DOOM IDKFA, Blood Swamps, DUSK, Iron Lung, AMID EVIL, Music, Guitars, Chilly Brew Espresso, and Extra – TouchArcade

Once I first wrote about boomer shooters final yr on Steam Deck and in addition on Change, except for New Blood and Nightdive, the commonest title was Andrew Hulshult who has finished some superb music through the years. He not too long ago was concerned with the DOOM + DOOM II re-release that included his IDKFA soundtrack with new music for DOOM II, and having needed to interview him for some time now, I lastly had an opportunity to speak with him on name for just a few hours to debate recreation soundtracks, composition, bands he likes, guitar strings, pickups, chilly brew espresso, his first movie soundtrack, video games he’s taking part in, and much more. This interview was finished on video name after which it was transcribed and edited for brevity. Identical to my interview with Dave Oshry from New Blood, this one was extra informal than standard, and that is doubtless the longest interview on TouchArcade so strap in and seize a chilly brew.

TouchArcade (TA): So for these unaware, inform us just a little bit about your self and what you do.

Andrew Hulshult (AH): Yeah, my title’s Andrew Hulshult. I’m a composer and sound designer for primarily video video games, however I’m beginning to transfer over into movie as effectively. I like to simply write music on my own generally when it’s not for a recreation or movie. However that’s primarily what I do. I work within the recreation and movie trade doing sound design, soundtracks, and generally voice appearing.

TA: How did you find yourself engaged on the canceled Duke Nukem undertaking and in addition Rise of the Triad 2013?

AH: Duke Nukem 3D Reloaded was really simply type of like, I feel that was 2010. That’s, I’m reaching again right here just a little bit. So I feel Frederik on the time, Frederik Schreiber, the man who runs 3D Realms now, or I feel he nonetheless does, mainly he was remaking maps in the midst of Unreal Engine 3 of like among the unique Duke 3D maps and posting them on Gearbox boards, which I feel one in every of them that acquired quite a lot of hits was like the entire 3D renders of like Hollywood Holocaust, which is like E1M1 for Duke 3D. That caught my consideration as effectively. I used to be like, wow, that appears actually neat. You recognize, like I reached out on the boards, I used to be like, hey, do you want any music? Possibly this is able to be enjoyable. Like, I actually preferred Duke 3D again within the day. And he stated, yeah, certain. You recognize, like if you wish to remake among the stuff and hand it off to me.

So I simply did a few of that. I simply had gear laying round and I needed to type of learn to do that anyway. So I simply dove in head first and began type of remaking among the outdated Duke 3D tracks. That type of spawned into, you understand, not quite a bit, not quite a bit was finished in Duke 3D Reloaded. It was identical to, you understand, like some odds and ends stuff. One way or the other that was Apogee, Terry Nagy, head searching us and saying, hey, I’ve an IP that I’d actually such as you to work on referred to as Rise of the Triad for those who guys wish to give it a attempt. And he had an investor with him on the time who was named Dave Oshry And this was a really very long time in the past. And it’s loopy. Like all these individuals now are like, you understand, on the, we have been all on the forefront of just like the retro FPS revival stuff.

However mainly after Duke 3D Reloaded, yeah, Apogee got here, stated, hey, we’re . And Fred stated sure on our facet. And we began making Rise of the Triad 2013.

TA: It was humorous you talked about Dave Oshry as a result of after I lastly acquired an interview with him, I feel it was simpler for me to fulfill Iron Maiden than get that interview, however after getting that finished, I had New Blood coated. I not too long ago additionally interviewed Nightdive about The Factor, however I wanted to finish the trifecta for boomer shooters: Andrew Hulshult. Now that’s lastly taking place.

We each snicker.

TA: I bear in mind in a previous interview you probably did, you talked about how whenever you have been doing the 3D realm stuff, you weren’t conscious of how a lot you have been in demand within the trade. So when that door closed, all of a sudden you had like a, like 1000’s of alternatives and stuff like that. However, and clearly you’ve gone on to do a few of like some enormous titles since then. Clearly Doom Everlasting DLC is the one which lots of people take into consideration you. For me, it’s like different titles like Nightmare Reaper and Nightfall and stuff like that. I wish to know the way you’ve modified as a musician and as knowledgeable from again then to now.

