“I need to do an RPG greater than something” – Well being’s John Famiglietti on his subsequent soundtrack, Cyberpunk 2077 collaborations, and extra

I’m John Famiglietti. I do bass and software program. 

John Famiglietti: If you understand the band you understand I am not the singer, however yeah. The confusion is comprehensible. I am the face of the band, however I am not the singer of the band. You recognize there are some bands in historical past that work that manner. It isn’t completely distinctive however it’s positively not widespread… particularly for the web presence, you understand.

That is additionally an indication of the occasions. We form of made that call internally the place it was like – you understand algorithms and the entire system are very anti band and really anti a group of men. They need like… very very like an individual. We noticed a variety of bands, particularly the bands which can be much more digital or guys from just like the indie scene, even attempting to advertise solely two guys or one man of their imagery simply because it was just like the web was working in opposition to them to have like 4 guys.

We went tougher with that, with simply, I assume, me going on the market extra. But additionally I am the one energetic in these on-line areas and stuff. For the opposite guys, it is simply very totally different for them. So yeah, it is sensible that there is confusion. I am the face of the band however I am not the singer of the band. 

So Main Crimes, we obtained to simply, out of nowhere, we obtained an e-mail from a CD Projekt Pink about Cyberpunk 2077 they usually’re like ‘we wish an unique music’. When we made the our album Vol. 4: Slaves of Worry we had one music left off the file that was simply gathering mud. We preferred the music, we simply did not assume it might match on the file – however then we’re like this might really work for Cyberpunk. So we despatched it to them to see if they want it simply as a check, after which we’d end the music. However they preferred it instantly and simply took the music. So the music by no means obtained correctly combined – and that is the music within the recreation.

And it was form of a humorous factor the place our personal file label, they did not perceive. I used to be like ‘hey, what occurred to the Cyberpunk factor?’ they usually stated ‘Oh we turned it down. It wasn’t an ideal deal.’ and I used to be like ‘What?!’ So I needed to write letters, like large emails, saying ‘you guys don’t perceive how essential that is. I will lose my thoughts.’ So we obtained it, we obtained it discovered. We obtained reversed and we obtained within the recreation. 

Then it even obtained higher as a result of we additionally obtained an e-mail later being like ‘this is these stick figures transferring, this is animatics… they will make an anime of Cyberpunk’. I used to be like certain, no matter, yeah, it may be in there… after which Edgerunners is simply this masterpiece.

Only a lucky flip of occasions. After that occurred, folks had been calling me like ‘How’d you get in that recreation?’ I do not know, they only emailed us.

It’s a turning level for the band, however did not really feel prefer it on the time precisely. Personally it was an enormous deal and we had been very pleased with it, however it was like a form of, the trickle down or no matter you need to say. When Max Payne 3 got here out it wasn’t like abruptly the band was rather a lot larger. It did not have an effect on reveals till a few years down the road the place a variety of children who performed it rising up had been older, however had found the band again then.

Then we began to note it too. After we had been attempting to work with a variety of youthful cooler artists like Ghostemane and JPEGMafia we had been shocked that they’d be right down to work with us  – and the rationale why is that they beloved Max Payne 3 or had been large followers of the soundtrack. They knew us that manner. Increasingly we discovered youthful – or not that youthful, however simply children who grew up taking part in it who are actually older.

We have stayed actually nice pals with the music division at Rockstar. Lots of people at Rockstar, we flew to their wedding ceremony, even canine sitting. I imply, like, we’re pals. They’re nice dudes, and I see them every time they arrive to LA, or we go to New York. Anyway, it was their concept. They needed us to cowl a legendary previous LA band known as The Models.

So the music by The Models known as Excessive Stress Days. We stored making this dumb joke whereas recording like ‘Ha ha test it out, Excessive Stress Dave’… and we stored titling it Excessive Stress Dave. What if it is Excessive Stress Dave? They’re like ‘ha ha, very humorous guys.’ Then when the sport comes out it is simply Excessive Stress Dave. We’re like ‘what the fuck guys?!‘ they usually’re like ‘you stated Excessive Stress Dave – you want that?’

So it is a bit of a sensible joke however it form of works out hilariously as a result of there is a character in GTA5 who’s named Dave and he is pressuring your character so it is Excessive Stress Dave. It is so silly. [laughs] 

I imply, price range’s not a difficulty with music. We are able to do something. We do not want a price range to make a soundtrack. I feel it is a wonderful thing about music. Most of my favourite video games have nice soundtracks – typically, that is why they’re my favourite video games. I do not need to change these guys. I feel they’re sensible. You recognize everybody’s like oh you guys you must do Armored Core. To that I say, Armored Core 6 has a superb soundtrack. I would like that man to do the soundtrack. I really like that soundtrack.

