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The Arkadian was born in 2015 as the brainchild of Jon O’Neal, a musician with a passion for both heavy rock and the timeless soundtracks of video games. Influenced by artists like Stemage, Viking Guitar, Mega Beardo, and Master Sword, he began crafting arrangements that fused 70s and 80s-inspired metal with the melodies gamers grew up with. What started as solo experiments in a basement studio quickly grew into something bigger… a project that let him flex both his arranging skills and songwriting creativity.
By 2018, The Arkadian was ready to hit the stage, making a memorable debut at PAX East and surprising even fellow musicians with their energy and polish. Since then, the project has become a staple of the video game rock scene, delivering high-energy shows and releasing original material alongside reimagined game music. With their return to RetroGameCon in Syracuse, The Arkadian is set to once again bring their unique blend of nostalgia and power to fans who know that video games and rock music belong together.
This year, fans in upstate New York are in for a treat. RetroGameCon, the largest video game convention in NY, perhaps even the North East, is bringing The Arkadian back for both a main stage performance and an exclusive after-party set. Known for its sprawling expo floor, tournaments, panels, cosplay contests, and concerts, RetroGameCon has become a hub for gamers and creators alike. Having The Arkadian return after years away only makes the event more special.
Please sample some of their music below, or skip to the interview if pressed for time!
I was lucky enough to catch up with Jon O’Neal of The Arkadian for this exclusive interview. He shared some behind-the-scenes stories about how the project began, what fans can expect from RetroGameCon, and where the band is heading next.
Interview with The Arkadian (09.17.25)
Retro Replay: You’ve been to RetroGameCon before. What’s it like to be returning?
The Arkadian: YES I have been to RetroGameCon before! I played back in 2019 and again for the quarantine stream. I’m looking forward to attending again.
Retro Replay: How did The Arkadian first come together, and what inspired you to fuse video games with 80s rock and metal?
The Arkadian: I came up with the idea back in 2015. I had developed a love for VGM for a few years from artists like Stemage, Viking Guitar, Mega Beardo and Master Sword, as well as a huge passion for that 70s/80s inspired sound. I was also making short video game arrangements since high school but never really had fully tapped into full band arrangements yet since it was just me doing all the stuff, so creating a project that allowed me to flex that arranging and songwriting muscle felt like a fun idea.
Retro Replay: Your first live show was PAX East 2018. What do you remember most about stepping on stage for that debut?
The Arkadian: Oh man that show was fun! I got an email from Rob Carballo I think a month before the event and I hadn’t really thought about doing shows at that point yet. It was only myself and my roommate Fenning in our basement unit apartment making these tunes and she was a big help on the engineering side of things for our first couple of releases. I recruited my friend, Jason Z, to play drums for us and everything just kinda fell into place. We were opening for FamilyJules, another artist I’m a big fan of, and in conversation, we had talked about the scene and was under the impression that we had both been a part of the VGM scene for a while. When I told him that was our first show, he had a bit of a “holy shit” type of reaction.
Retro Replay: When you write an original track, do you start with a riff, a game concept, or something else?
The Arkadian: It’s different each time. In the early days, the music came first. Lately it’s moreso the concept which then becomes the foundation for lyrics. I’ve got a catalog of lyrics and demos that will probably never see the light of day but they helped carve the path for what’s been released so far.
Retro Replay: You are playing the main stage at RetroGameCon in Syracuse on Friday, October 10th at 6:30. How do you prepare for a big convention set like that?
The Arkadian: These performances have been months in the making. I think the initial conversation started at SuperMag ’25. That convention was a big reunion for me with all of my peers and collaborators over the years in attendance. The topic was brought up about putting the Arkadian back together as a band, which hadn’t been a thing since 2020. During that weekend, I bumped into Patrick and we talked about RGC this year and things went the way they did hahaha.
Retro Replay: Can you tease anything special fans can expect from that set?
The Arkadian: I don’t want to spoil much, but there will be songs that haven’t been played live yet making their debut. We also have been planning for a special guest to come up and jam for a few tunes and I can’t be more excited for that.
Retro Replay: Later during RetroGameCon in Syracuse, you will also headline the After Party. How will those shows differ from the main stage performance?
The Arkadian: The after party is taking place at a club not too far from the convention space, so we’ll have a more intimate rock show vibe for that set. Our set is also going to be Halloween themed, with most if not all of the tunes being horror related. We’re pulling tunes from the catalogs of some of my bandmates that I’ve been really wanting to play. A lot of firsts for that set.
Retro Replay: Looking ahead, what are your biggest goals for The Arkadian in the next year or two?
The Arkadian: Next year marks the 10 year anniversary for this project. I’d love to play shows, but there’s a constant challenge of just sitting down and finishing releases I’ve shelved during my hiatus. I spent a lot of time this year putting together the second originals record and would love to have that out by next year. I’ve also been considering doing a covers album of bands I love that helped influence the sounds of The Arkadian.
Retro Replay: What do you ultimately hope people take away from seeing The Arkadian live?
The Arkadian: My goal with this project is to just create a high energy show filled with positive vibes. A lot of the reason why I keep doing this is not only for myself, but from the love and support from so many amazing and talented people in our community. This scene helped me find my voice in a lot of ways and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
My Closing Thoughts
With a mix of nostalgia, raw energy, and forward momentum, The Arkadian remains one of the most exciting voices in the VGM-inspired rock scene. Their upcoming shows at RetroGameCon promise to be packed with surprises, passion, and plenty of riffs to make fans headbang the night away.
I’ve been fortunate to interview some incredible artists in this community, including FamilyJules and Vomitron. Adding The Arkadian to that list feels like an honor, and it only deepens my appreciation for the creativity and heart that drives this music scene.
If you’re heading to Syracuse this October, don’t miss The Arkadian on the main stage Friday, October 10th at 6:30, as well as their special Halloween-themed after party set later in the weekend.
You can follow and support The Arkadian at these links:
Bluesky @jononealmusic
