Games Happy

RPG Web site: For these unaware, are you able to inform us slightly bit about your self and what you do within the band?

John Famiglietti: 

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

RPG Web site: There’s this false impression that I’ve seen on-line the place lots of people suppose you are the singer since you are principally the face of the band in quite a lot of on-line areas. Do you continue to get that?

John Famiglietti: If you recognize the band you recognize 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 understand there are some bands in historical past that work that manner. It is not completely distinctive however it’s positively not widespread… particularly for the web presence, you recognize.

That is additionally an indication of the occasions. We type of made that call internally the place it was like – you recognize algorithms and the entire system are very anti band and really anti a group of fellows. They need like… very very similar to an individual. We noticed quite a lot of bands, particularly the bands which might 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 suppose, me going on the market extra. But in addition 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 smart that there is confusion. I am the face of the band however I am not the singer of the band. 

RPG Web site: After we spoke just a few weeks in the past, I discussed how I bought into the band because of a pal of mine from Estonia, however that wasn’t my first style of the band. When wanting up different songs by Well being, I discovered Excessive Strain Dave from the Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack which I like. I did not even understand it was by Well being till correctly stepping into your music afterward. Earlier than stepping into that, I need to understand how Main Crimes occurred for the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack?

John Famiglietti: 

So Main Crimes, we bought to simply, out of nowhere, we bought an e-mail from a CD Projekt Purple about Cyberpunk 2077 they usually’re like ‘we wish an authentic track’. When we made the our album Vol. 4: Slaves of Worry we had one track left off the document that was simply gathering mud. We preferred the track, we simply did not suppose it might match on the document – however then we’re like this might truly 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 track. However they preferred it instantly and simply took the track. So the track by no means bought correctly blended – and that is the track within the recreation.

And it was type 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?’ they usually mentioned ‘Oh we turned it down. It wasn’t an awesome deal.’ and I used to be like ‘What?!’ So I needed to write letters, like large emails, saying ‘you guys don’t perceive how vital that is. I’ll lose my thoughts.’ So we bought it, we bought it discovered. We bought reversed and we bought within the recreation. 

Then it even bought higher as a result of we additionally bought an e-mail later being like ‘here is these stick figures shifting, here 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 have been calling me like ‘How’d you get in that recreation?’ I do not know, they only emailed us.

RPG Web site: Do you suppose the Max Payne 3 soundtrack was a turning level for the band? In my circles everybody is aware of Well being due to Max Payne 3. I am curious how issues modified for the band after that soundtrack. 

John Famiglietti: 

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 have been very happy with it, however it was like a kind of, the trickle down or no matter you need to say. When Max Payne 3 got here out it wasn’t like out of the blue the band was so much greater. It did not have an effect on exhibits till a few years down the road the place quite a lot of children who performed it rising up have been older, however had found the band again then.

Then we began to note it too. After we have been attempting to work with quite a lot of youthful cooler artists like Ghostemane and JPEGMafia we have been stunned that they might be right down to work with us  – and the rationale why is that they liked Max Payne 3 or have 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 at the moment are older.

RPG Web site: How did Grand Theft Auto V’s Excessive Strain Dave occur then? Did Rockstar Video games need to work with you once more or did you pitch it?

John Famiglietti: 

We have stayed actually nice mates with the music division at Rockstar. Lots of people at Rockstar, we flew to their marriage ceremony, even canine sitting. I imply, like, we’re mates. They’re 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 Items.

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

So it is a bit of a sensible joke however it type 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 Strain Dave. It is so silly. [laughs] 

RPG Web site: Hypothetical state of affairs, For those who might rating any single RPG IP like do the total rating for it. What would you choose like no strings hooked up and no funds limitations?

John Famiglietti: 

I imply, funds’s not a difficulty with music. We will do something. We do not want a funds 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 good. You understand everybody’s like oh you guys you must do Armored Core. To that I say, Armored Core 6 has an excellent soundtrack. I need that man to do the soundtrack. I 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 primarily based. My favourite builders. I imply you recognize like Larian, FromSoftware, like all these guys. Nothing I would love greater than a brand new IP, a brand new RPG that we might do.

RPG Web site: Would a full soundtrack like Max Payne 3 even occur now together with your touring schedule and simply generally?

John Famiglietti: 

We might do it. We might make time. We might not tour. I imply, it is crucial. We need to do one other recreation very badly and we have gotten some affords however you recognize we really feel like with Max Payne 3 what we have completed, we need to do an enormous recreation and do an enormous full soundtrack. We love the RPG narrative story. Nonetheless, it isn’t that we now have 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 observe as much as Max Payne 3 type of needs to be an enormous recreation or no less than a extremely superior indie recreation. We’re open.

RPG Web site: Talking of the previous few years, how was it for the band throughout the pandemic due to not having the ability to tour?

John Famiglietti:

The pandemic for us was truly type of the beginning of the brand new Well being. It was an awesome 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 unbelievable quantity of labor and put out these two collaboration information throughout the pandemic. So the pandemic was very productive for us.