AH: Oh, that’s a fantastic query. Man, beginning off within the trade with, you understand, doing the entire stuff with Interceptor, like the place we have been, what we have been simply speaking about, it was a very contemporary expertise as a musician. So that you don’t know what you’re moving into. After which quite a lot of occasions you’re like, I don’t even know what I ought to be getting paid, you understand, like you will have an concept, however you’re not, you don’t know. And so like wading via these waters is attention-grabbing and in addition harmful territory. However the stuff that I’ve realized has been all from, you understand, tripping on agreements as you go ahead. You signal an settlement, you go for it, you make the cash, and on the again finish you’re both like, this didn’t actually work out, otherwise you’re like, hey, this labored out, we have to make it possible for we do that once more, you understand.

It’s studying the whole time. As a result of that is the factor that I really feel like musicians get hung up on quite a bit, which is, you understand, they simply, they wish to make actually, actually superior, lovely artwork for video games. And like, there’s completely nothing improper with that. You need to, that ought to be the core precept that you just do. However it’s a must to just be sure you receives a commission so as to proceed to do it. As a result of in any other case you burn your self out and also you don’t wish to work within the trade anymore. And that, to return to what you have been speaking about with, I didn’t know the way a lot, like how in demand I used to be. I used to be proper at that time. I used to be about to stroll away from the whole lot proper after the entire stuff with 3D Realms. I used to be finished with video games. I used to be like, you understand what, like there’s not quite a lot of avenues right here and I’m simply getting extra bitter as time goes on. And the final handful of issues I’ve labored on have simply bombed so why am I placing all this effort into this?

I ought to attempt to do one thing else. And I didn’t notice till I stepped out from 3D Realms how many individuals needed to rent me. And like, it’s a kind of bizarre issues the place like, I’m certain you possibly can in all probability relate. When you will have a job, like a day job, for those who’ve ever simply held like a easy, easy day job, you will get sucked into that total cycle of that job and nothing else issues round.

So an instance of this is able to be, I labored for a music retailer for about 15 years, okay. I used to be doing effectively for them. They needed to present me my very own shops. I used to be engaged on administration. And the cycle that comes with that the place you get so wrapped up within the enterprise of that makes you lose focus of plenty of different issues in life. And that’s type of what occurred to me whereas I used to be working with 3D Realms. That’s nothing dangerous about them. It’s simply whenever you’re working for a corporation reasonably than working for your self, it turns into that.

From the begin to now has been like only a loopy studying course of. You do need to stroll on landmines. You do need to get blown up a few occasions till you determine what works and what doesn’t. Stepping out from 3D Realms after they stated, hey, we don’t have the money to pay you. It’s like, oh, okay, I suppose I’ll go determine this out now. After which hastily, DUSK, you understand, like that’s actually the following factor that and AMID EVIL have been the very subsequent issues that I labored on. It was loopy.

TA: Clearly you get quite a lot of questions on recreation music, however what’s like, because you introduced up this complete factor about the way you’ve modified, what’s the largest false impression that individuals each within the trade and just like the gamers have about video video games music proper now?

AH: The largest false impression. Oh, that anyone can do it and it’s a small half. laughs It’s like, you possibly can’t simply throw something in there. Like, man, it’s I’d say that from a public like standpoint of I don’t play video games that a lot and I’m informal type of factor, a few of my mates and a few of my household are like, you will have the best job. I’m like, you haven’t any f***ing concept. You recognize, stroll in my footwear for a day and let’s speak once more. Yeah, it’s actually tough since you, you actually need to trick your self into moving into no matter environment or no matter world another person has painted already. Proper. Like they’ve already constructed the whole lot out. That is their imaginative and prescient. You need to step into it and it’s a must to step into it with respect to their design philosophies. And also you additionally need to have the arrogance to say, effectively, that is what I feel we must always do and why we must always do it. And there’s quite a lot of, there’s quite a lot of social confidence that’s wanted to do a gig like this.

