Level Up: Kelsey Dower Discusses the Wide, Wonderful World of Gaming

Not a lot of people get to use their day job as a habitat for their well-being, but Kelsey Dower has found a way to use what she loves to make herself a better person. Dower is a symphonic metal artist who is just getting her start. She has released some singles over the last several months, including her debut single “Ma’afa” and “Rage.” The latter is a preview of her upcoming debut album, Rebirth. The album is structured around transformation, channelling personal and collective unrest into something cathartic.

Dower is an autistic woman of colour finding her way in an industry not tailored to her. But she does not hide behind her condition and does not put it in the forefront. It has become part of her process as an artist, the environment in which she creates art. In a sense, she uses it to her advantage and has turned it into a strength.

Although primarily a musician, Dower is also active in many other pursuits. She advocates for neurodivergent and underrepresented artists through the NAACP, Autism in Entertainment, and Jazz Hands for Autism. And she also has a lot of other personal interests, such as martial arts, that bring balance and focus to her life. Dower also loves video games, an outlet she uses both as a form of escapism and personal development.

Kelsey Dower joins us today for an edition of Level Up in which we discuss gaming, her favourite games, her views on gaming as art, and more!

What video game introduced you to the world of gaming?

Kelsey Dower: “Sonic Adventure introduced me to gaming! I loved the gameplay, the stories, and the variety of music genres involved, especially for the theme songs of all the characters. We have hard rock for Sonic, pop rock for Tails, jazz fusion for Knuckles, pop for Amy, electronic for E-102, and tribal music for Tikal and so on! There’s a level of depth in the storytelling that doesn’t seem to exist in most games I see.”

What are your favourite types of games to play?

“Action/Adventure (Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, etc.), Beat’em up (Streets Of Rage franchise), Fighting games (Mortal Kombat 11, Street Fighter 6, etc.), Classic Sega games (Flicky, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, all the classic Sonic games), and party games!”

Kelsey Dower gaming consoles

Why do you think gaming is an important part of our culture?

“I think it’s more than just another form of escapism; it’s good for self-development, no matter what age someone is. And it’s a great inspiration for what kind of person you want to be overall! Like when I play fighting games and see strong badass women beating the shit out of their enemies, it inspires me to get better in my own martial arts training. Or when I play action adventure/fantasy games like Final Fantasy 15 or Kingdom Hearts 2, and listen to the music playing during the cinematic scenes or battle scenes, it inspires the way I write lyrics and compose songs! So yeah, in my opinion, it’s a very underrated, important part of our culture.”

Is there anything you wish the gaming community would do more of?

“I’d love to see the gaming community be more welcoming and supportive, especially when it comes to cosplay and representation. Everyone should feel safe to celebrate the characters and games they love without facing harassment. We’ve lost people in this community to toxicity, and that shouldn’t happen.”

Kelsey Dower ‘Rebirth’ album artwork

Much has been made about whether video games can be art – what do you think?

“Can be art? It is definitely art! Video games are forms of art that best stimulate the mind in a way that develops visual, audio, and motor coordination all at once! Then there’s the way it helps develop strategic thinking, problem solving, and the storytelling involved in games is engaging in a way that’s different from other forms of art.”

How do you feel about more games featuring VR options?

“VR is kind of cool, but overall I’m neutral about it. I suppose it depends on how good the VR is.”

How do you think gaming culture will evolve in the upcoming years?

“I think gaming culture will be more welcoming when it comes to people of different backgrounds and creative mindsets. I’m curious to see how technology continues to evolve in game development, but I hope human creativity and artistry always remain at the center of what makes games special. AI will likely play some role in game development, but I hope it’s used as a tool to support artists rather than replace them. Human creativity and emotion are what make games truly memorable – that can’t be replicated.”

Have video games ever inspired you musically?

“Absolutely, they have! To the point where I’ve made some cover songs from scratch. One of the best I’ve had fun making is ‘His World’ from Sonic ’06. There’s much to say about the gameplay, but I love the music on there!”