"I want to do an RPG more than anything" – Health’s John Famiglietti on his next soundtrack, Cyberpunk 2077 collaborations, and more

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

John Famiglietti: If you understand the band you understand I’m not the singer, however yeah. The confusion is comprehensible. I’m the face of the band, however I’m not the singer of the band. You know there are some bands in historical past that work that method. It’s not completely distinctive nevertheless it’s undoubtedly not widespread… particularly for the web presence, you understand.

That’s additionally an indication of the occasions. We sort of made that call internally the place it was like – you understand algorithms and the entire system are very anti band and very anti a group of men. They want like… very very similar to an individual. We noticed plenty of bands, particularly the bands which might be even more digital or guys from just like the indie scene, even attempting to promote solely two guys or one man of their imagery simply because it was just like the web was working towards them to have like 4 guys.

We went more durable with that, with simply, I assume, me going on the market more. But additionally I’m the one lively in these on-line areas and stuff. For the opposite guys, it is simply very completely different for them. So yeah, it is smart that there is confusion. I’m the face of the band however I’m not the singer of the band. 

So Major Crimes, we obtained to simply, out of nowhere, we obtained an e mail from a CD Projekt Red about Cyberpunk 2077 and they’re like ‘we want an authentic track’. When we made the our album Vol. 4: Slaves of Fear we had one track left off the document that was simply gathering mud. We appreciated the track, we simply did not suppose it may match on the document – 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 take a look at, and then we’d end the track. But they appreciated it instantly and simply took the track. So the track by no means obtained correctly combined – and that is the track within the recreation.

And it was sort of a humorous factor the place our personal document label, they did not perceive. I used to be like ‘hey, what occurred to the Cyberpunk factor?’ and they stated ‘Oh we turned it down. It wasn’t an important deal.’ and I used to be like ‘What?!’ So I had to write letters, like enormous emails, saying ‘you guys do not perceive how vital that is. I’m going to lose my thoughts.’ So we obtained it, we obtained it found out. 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 ‘here is these stick figures shifting, here is animatics… they are going to make an anime of Cyberpunk’. I used to be like certain, no matter, yeah, it may be in there… and then Egderunners is simply this masterpiece.

Just a lucky flip of occasions. After that occurred, individuals have been calling me like ‘How’d you get in that recreation?’ I do not know, they simply emailed us.

It is 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 have been very pleased with it, nevertheless it was like a form of, the trickle down or no matter you want to say. When Max Payne 3 got here out it wasn’t like all of the sudden the band was quite a bit greater. It did not have an effect on reveals till a few years down the road the place plenty of youngsters who performed it rising up have been older, however had found the band again then.

Then we began to discover it too. When we have been attempting to work with plenty of youthful cooler artists like Ghostemane and JPEGMafia we have been shocked that they might be down to work with us  – and the rationale why is that they cherished Max Payne 3 or have been enormous followers of the soundtrack. They knew us that method. More and more we discovered youthful – or not that youthful, however simply youngsters who grew up taking part in it who are actually older.

We’ve 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 are nice dudes, and I see them at any time when they arrive to LA, or we go to New York. Anyway, it was their concept. They wished us to cowl a legendary previous LA band known as The Units.

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

So it’s kind of of a sensible joke nevertheless it sort 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 High Pressure Dave. It’s so silly. [laughs] 

I imply, price range’s not an concern with music. We can do something. We do not want a price range to make a soundtrack. I believe it is a beauty of music. Most of my favourite video games have nice soundtracks – generally, that is why they’re my favourite video games. I do not want to change these guys. I believe they’re good. You know everybody’s like oh you guys it’s best to do Armored Core. To that I say, Armored Core 6 has an excellent soundtrack. I want that man to do the soundtrack. I really like that soundtrack.

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

We would do it. We would make time. We wouldn’t tour. I imply, it is essential. We want to do one other recreation very badly and we have gotten some gives however you understand we really feel like with Max Payne 3 what we have executed, we want to do a giant recreation and do a giant full soundtrack. We love the RPG narrative story. However, it is not that we have now to, we may do one thing else.

It’s humorous as a result of our first gig was Max Payne 3 or fucking Rockstar Games. It does really feel bizarre. We’re a band full time, we do not rating video games full time. We’ve barely scored that a lot stuff. So a comply with up to Max Payne 3 sort of has to be a giant recreation or not less than a very superior indie recreation. We’re open.

The pandemic for us was really sort of the start of the brand new Health. It was an important second for us to get to actually focus on on-line and on the fan base – and actually develop into the trendy Health. We did an unimaginable quantity of labor and put out these two collaboration data throughout the pandemic. So the pandemic was very productive for us.

You cannot work on music once you tour and touring form 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 sort of stuff, so it is actually modified. 