My dream could be like if we might do a brand new IP, a brand new RPG. I need to do an RPG greater than something. I’d like to do an RPG or one thing both futuristic motion based mostly. My favourite builders. I imply you understand like Larian, FromSoftware, like all these guys. Nothing I might love greater than a brand new IP, a brand new RPG that we might do.

We’d do it. We’d make time. We’d not tour. I imply, it is crucial. We need to do one other recreation very badly and we have gotten some affords however you understand we really feel like with Max Payne 3 what we have performed, we need to do a giant recreation and do a giant full soundtrack. We love the RPG narrative story. Nonetheless, it is not that we’ve got to, we might do one thing else.

It is humorous as a result of our first gig was Max Payne 3 or fucking Rockstar Video games. It does really feel bizarre. We’re a band full time, we don’t rating video games full time. We have barely scored that a lot stuff. So a comply with as much as Max Payne 3 form of must be a giant recreation or at the very least a very superior indie recreation. We’re open.

The pandemic for us was really form of the start of the brand new Well being. It was an ideal second for us to get to essentially give attention to on-line and on the fan base – and actually develop into the fashionable Well being. We did an unimaginable quantity of labor and put out these two collaboration information in the course of the pandemic. So the pandemic was very productive for us.

You may’t work on music once you tour and touring sort is that this fixed factor, so being residence for this loopy period of time locked down… we began doing all these items we did not do earlier than like streaming, like having a Discord server, like having all this type of stuff, so it is actually modified. 

Joe who I work with, the artistic director of Well being, he stated we must always have a Discord. I stated, ‘who the fuck would ever go to that?’ That is after we actually began the web group and constructing this actual Well being expertise. The Well being fanbase life-style of Well being was born in the course of the pandemic as a result of everybody was caught at residence and we’re all hanging out you understand on Discord. I am hanging out with the followers each day and nonetheless am, and that is form of how that is the fashionable on-line model of Well being.

Not likely. I imply this is the factor. Even earlier than we did these items on-line, earlier than we had this new on-line Well being, I gave out my telephone quantity, and I have been giving out my telephone ever since 2015, since Demise Magic. So followers have at all times been in a position to textual content or name me or message me, and I’ve at all times messaged followers, and I’ve at all times gone out after the reveals to hang around with followers, and meet folks and go to bars or no matter. I am essentially the most obtainable man in rock and roll. For those who go to the present, your likelihood is at 95% of assembly me if you wish to. It is by no means actually been a difficulty, so that is simply that is taking farther, taking it on-line.

Solely time I am like ‘uhhh’ is like if I get despatched like a cry for assist suicide try or I get despatched some schizophrenic fucking 80 web page simply insane display like accusing me of working for the satan or one thing, or some bullshit like that. However that is few and much between. 99% of the time it is simply it is followers.

Uh, simply extra gimmicks. Individuals deliver me cat ears and stuff to placed on or folks gown up like Elden Ring characters on the reveals. Stuff like that. I imply, the reveals are nonetheless the reveals. It is severe music. We do not change the reside present, however simply the fan vibe. Clearly we do the elite lounge. Individuals have me signal copies of Elden Ring, which is admittedly humorous as a result of I obtained nothing to do with Elden Ring. However you understand, we simply love Elden Ring so why not?

We’re actually shocked as a result of… even our first reveals away, lengthy historical historical past… we had a reasonably good present in Istanbul. We had been actually completely happy about that and it is totally different occasions clearly, our followers are completely totally different now, however our present in Istanbul was large and it was like a bunch of youngsters and so I used to be tremendous excited. I am like – rattling, okay, they know. We have been to every kind of cities the place we performed and did not count on folks to know who we’re, however we’re having large reveals and in every single place has been nice, so we’re actually actually completely happy.

So the Evangelion meme…. I feel it began within the Discord. All our followers are sharing memes and speaking, and these Evangelion memes hold arising. And I am like, what is that this anime? I obtained tremendous curious with this anime.There’s so many memes about it. I actually like these characters. I like this red-haired lady. They usually’re like, ‘dude, you have not seen Evangelion?!’

I used to be like, no. I knew the title, as a result of I used to be into anime as a child and noticed these posters on the retailer, however I by no means noticed it. They’re all saying John, that is like tremendous up your alley. You bought to observe it.

So in the course of the pandemic I simply began watching Evangelion… and I fucking beloved it. After which sooner or later this FELIZ JUEVES meme comes out. I am like, properly, it is a actually lengthy meme. After I put up on Thursday and it had such a response, I simply stored posting it on Thursday. After which now it has been years. I say that we must always cease and everyone seems to be like, ‘please do not cease. Simply hold it working.’ So I do not know what number of years it is already been like three, three, 4 years, it is gone on. FELIZ JUEVES has simply develop into a part of the band lore, I assume.