It’s advanced in quite a lot of alternative ways. The artwork facet of it’s exhausting sufficient, like pulling shit out of skinny air, is tough already, however then, um, explaining to individuals why you wish to go this route and generally even arguing to get that route could be a problem in and of itself.

So yeah, I’d say the most important false impression is that it’s straightforward and that it’s not straightforward. I swear to God, so many occasions my mates are like, ah, you’ve acquired the best job. I’m like, no, man, I stay, I, I threw 100 pound bins from 6 AM to 4 PM. And generally I miss that.

Whiskey and low fueled half of the @RiseoftheTriad OST. Most songs have been composed between 9pm and 3am.

The extra you understand

— Andrew Hulshult (@AndrewHulshult) September 30, 2015

TA: So I additionally wish to speak quite a bit about your gear, however earlier than that, I feel we must always focus on among the recreation particular issues. So let’s begin with ROTT 2013. I’ve simply despatched you a tweet proper now, which I needed to reference. That is fairly an outdated one (linked above). Properly, I really didn’t know a lot about this soundtrack till not too long ago. I had heard about it and I had heard that quite a lot of my mates purchased that launch. They stated that it wasn’t that nice. I performed the unique on DOS however not the 2013 model, so I didn’t actually hear all of it in-game till the Ludicrous Version and when of us made an enormous deal about it having Andrew Hulshult’s music. I made a decision I needed to correctly attempt it then. I needed to speak about your thought course of between like, you understand, redoing these tracks and arising with your individual flare on them, as a result of anybody who, at the least any fan of yours, in the event that they take heed to that, they comprehend it’s your music. It’s not like, oh, this is rather like him doing a canopy of another person. It nonetheless feels prefer it’s you.

AH: The before everything factor was to be sure to respect your elders. I needed to make it possible for no matter I did clearly served the fanbase and by proxy served the whole lot that Lee Jackson had written. Lee Jackson and Bobby Prince, so far as I’m involved, that’s the de facto composers for FPS. The originators. You’re already getting into one thing effectively established again within the day. Persons are very accustomed to this. When you f*** it up, you’re toast. That was my first skilled gig. Entering into that type of strain.

Simply actually what it got here to, it was all actually pure. I heard these songs and I noticed the sport and what they’re making and I’m like it’s kinda jank, however it’s enjoyable. It’s ridiculous. ROTT is so ridiculous. I used to be like man, I used to be speaking to Dave and Fred about it. What if we did like rock and metallic stuff predominantly? That’s the type of music I take heed to on a regular basis. They stated let’s attempt it. Even Terry was like you must do it.

Actually they simply kinda gave me free reign to present it a attempt on a few of these issues. The primary one I did as a demo to work on it was “Goin Down the Quick Approach” and I bear in mind I handed that to Terry. Terry is superior and he has been nice to me for my total profession. By no means had a nasty piece of recommendation from him. He’s the CCO for Apogee by the way in which. I bear in mind handing him the very first demo of “Goin Down the Quick Approach”. His remark coming again to me was “It’s in the best route however it seems like a diarrhea of sound” As a result of it wasn’t combined appropriately. I used to be simply excited handy him one thing. I used to be like okay that is a kind of moments the place I’m going to need to learn to settle for suggestions even when it’s not from a musician and I do know that they imply effectively. I remixed a few issues and I feel that is what he was speaking about and I despatched it again to him and he stated it was manner higher and it was superior. Okay cool, this man doesn’t simply hate me.

It type of simply got here from the center. All of the soundtracks I work on, it’s me. Even whether it is getting into another person’s footwear, I’ve to do not forget that the source materials comes first, then you definitely put your influences on. So the source materials is the construction of the home however you possibly can put up no matter partitions you need and paint on it, and hold and embellish, however simply make it possible for the home continues to be the identical home that individuals bear in mind.

