In The Wind, a standout number. It’s a simmering, slow-burning ballad which marks the album’s darkest chapter. It lines up a bittersweet conclusion that includes the vulnerable Atlas Wept and stirring closer Coming Home.
Her role in the games industry is clearly a defining one for Bianco, but it’s not all there is to her. She’s also an independent musician with a strong voice and an attention to detail in her lyrics. There seems to be a pioneering spirit in all that she does. I asked her about her ambitions when it comes to music.
“My goals are pretty modest,” she says. “I write what feels meaningful to me, and I try to shape it in a way that might connect with someone else.”
And what’s next?
“I’ve produced a handful of new songs and plan to keep building on that, following ideas as they surface rather than working towards a fixed endpoint,” Bianco answers. “Writing tends to come quite quickly once I’m in motion. That’s helped along by AI tools that let me translate what I’m hearing in my head into finished songs, particularly as I can’t sing a note myself.
“There are a few tracks in progress that lean in slightly different directions from the album, and I’m enjoying giving those ideas the space to develop.”
I’m looking forward to hearing what she does next. If you’re interest is similarly piqued, you can keep up to date with all things Melissa Bianco by heading to her website, and by following her on Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, and YouTube.
Chance of a Lifetime is out now, and you can give it a listen below.