In 2024 we had this large tour and for the intro music, I stated ‘play this earlier than we go on.’ I did not inform the blokes. They had been taking part in it and Jake’s like ‘what the fuck is that this music?’ However then folks had been screaming and clapping, simply going insane up there. Jake’s like ‘what’s going on?!’ And I am like, ‘it is this Evangelion music.’ If I might requested them, they’d have stated hell no, however I am taking part in it they usually’re listening to folks lose their minds. They’re like, okay, properly, what’s going on right here?

Individuals had been freaking out. Like, oh my god. Individuals having an out of physique expertise. However you understand, the memes and – not simply the meme however the anime – for this new technology, it has a lot which means. I used to be saying to Jake, that is like Taxi Driver for — not the identical message, however it has that form of cultural significance like that after we had been children.

So every little thing on our YouTube is demonetized. We simply do not care. We simply do not monetize any of it. 

So we’re a really centered group. Like, we actually reply to our followers and we’re very energetic with the fan group. So a lot of what we do is simply responding to the followers. So with Signalis – we might simply discover they’re loopy about Signalis. Signalis retains arising.

One among our followers made a fan video, like an AMV fashion form of factor for this music that featured Jake. Jake featured in a music by Venera (Ochre) and one among our followers made a fan video with Signalis footage. We had been like, wow, that was actually good. That was actually good. That is an ideal concept. And so Joe, the man who I discussed earlier than, he says ‘what if we do that formally?’ He simply reached out to Rose Engine and he is like, our fanbase is obsessive about Signalis. Would you guys make an official AMV with Signalis footage that is like made and animated by you guys that we might launch as an official music video? They usually had been tremendous into the concept.

They needed the music Do not Strive. We pitched a unique music to them they usually’re like, no, no, Do not Strive. They usually did it. And now it is this superb video. So the music isn’t within the recreation, however it’s related to the sport now. And it is a actually stunning video. And it actually hits individuals who love the sport.

We’re each very memey and ridiculous on the web. I imply, I’ve frolicked with Dave many occasions. He is a brilliant man. He is like one among my pals. We had been fucking across the web a lot. And sooner or later, we’re simply in a Discord discuss like all proper, you guys are doing a music? Like, yeah.

So we had been fairly obsessive about Kinofabino memes. Then we had been like, man, what if this man would do a meme for us for Elden Ring? I imply, in the event you’re a fan of us, you understand that I simply love FromSoftware video games essentially the most. It is a part of our, I do not know… a part of our Well being lore – that love for FromSoftware. So we requested, for one thing that options us that has one thing to do with Elden Ring. He stated okay, and he did it… and it was simply so good. So we requested if we might put it on a shirt, and cut up the cash.

Then we had this bizarre reside present that we filmed randomly. We weren’t that proud of the footage, however we thought, we have filmed it, and we will put it out. However then we predict – wait a second – the Radahn Pageant. Everybody’s already making memes which can be on the pageant. He made this sensible meme. We’ll throw some Elden Ring property on high of it and simply play it and  reside stream it. After which we’ll promote this t-shirt in the course of the reside stream. That form of took a lifetime of its personal. This Elden Ring Radahn pageant shirt, you understand. 

Yeah, we had it restricted. And the folks needed it so dangerous. We did a restricted run for Europe. And the folks needed it so dangerous. We did one last restricted run now. And like, we’re leaving them on the web site when that is gone. It is gone. You recognize, however like, so lots of these shirts went on the market. And there is bootlegs of it in China and stuff. Individuals love this shirt. That is the factor. I feel that is form of crossed over to individuals who aren’t even followers of the band or they’re identical to you want Elden Ring and you want some humorous shit. 

Sure, sure, completely. I signed a variety of Elden Ring discs. I’ve signed a number of Evangelion merch. I’ve signed Bloodborne. Individuals deliver random stuff. I am going to signal like, I do not know, simply video games. It is simply the humorous issues. I signed video games that are not even a part of the band lore. Prefer it’s not simply all video video games. Like there’s sure video video games which can be like Well being codified like, you understand, a part of our, you understand, official Well being experiences video video games, you understand, it is not all video games. Baldur’s Gate 3 is certainly a giant one, although.

I performed PS3 Demon’s Souls I feel a 12 months after it got here out or two years after no matter. I performed it earlier than Darkish Souls. I began with Demon’s Souls PS3 from the highest so I’ve had the entire Souls journey. It is like being in comparison with being a fan of Metallica within the 80s. I gotta experience the wave. It is one among my favourite issues I’ve obtained to do within the online game life-style my complete life, you understand.