Now to deal with the Tweet above, Whiskey and low fueled half of the Rise of the Triad soundtrack. Most songs have been composed between 9 p.m. and three a.m. That’s true. Right here’s one little tidbit with it too. Terry Nagy, the man I used to be speaking about, the CCO from Apogee, he would often take me all the way down to a bar referred to as Hula Palms. And he would purchase the drinks after which he would simply take me dwelling and be like, “Alright, now go write some extra songs.” It was superior. I miss these days.

TA: This jogs my memory of that one monitor in IDKFA the place you used a tremolo to copy a selected sound and it was the right technique to do it.

AH: That was Darkish Halls in DOOM. It has the tremolo guitar that’s presupposed to be the rolling bass synth from that sound. I like that track.

TA: After ROTT 2013, one other recreation I didn’t actually play till not too long ago was Bombshell and I actually solely purchased that recreation due to your soundtrack. I acquired it after I was researching boomer shooters for an article and was trying on the video games I don’t personal. I purchased it and didn’t actually take care of a lot of it, however the music was nice. I type of consider that soundtrack with Nightmare Reaper the place they really feel like simply metallic albums from Andrew Hulshult reasonably than devoted recreation soundtracks. Was this the purpose in your profession the place you realized you’re actually good at bringing metallic into these sorts of video games? It felt like a turning level.

AH: That’s that’s a fantastic query too like really yeah like proper round that point I used to be experimenting quite a bit with simply you understand making massive atmospheric like synth stuff and like orchestral as you possibly can hear on that soundtrack for those who acquired far sufficient, laughs, but additionally like for the for the larger fights and stuff, I actually needed to start out dialing up you understand my very own sound and my very own writing and you understand I’d already finished the quilt stuff I needed to wish to present individuals what what I might do and so yeah that’s type of actually the place my introduction to love my very own unique items began coming into place, so yeah that’s really proper. I by no means even thought of that that’s the place that began and in addition like I imply I gosh that’s if I give it some thought, that was 2013 is the top of 2013 is when growth began on that, and it initially began as a Duke Nukem recreation earlier than the lawsuit, and I had an eight string by that point. I used to be tuning down massive time at that time, and there’s quite a lot of stuff that by no means made it perhaps I’ll put that up on Twitter in some unspecified time in the future however there’s quite a lot of stuff that by no means by no means confirmed up on it as a result of it was just a little too aggressive you understand however that stuff would later present up in DOOM you understand. laughs

TA: When simply discovering your music a few years in the past, the whole lot was actually good metallic, and this was in all probability across the time I used to be primarily listening to metallic earlier than I began broadening my horizons. I went via this part after I was studying guitar and I began listening to extra Dream Theater after which acquired a seven string guitar, and finally acquired into Meshuggah. It acquired me eager about how after I take heed to your music now, you handle doing distinctive issues for every recreation and make the songs match the sport correctly. It isn’t simply metallic anymore so there’s no fear about being typecast. Did you will have that worry that everybody is simply going to count on metallic from you whenever you’re behind a selected soundtrack?

AH: Oh man. You simply saying that simply out loud makes me wow. I nonetheless fear about that generally. There are moments the place I’m like am I getting typecast at this level, and also you saying, yeah I don’t have to fret about that anymore, I’m like oh thank god I heard it from another person the place they have been you understand like, as a result of I don’t wish to be like I don’t wish to be like straight up often known as metallic man you understand like I like metallic I like taking part in it I’ll make these information all day lengthy as individuals so long as individuals will take heed to it and even when they received’t I’ll in all probability make them, however yeah I like to color with completely different brushes like particularly after I become older, like I actually get pleasure from mixing sound design with guitars.