You possibly can’t work on music if you tour and touring form is that this fixed factor, so being house for this loopy period of time locked down… we began doing all this stuff 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. 

RPG Web site: So the Discord server was launched throughout the pandemic?

John Famiglietti: 

Joe who I work with, the inventive director of Well being, he mentioned we should always have a Discord. I mentioned, ‘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 throughout the pandemic as a result of everybody was caught at house and we’re all hanging out you recognize on Discord. I am hanging out with the followers day-after-day and nonetheless am, and that is type of how that is the fashionable on-line model of Well being.

RPG Web site: How has it been for you coping with this since you’re fairly open with speaking to followers in your livestreams the place you let folks name in and say no matter they need. Do you continue to take pleasure in it or suppose it will get an excessive amount of coping with these things nonstop by way of the day?

John Famiglietti: 

Not likely. I imply here is the factor. Even earlier than we did these things on-line, earlier than we had this new on-line Well being, I gave out my cellphone quantity, and I have been giving out my cellphone ever since 2015, since Demise Magic. So followers have all the time been capable of 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 exhibits to hang around with followers, and meet folks and go to bars or no matter. I am probably the most out there 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 screen 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.

RPG Web site: How have your dwell exhibits modified for the reason that beginning of this new on-line Well being? You’ve gotten the Well being expertise factor and Patreon, and a lounge proper? I have never been to a dwell present of yours but, however I have been studying so much about them. 

John Famiglietti: 

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

RPG Web site: How does it really feel for you all going to locations the place you most likely do not anticipate that many followers or individuals who know you? 

John Famiglietti: 

We’re actually stunned as a result of… even our first exhibits away, lengthy historic historical past… we had a reasonably good present in Istanbul. We have been actually joyful 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 children 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 anticipate folks to know who we’re, however we’re having large exhibits and in all places has been nice, so we’re actually actually joyful.

RPG Web site: The place and the way did the Well being x Neon Genesis Evangelion memes begin? 

John Famiglietti: 

So the Evangelion meme…. I feel it began within the Discord. All our followers are sharing memes and speaking, and these Evangelion memes preserve arising. And I am like, what is that this anime? I bought 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 identify, 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 look at it.

So throughout the pandemic I simply began watching Evangelion… and I fucking liked it. After which in some unspecified time in the future this FELIZ JUEVES meme comes out. I am like, nicely, it is a actually lengthy meme. Once 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 should always cease and everyone seems to be like, ‘please do not cease. Simply preserve 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 suppose.

RPG Web site: You uploaded a dwell live performance recording on YouTube and had A Merciless Angel’s Thesis because the opening to the present.

John Famiglietti: 

In 2024 we had this large tour and for the intro music, I mentioned ‘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?’ However then folks have been screaming and clapping, simply going insane up there. Jake’s like ‘what’s going on?!’ And I am like, ‘it is this Evangelion track.’ If I would requested them, they’d have mentioned hell no, however I am taking part in it they usually’re listening to folks lose their minds. They’re like, okay, nicely, what’s going on right here?

Individuals have been freaking out. Like, oh my god. Individuals having an out of physique expertise. However you recognize, the memes and – not simply the meme however the anime – for this new era, 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 type of cultural significance like that after we have been children.

RPG Web site: Was there any rights problem with the live performance add utilizing the track?

John Famiglietti: 

So all the pieces on our YouTube is demonetized. We simply do not care. We simply do not monetize any of it. 

RPG Web site: Okay shifting on from Evangelion, how did the Signalis collaboration occur? 

John Famiglietti: 

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 in all our followers made a fan video, like an AMV model type of factor for this track that featured Jake. Jake featured in a track by Venera (Ochre) and one in all our followers made a fan video with Signalis footage. We have been like, wow, that was actually good. That was actually good. That is an awesome 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 have been tremendous into the thought.

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

RPG Web site: Constructing on that, I puzzled if the Well being x New Blood collaboration for an Ultrakill track occurred as a result of each of them have comparable hardcore and centered fanbases. I beforehand requested Dave Oshry of New Blood the identical factor once I interviewed him.

John Famiglietti: 

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 in all my mates. We have been fucking across the web a lot. And in some unspecified time in the future, we’re simply in a Discord discuss like all proper, you guys are doing a track? Like, yeah.

RPG Web site: How did you find yourself doing a collaboration with Kinofabino  that led to the Radahn Competition shirt design? 

John Famiglietti: 

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, when you’re a fan of us, you recognize that I simply love FromSoftware video games probably 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 mentioned 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 dwell present that we filmed randomly. We weren’t that proud of the footage, however we thought, we have filmed it, and we’ll put it out. However then we expect – wait a second – the Radahn Competition. Everybody’s already making memes which might be on the competition. He made this good meme. We’ll throw some Elden Ring belongings on prime of it and simply play it and  dwell stream it. After which we’ll promote this t-shirt throughout the dwell stream. That type of took a lifetime of its personal. This Elden Ring Radahn competition shirt, you recognize. 