So I obtained to Celebration with Larian Dublin. Clearly the primary Larian’s in Belgium, however after we performed Dublin like 20-something folks from Larian studios all got here to the present, and I obtained to hang around and have a tour of their workplace. For those who go to our Instagram, we’ve got a video of it. 

So I obtained to satisfy them. Superior folks. I had a good time with Larian, so you understand… in the event that they need to name me they know the place I’m, and I am obtainable. We might cease every little thing to work with Larian. I feel Baldur’s Gate 3 is only a towering towering achievement in video games and Baldur’s Gate 1 and a pair of are like actually my favourite video games of all time so I used to be skeptical with 3. Then I went – hoo man. Y’all did some fucking RPG proper there, you understand RPGs are my favourite. That is my favourite, y’know.

No, I purchased it and I began it, and I used to be going to play it with a good friend, the entire thing, however I am like man, I haven’t got time for this, however I’m form of curious to return. However the factor that obtained me with Baldur’s Gate 3 is clearly the IP. I really like Dungeons the Dragons. I am a lifelong Dungeons and Dragons participant.

You recognize, streaming… I imply it is a combined bag. It is actually that the algorithms and the setup — I feel the largest gripe the place it modifications your listening habits. And this has at all times occurred, however music continues to be devalued. Going by way of the 2000s, you’d by no means make a dime in your information, however folks would actually undergo the work to obtain it.

So that they nonetheless form of ingest it that manner, however there’s now this loopy factor the place you obtain a lot you would not hearken to any of it. So there’s large points. Clearly nothing beats the unique which is somebody shopping for a fucking file at a retailer, an LP, then going residence, placing it on, and sitting on the bottom and listening to it, trying on the atwork. However these days are lengthy gone.

So there’s countless negatives, however there’s additionally positives. Everybody can get your file, everybody can hear it immediately. It is virtually free. Clearly it being free does not likely assist how music is perceived, however being listened to is a dream come true for many individuals. However then the factor is when folks speak about cash and streaming in the event you’re not on a file label the cash isn’t horrible, particularly coming from a brilliant DIY perspective the place aside from promoting your file and bodily on the present you by no means make a dime in your information.

For those who minimize the label out of the image, streams usually are not a joke. For brand new artists, it is actually onerous to make the case that they have to be at a file label as of late as a result of all they’re doing is importing to music to the web, You may really earn cash off your streams. So there’s positively a variety of positives; it is not all detrimental.

Personally I hearken to music on streaming. I am a Spotify consumer. I prefer it. I do not like how I can not save my complete library and it is at all times simply form of pushing you away from albums. We wish to make albums. I do know they’re very outdated, however we nonetheless wish to make albums.

Apple Music pays principally the speed that I would need all streaming paid. It is like a penny a stream, which is principally good. So um, I’d say it might be superb if everybody used Apple Music. The factor is, just about everybody makes use of Spotify. It is unusual as a result of when Apple Music got here out I believed ‘oh, Spotify’s performed. However I feel they only launched too early as a result of there’s all these faults with the streaming the place it might skip and such. Like, how can I take advantage of the streaming service that skips versus the one that does not? If they only waited longer and glued that I feel Apple might have taken over, y’know. 

There may be stuff about Spotify that folks love. Spotify’s suggestion algorithm is useful for a brand new artist to get observed which could be very onerous to do as of late. It is a wild west, actually. It is a nuanced factor, however it’s the world we reside in. Clearly it is not like we’re going again to a unique time. However y’know, a few of the children need to purchase CDs for some purpose. I do not know the place they’ve a disc drive. It would not make any sense to me. 

So that you want it on bodily media as a result of as you have seen it could actually simply disappear in a second on-line. You gotta personal it. 

My recreation of the 12 months is Balatro after which my runner-ups are House Marine 2 and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Loads of my gaming I do on tour as a result of I am busy right here, however on tour there’s a number of downtime and I’ve my Steam Deck. I beat the vast majority of Elden Ring on the Steam Deck on tour with no web connection within the airplane. I am trying ahead to taking part in extra Metaphor that manner as a result of it really works nice on the Steam Deck.

 I drink inexperienced tea all day, each day. It is apparently extremely good for you. It is what the Blue Zones Okinawan folks do. I’ve began placing lemon in it. After which the primary one of many day I put a gram of NMN in it, which might be bullshit. However I noticed podcasts and I have been throwing this NMN in there religiously. Anecdotally it makes me really feel nice. It may very well be a placebo, however I really feel nice.