I like mixing sound design with orchestral devices, I like simply going full hand on my Eurorack synth stuff over right here and simply getting misplaced. As a musician I’m lucky sufficient at this level the place I can simply experiment, and I do know I can discover, I’ve the arrogance now after engaged on all these video games and having some success with it the place I do know if I get misplaced I can discover a manner out as a result of I’ll discover one thing that I like, and chances are high if I prefer it, I can in all probability present it to some individuals who will dig it as effectively. I’m so glad to listen to that you just’re like I do know that I can get some selection. laughs

TA: I imply if somebody simply heard DUSK and I’d say in the event that they heard DUSK even that’s fairly completely different. I imply if somebody’s not into metallic perhaps they suppose nightfall sounds the identical as bombshell however you possibly can completely inform that DUSK was attempting to be like this center floor of what you want and 9 Inch Nails’ Quake. I feel it has one in every of my favourite guitar tones in gaming proper now, and it’s nonetheless fairly timeless. I wish to transfer to AMID EVIL. I like the soundtrack to the principle recreation, however I wish to ask in regards to the DLC for 2 causes. Now the very first thing is type of like a private subject as a result of I imagine you have been going via a household emergency in the course of the time whenever you have been recording the soundtrack, proper? Once I was taking part in Dragon Quest VIII on the 3DS and my grandfather was within the hospital earlier than he handed away, every time I take into consideration Dragon Quest VIII now it jogs my memory of that. So do you undergo the identical factor with the AMID EVIL DLC music?

AH: I don’t suppose I’ve been in a position to sit down and digest it that manner but. However I do know precisely what you’re speaking about and I’m certain that’s what I’ll completely undergo. Yeah, to harp again to what you’re speaking about, to what you’re referencing, my father had a coronary heart assault. And it was simply out of nowhere. And it was on, gosh, I feel it was on New 12 months’s Eve. It was like 9 PM on New 12 months’s Eve. It was the yr earlier than it was launched And I used to be midway, I used to be like halfway via engaged on that soundtrack. And it simply scared the shit out of me. As anyone would. Your father’s dying And he ended up having like a, all 4 valves round his coronary heart have been like 90-95% clogged. So yeah, he needed to have a quadruple bypass. And fortunately, We now have a very, actually good coronary heart hospital proper subsequent to us. They usually’re at an age now the place they’re on Medicare. I feel it’s Medicare. I can’t bear in mind. It’s like when you’re previous 64 at a sure age on this nation, you will get on Medicare. And you understand, like well being stuff isn’t as a lot of a nightmare because it usually is. However they acquired nice care, acquired taken care of. But it surely was months.

It took months for all that stuff to occur. And there’s like so many issues that occurred in between that. Like this was proper in the midst of COVID. So like every time he acquired, it was proper in the midst of the massive Omicron spike for the world. In order quickly as he acquired admitted, he couldn’t get to an precise emergency room. He needed to sit in one other room for like two or three days and so they really needed to sedate him for just a few days earlier than they might switch him to a different hospital to get checked out. Prefer it was simply loopy. And I used to be out of my thoughts. I used to be loopy at that time. And so as soon as they acquired to some extent the place they stated we’re going to do surgical procedure and he got here out of surgical procedure, I simply wanted one thing to occupy myself. In any other case, I used to be going to self-destruct.

So I began writing quite a bit on the AMID EVIL stuff and began actually discovering that outdated like taking part in with a band and writing songs for you type of vibe getting in. And quite a lot of that stuff in a AMID EVIL, the stuff that’s like acquired quite a lot of vitality behind it, that’s fairly private for me. There’s quite a lot of feelings on that soundtrack. There’s additionally one thing else that I haven’t talked about in public but and I’m not going to speak about it right here that I began engaged on that has quite a lot of that as effectively. And that’ll nonetheless be some time earlier than that pops up. However I’d say that that was my fundamental outlet for some time. You may have one thing to look ahead to.

However yeah, like that soundtrack let’s wrap it up. That soundtrack did have quite a lot of pressure and quite a lot of feelings tied to my father nearly passing away and me attempting to wrap my head round that. You’re proper. I hadn’t thought of that.

