Baltimore's music scene has rarely been more high profile.
In the past few years, local music has been praised in magazines, released on high-profile record labels and played on radio stations here and abroad.
Now, a song from Baltimore-based rocker Elise Major is featured on a new video game for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Released this week, the application, "Tap Tap Revenge 3" is modeled after franchises such as "Guitar Hero." Gamers touch the screen with their fingers to play along with notes and chords in the song.
Major's "Green" is one of more than 100 tunes players can access for free after downloading the app, which costs 99 cents. That is, of course, provided one has an iPhone or iPod Touch. When the game debuted Wednesday, Major wasn't able to try it herself.
"I'm so lame," Major said Wednesday. "I really want to play it, but I don't have an iPhone. ... I want to see what level my song is going to be on. It better be on hard, because it's hard for me [to play]."
Turns out, "Green" is listed under the "Extreme" difficulty level. The hard-driving rock song clocks in at 4 1/2 minutes, and earning a respectable score by playing it requires some furious finger-tapping.
"Green" appears on Major's self-titled album, which was released last year.
Major's label, Porkchop Records, helped place "Green" on the game, she said. An earlier, free incarnation of the game was one of the most downloaded apps, according to an iTunes ranking.
A couple of months ago, digital music distributor Ingrooves approached Porkchop Records about licensing music for "Tap Tap 3." It selected "Green" and also an instrumental track called "El Camino" by the local production team Red Rocketship for the app.
"We're thrilled," said Theron Day, who founded Porkchop Records. "This could help [Major] in the future try for a publishing deal."
Though Major might not stand to make much money from the app, she hopes the placement will help get her music some more exposure. "I'm excited," she said.