Joe who I work with, the artistic director of Health, he stated we must always have a Discord. I stated, ‘who the fuck would ever go to that?’ That’s once we actually began the web neighborhood and constructing this actual Health expertise. The Health fanbase way of life of Health was born throughout the pandemic as a result of everybody was caught at residence and we’re all hanging out you understand on Discord. I’m hanging out with the followers every single day and nonetheless am, and that is sort of how that is the trendy on-line model of Health.

Not actually. I imply here is the factor. Even earlier than we did these things on-line, earlier than we had this new on-line Health, I gave out my cellphone quantity, and I’ve been giving out my cellphone ever since 2015, since Death Magic. So followers have all the time been in a position to textual content or name me or message me, and I’ve all the time messaged followers, and I’ve all the time gone out after the reveals to hang around followers, and meet individuals and go to bars or no matter. I’m essentially the most out there man in rock and roll. If you go to the present you your probability is at 95% of assembly me for those who want to. It’s by no means actually been an concern, so that is simply that is taking farther, taking it on-line.

Only time I’m 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. But that is few and far between. 99% of the time it is simply it is followers.

Uh, simply more gimmicks. People carry me cat ears and stuff to put on or individuals costume up like Elden Ring characters on the reveals. Stuff like that. I imply, the reveals are nonetheless the reveals. It’s severe music. We do not change the reside present, however simply the fan vibe. Obviously we do the elite lounge. People have me signal copies of Elden Ring, which is de facto humorous as a result of I obtained nothing to do with Elden Ring. But you understand, we simply love Elden Ring so why not?

We’re actually shocked as a result of… even our first reveals away, lengthy historic historical past… we had a reasonably good present in Istanbul. We have been actually completely happy about that and it is completely different occasions clearly, our followers are completely completely different now, however our present in Istanbul was enormous and it was like a bunch of children and so I used to be tremendous excited. I’m like – rattling, okay, they know. We’ve been to every kind of cities the place we performed and did not count on individuals 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 believe it began within the Discord. All our followers are sharing memes and speaking, and these Evangelion memes preserve arising. And I’m 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. And they’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,m however I by no means noticed it. They’re all saying John, that is like tremendous up your alley. You obtained to watch it.

So throughout the pandemic I simply began watching Evangelion… and I fucking cherished it. And then in some unspecified time in the future this FELIZ JUEVES meme comes out. I’m like, nicely, it is a actually lengthy meme. When I submit on Thursday and it had such a response, I simply saved posting it on Thursday. And then now it has been years. I say that we must always cease and everyone seems to be like, ‘please do not cease. Just preserve it operating.’ 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 enormous tour and for the intro music, I stated ‘play this earlier than we go on.’ I did not inform the blokes. They have been taking part in it and Jake’s like ‘what the fuck is that this track?’ But then individuals have been screaming and clapping, simply going insane up there. Jake’s like ‘what goes on?!’ And I’m like, ‘it is this Evangelion track.’ If I’d requested them, they’d have stated hell no, however I’m taking part in it and they’re listening to individuals lose their minds. They’re like, okay, nicely, what goes on right here?

People have been freaking out. Like, oh my god. People having an out of physique expertise. But you understand, the memes and – not simply the meme however the anime – for this new era, it has a lot that means. I used to be saying to Jake, that is like Taxi Driver for — not the identical message, nevertheless it has that sort of cultural significance like that once we have been youngsters.

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

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

One of our followers made a fan video, like an AMV model sort of factor for this track that featured Jake. Jake featured in a track by Venera (Ochre) and considered one of our followers made a fan video with Signalis footage. We have been like, wow, that was actually good. That was actually good. That’s an important concept. And so Joe, the man who I discussed earlier than, he is says ‘what if we do this 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 may launch as an official music video? And they have been tremendous into the concept.

They wished the track Don’t Try. We pitched a distinct track to them and they’re like, no, no, Don’t Try. And they did it. And now it is this wonderful video. So the track shouldn’t be within the recreation, nevertheless 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’s a brilliant man. He’s like considered one of my pals. We have been fucking across the web a lot. And in some unspecified time in the future, we’re simply in a Discord speak like all proper, you guys are doing a track? Like, yeah.

So we have been fairly obsessive about Kinofabino memes. Then we have been like, man, what if this man would do a meme for us for Elden Ring? I imply, for those who’re a fan of us, you understand that I simply love FromSoftware video games essentially the most. It’s a part of our, I do not know… a part of our Health 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 may 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 pleased with the footage, however we’re thought, we have filmed it, and we’re going to put it out. But then we expect – wait a second – the Radahn Festival. Everyone’s already making memes which might be on the pageant. He made this good meme. We’re going to throw some Elden Ring property on high of it and simply play it and  reside stream it. And then we’ll promote this t-shirt throughout the reside stream. That sort of took a lifetime of its personal. This Elden Ring Radahn pageant shirt, you understand. 