TA: The opposite factor in regards to the AMID EVIL DLC is that this particular track I wish to contact on: Splitting Time. This track is attention-grabbing for just a few causes. It jogs my memory of a few of my favourite recreation trailers just like the track used within the Nioh 2 launch trailer, I’m undecided for those who’ve seen it. However extra attention-grabbing than that’s I used to be taking part in Avenue Fighter 6 with a pal of mine and listening to this within the background and he requested me if I used to be listening to Killer Intuition music? I stated it was the AMID EVIL DLC and he needed to know who made it. It jogged my memory fairly a little bit of Mick Gordon’s non DOOM music. We spoke about Killer Intuition and my pal stated “they need to get Andrew for a brand new Killer Intuition album” and I needed to ask if Killer Intuition influenced that track?

AH: No I didn’t really. However there could be little hints of that backwards and forwards as a result of gosh, there are moments after I went again to that Killer Intuition reboot as a result of I believed Mick did such a fantastic job on it. The place I’m like, man, the manufacturing right here is strictly what I’ve been attempting to do for like a handful of years, And like that soundtrack was simply actually inspiring to take heed to. I feel he’s simply, he’s an excellent composer.

TA: That’s one other recreation I purchased due to the soundtrack as a result of after I performed DOOM 2016, I used to be like I have to play extra video games with this man’s finished the music for and everybody was like Killer Intuition. I used to be like I’ve by no means heard this. I didn’t personal an N64. What the hell is that this recreation? I purchased it and preferred the music much more than the sport.

AH: That complete soundtrack slaps, man. He did a implausible job on that.

Once you notice @AndrewHulshult put his complete bussy into the Nightmare Reaper OST as an alternative of saving it for DUSK 2 pic.twitter.com/tU1AsySok0

— Dave @ House (@DaveOshry) October 11, 2023

TA: OK, so now let’s go to Nightmare Reaper a bit. I already talked about how this could possibly be your individual metallic album. I don’t even suppose it must be associated to this recreation. And that is one other recreation I simply purchased as a result of the music was so good. And I used to be like there’s type of like this disconnect between what I anticipated within the recreation and after I heard the music, as a result of I heard the music earlier than taking part in the sport and I used to be like, OK, I have to get used to this. However so earlier than I ask you about your thought course of between doing the music, I wish to simply convey up this different tweet (linked above) from New Blood’s Dave Oshry, which is attention-grabbing for Nightmare Reaper. Once I noticed that Tweet, I knew I needed to convey it up every time I interviewed you sooner or later and right here we’re.

Laughs

AH: At any time when Bruno reached out to me, Bruno is the developer of Nightmare Reaper. At any time when he reached out to me, we simply actually began speaking about a few of our favourite bands and we might simply go off backwards and forwards as a result of he confirmed me a recreation that he was making. I used to be like, “That appears cool.” I used to be like, “Properly, let me know for those who’re ever .” After which we simply began speaking about music. He’s like, “Would you be fascinated with working with me on this?” And I stated, “Yeah, I feel that might be cool.” And he actually was like, “I simply need this to be like a metallic file from you.” I used to be like, “Actually?” He was like, “Yeah.” He’s like, “You’ve acquired good influences.” He’s like, “I simply need it to sound such as you simply made a straight metallic file.” I used to be like, “Properly, it may well’t be simply that.” I used to be like, “But it surely’ll be largely that.” You continue to want to love, we have to, it must nonetheless be for a recreation. As a result of in any other case you’d have me, you understand, screaming over prime of the whole lot as effectively.

However yeah, it’s fairly near one thing I might have written at the moment. You recognize, as you go together with a, as time strikes on, tastes change. And you understand, however like at the moment, for certain, that’s what you’d have gotten for a metallic file. I feel that’s fairly shut, yeah.

TA: How do you handle doing that and in addition holding the soundtrack dynamic for a recreation then?

