Jolene Khor: Prelude
Bio: Jolene Khor is an award-winning Malaysian composer, orchestrator, arranger, conductor, and pianist known for her whimsical, cinematic sound. Drawing inspiration from Studio Ghibli and East Asian aesthetics, she blends Japanese and Chinese influences with orchestral and contemporary writing to create a distinctive East-meets-West musical voice. Jolene is currently composing fantasy and thematic scores for HighRollers DnD, Nomnivores Games, Hatched Games, LaLionne Publishing, and TTRPG podcasts including The Writer’s Room 7th Sea, DistalsPlace, and The Storyteller Squad, and audiobooks for Lemon Mouse Press. Her work spans orchestral, chamber, and solo music, including A Dream Land of ShaYuan 莎韻的夢鄉, commissioned by Taiwanese composer Hung Yuean Chung; Dawn of Winter, performed at the University of Northern Iowa; and Prince of the Forest, premiered by the Morassi String Quartet. Her piano work Dance of the Kitsune was featured in Tchaikovsky: 180 Seasons Later at the Russian Embassy in London and the Royal College of Music. She has contributed as an orchestrator to Taiwan’s NSO Our Lives in Song concert. Jolene has conducted sessions, including Netflix’s Queen Charlotte Orchestra event, and performed at the UK House of Commons. Born in Penang, she studied composition at Fu Jen Catholic University and the Royal College of Music.
Project Description: I am currently preparing for the release of Tails in the City: A Dungeons & Dragons Soundtrack, my upcoming orchestral fantasy album funded through Kickstarter. This project began in January 2025 and is the culmination of a year of writing inspired by adventure, mischief, and heartfelt storytelling at the gaming table. The album spans a rich palette of whimsical and cozy themes to epic battle cues and emotional pieces, brought to life through orchestral instruments, expressive piano writing, warm and intimate guitar textures, and more. It is created to accompany TTRPG players and fantasy fans alike, whether you’re battling dragons, exploring forgotten ruins, or causing delightful chaos with your party. The album will feature 13 tracks, with the potential for additional pieces and a new original song through stretch goals. Each track captures a different facet of the fantasy experience. One of the pieces, “Tails of Waterdeep,” is already available on major streaming platforms, offering a first glimpse into the album’s world and tone. Tails in the City will be released on 26 February, marking my largest recorded project to date. I can’t wait to share this music and hope it becomes a meaningful companion to players’ own adventures.