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

Yes, sure, completely. I signed plenty of Elden Ring discs. I’ve signed a lot of Evangelion merch. I’ve signed Bloodborne. People carry random stuff. I’ll signal like, I do not know, simply video games. It’s simply the humorous issues I signed video games that are not even a part of the “band lore” Like it is not simply all video video games. Like there’s sure video video games which might be like Health codified like, you understand, a part of our, you understand, official Health 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 believe a 12 months after it got here out or two years after no matter. I performed it earlier than Dark Souls. I began with Demon’s Souls PS3 from the highest so I’ve had the entire Souls journey. It’s like being in contrast to being a fan of Metallica within the 80s. I gotta experience the wave. It’s considered one of my favourite issues I’ve obtained to do within the online game way of life my entire life, you understand.

So I obtained to Party with Larian Dublin. Obviously the primary Larian’s in Belgium, however once we performed Dublin like 20-something individuals from Larian studios all got here to the present, and I obtained to hang around and have a tour of their workplace. If you go to our Instagram, we have a video of it. 

So I obtained to meet them. Awesome individuals. I had a good time with Larian, so you understand… in the event that they want to name me they know the place I’m, and I’m out there. We’d cease every thing to work with Laria. I believe Baldur’s Gate 3 is only a towering towering achievement in video games and Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 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’s 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 known as I’m like man, I haven’t got time for this, however I’m sort of curious to return. But the factor that obtained me with Baldur’s Gate 3 is clearly the IP. I really like Dungeons the Dragons. I’m a lifelong Dungeons and Dragons participant.

You know, streaming… I imply it is a combined bag. It’s actually that the algorithms and the setup — I believe the most important gripe the place it adjustments your itemizing habits. And this has all the time occurred, however music continues to be devalued. Going via the 2000s, you’d by no means make a dime on your data, however individuals would actually undergo the work to obtain it.

So they nonetheless sort of ingest it that method, however there’s now this loopy factor the place you obtain a lot you would not pay attention to any of it. So there’s there’s there’s enormous points. Obviously nothing beats the unique which is somebody shopping for a fucking document at a retailer, an LP, then going residence, placing it on, and sitting on the bottom and listening to it, wanting on the atwork. But these days are lengthy gone.

So there’s infinite negatives, however there’s additionally positives. Everyone can get your document, everybody can hear it immediately. It’s virtually free. Obviously it being free does not likely assist how music is perceived, however being listened to is a dream come true for many individuals. But then the factor is when individuals speak about cash and streaming for those who’re not on a document label the cash shouldn’t be horrible, particularly coming from a brilliant DIY perspective the place different than promoting your document and bodily on the present you by no means make a dime on your data.

If you chop the label out of the image, streams will not be a joke. For new artists it is it is actually onerous to make the case that they want to be at a document label nowadays as a result of all they’re doing is importing to music the web, You can really earn a living off your streams. So there’s undoubtedly plenty of positives; it is not all unfavorable.

Personally I pay attention to music on streaming. I’m a Spotify consumer. I prefer it. I do not like how I am unable to save my total library and it is all the time simply sort of pushing you away from albums. We like to make albums. I do know they’re very outdated, however we nonetheless like to make albums.

Apple Music pays principally the speed that I would want all streaming paid. It’s like a penny a stream, which is principally excellent. So um, I’d say it will be wonderful if everybody used Apple Music. The factor is, just about everybody makes use of Spotify. It’s unusual as a result of when Apple Music got here out I assumed ‘oh, Spotify’s executed. But I believe they simply launched too early as a result of there’s all these faults with the streaming the place it will skip and such. Like, how can I exploit the streaming service that skips versus the one that does not? If they simply waited longer and mounted that I believe Apple may have taken over, y’know. 

There is stuff about Spotify that folks love. Spotify’s suggestion algorithm is useful for a brand new artist to get seen which may be very onerous to do nowadays. Itt’s a wild west, actually. It’s a nuanced factor, nevertheless it’s the world we reside in. Obviously it is not like we’re going again to a distinct time. But y’know, a few of the youngsters want to purchase CDs for some cause. I do not know the place they’ve a disc drive. It would not make any sense to me. 

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

My recreation of the 12 months is Balatro and then my runner-ups are Space Marine 2 and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Loads of my gaming I do on tour as a result of I’m busy right here, however on tour there’s a lot 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’m wanting ahead to taking part in more Metaphor that method as a result of it really works nice on the Steam Deck.

 I drink inexperienced tea all day, every single day. It’s apparently extremely good for you. It’s what the Blue Zones Okinawan individuals do. I’ve began placing lemon in it. And then the primary one of many day I put a gram of NMN in it, which might be bullshit. But I noticed podcasts and I’ve been thrown this NMN in there religiously. Anecdotally it makes me really feel nice. It might be a placebo, however I really feel nice.