RPG Web site: I feel you have needed to reprint it just a few occasions now. I bought it just a few weeks in the past. 

John Famiglietti: 

Yeah, we had it restricted. And the folks wished it so dangerous. We did a restricted run for Europe. And the folks wished it so dangerous. We did one closing restricted run now. And like, we’re leaving them on the web site when that is gone. It is gone. You understand, however like, so a lot 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 type 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. 

RPG Web site: Do folks put on that and ask you to signal Elden Ring recreation copies?

John Famiglietti: 

Sure, sure, completely. I signed quite a lot of Elden Ring discs. I’ve signed a lot of Evangelion merch. I’ve signed Bloodborne. Individuals carry 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 might be like Well being codified like, you recognize, a part of our, you recognize, official Well being experiences video video games, you recognize, it isn’t all video games. Baldur’s Gate 3 is unquestionably an enormous one, although.

RPG Web site: Did you play the PS5 Demon’s Souls remake?

John Famiglietti: 

I performed PS3 Demon’s Souls I feel a yr 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 journey the wave. It is one in all my favourite issues I’ve bought to do within the online game life-style my entire life, you recognize.

RPG Web site: After Baldur’s Gate 3, have you ever gotten in contact with Larian and tried to do something with them?

John Famiglietti: 

So I bought to Social gathering 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 bought to hang around and have a tour of their workplace. For those who go to our Instagram, we now have a video of it. 

So I bought to fulfill them. Superior folks. I had a good time with Larian, so you recognize… in the event that they need to name me they know the place I’m, and I am out there. We might cease all the pieces 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 couple 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 recognize RPGs are my favourite. That is my favourite, y’know.

RPG Web site: Did you find yourself taking part in Divinity Unique Sin 2 then?

John Famiglietti: 

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

RPG Web site: If it wasn’t for music streaming providers, I most likely would not be interviewing you proper now. Loads of artists don’t love streaming providers, however in your case, Spotify has been actually good since you even did an unique Deftones cowl with them. I need to understand how you’re feeling about streaming providers proper now.

John Famiglietti: 

You understand, streaming… I imply it is a blended bag. It is actually that the algorithms and the setup — I feel the most important gripe the place it modifications your listening habits. And this has all the time 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 type 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 document at a retailer, an LP, then going house, placing it on, and sitting on the bottom and listening to it, wanting on the atwork. However these days are lengthy gone.

So there’s countless negatives, however there’s additionally positives. Everybody can get your document, everybody can hear it immediately. It is virtually free. Clearly it being free does probably not 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 when you’re not on a document label the cash just isn’t horrible, particularly coming from a brilliant DIY perspective the place apart from promoting your document and bodily on the present you by no means make a dime in your information.

For those who lower the label out of the image, streams will not be a joke. For brand spanking new artists, it is actually arduous to make the case that they should be at a document label nowadays as a result of all they’re doing is importing to music to the web, You possibly can truly earn money off your streams. So there’s positively quite a lot of positives; it isn’t all damaging.

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

RPG Web site: I used to be simply going to carry that up as a result of I take advantage of YouTube Music, Spotify, and Apple Music throughout plans at house, however I feel my favourite is Apple music as a result of it looks like the one one which truly permits you to hearken to an album with out interrupting you and allows you to have that have digitally in some type.

John Famiglietti: 

Apple Music pays principally the speed that I would need all streaming paid. It is like a penny a stream, which is principally excellent. So um, I’d say it could 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 assumed ‘oh, Spotify’s completed. However I feel they only launched too early as a result of there’s all these faults with the streaming the place it could 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 stuck that I feel Apple might have taken over, y’know. 

There’s stuff about Spotify that individuals love. Spotify’s suggestion algorithm is useful for a brand new artist to get observed which could be very arduous to do nowadays. It is a wild west, actually. It is a nuanced factor, however it’s the world we dwell in. Clearly it isn’t like we’re going again to a distinct time. However y’know, a number 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. 

RPG Web site: For bands like Well being, I really feel like extra folks would need to purchase vinyl. I deal with vinyl like a collector’s version for an album with large paintings and typically liner notes. CDs are type of like the usual version and digital is type of like Xbox Sport Go for me the place if I prefer it, I would purchase it in one other format like a bodily launch. I like shopping for vinyl for albums I actually love. I am simply glad you might be nonetheless doing cassettes and vinyl and that type of stuff for individuals who need to purchase music on these codecs.

John Famiglietti: 

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

RPG Web site: I do know you like Baldur’s Gate 3, however what did you play from 2024 that you simply actually preferred?

John Famiglietti: 

My recreation of the yr is Balatro after which my runner-ups are Area 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 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 am wanting ahead to taking part in extra Metaphor that manner as a result of it really works nice on the Steam Deck.

RPG Web site: I often finish my interview by asking how you want your espresso, however you are not a espresso drinker. Inform me how you want your inexperienced tea or another beverage you want?

John Famiglietti: 

 I drink inexperienced tea all day, day-after-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.