AH: Um, play via it quite a lot of occasions the place you possibly can work out the place you possibly can have rests and lulls. And the place any person’s gonna probably simply stroll round and search for issues. After which attempt to write one thing that you just your self wouldn’t get tired of. And that’s nonetheless attention-grabbing when it comes to like, you understand, like an ambient monitor or like a low vitality monitor that also strikes just a little bit. Simply music to discover to, proper? After which attempt to make a bit that enhances what that’s, however is tremendous excessive vitality or, uh, simply increased vitality for it. So like, in order that these two can work collectively. You actually have to think about it as like, you’re gluing two or three completely different items collectively. As a result of like Prodeus has like three items.

It has an ambient, it has a light-weight fight, and it has a heavy fight. They usually’re structured in triggers all through that recreation. So I’ve to think about how this ambient works with this low fight track after which work with this excessive fight track. Or this heavy fight track. And do all of them transfer effectively between one another, um, for those who have been to simply crossfade them at random occasions, you understand? As a result of that’s what the engine goes to do. So yeah, it’s like, I don’t know, you simply, you gotta take a kind of items of music, construct it out first, after which take into consideration the opposite piece.

TA: Because you introduced up Prodeus, that was the following recreation I used to be going to ask about. I don’t even bear in mind what occurred with Prodeus when it launched on Steam, as a result of I bear in mind being despatched a code for it and simply tried it out for overview, however was blown away by the music. I bear in mind I even joked about that when I wrote about boomer shooters. On the time, it felt like the whole lot boomer shooters was all about New Blood, Nightdive, and Andrew Hulshult. So Prodeus looks like metallic, industrial, bass heavy, and punchier normally. It really works effectively with the aesthetic however I feel Cables and Chaos is my favourite. You’ve spoken quite a bit about Prodeus, however I needed to know what your favourite monitor is from that and whether or not you may give us an attention-grabbing anecdote from composing which individuals may not learn about?

AH: Cables and Chaos is certainly my favourite one. Like, for certain. Like, that was the second. Um, so, like, they initially solely needed me to work on, like, the music that first shipped. Not lots of people know that I went via, like, this complete nightmare the place I needed to pull the whole soundtrack down throughout the whole, like, all this digital distribution and put it again up with all of the songs as a result of initially there was solely, like, ten items of music with Prodeus. After which once they have been getting nearer to launch they have been like, “Hey, we wish to… we wish to… we would like, like, ten extra.” And I used to be like, “Oh, uh, okay. Properly, I’ve already put out the soundtrack.
We already agreed on this, so that is bizarre.” So, um, they confirmed me what else they have been engaged on when it comes to, like, the degrees and the whole lot that I hadn’t seen and I used to be like, “Good lord, these look unbelievable!” So I acquired actually impressed with that and made a ton of actually simply extra aggressive items of music which was issues like Chaoscaster, Cables and Chaos, uh…I’m simply attempting to think about the opposite ones. Dystopian Dimension.

That complete soundtrack is superior. Like, that complete soundtrack, like, it was inbuilt an attention-grabbing time the place it’s…it was… half of it was pre-pandemic and the opposite half was throughout isolation throughout pandemic. So, it’s acquired these actually attention-grabbing tangents of, uh, the second half of the file’s far more aggressive than the primary half. Simply because, like, I don’t know, I used to be at dwelling and I’m like, I can’t get something out. Like, when it comes to my outlet, I can’t exit. I can’t do that. So, like, all of my vitality was targeted on how aggressive can I make the remainder of this, you understand? Like, after which we lastly get to place it out. I feel that was 2022.

Right here’s one factor from Prodeus that I believed was tremendous neat. So, Spent Gas is likely one of the solely occasions that I’ve been…Properly, it was one of many first occasions I’d finished it in the mean time. The place I’d taken an concept and I used to be like, how do I write an idea round this? And actually, like, the map they confirmed me was simply, you understand, inexperienced sludge and radiated bullshit in every single place. It seemed like Chernobyl. And, um…I used to be like, man, I actually wish to discover methods to take issues like Geiger counters, uh, and, uh, pulses from, from, uh, from fission reactions and, like, perhaps even the sound of the, uh, the flash that occurs within the video every time they’re testing the atomic bomb stuff. Like, something that’s gamma or uh, radiation that’s audible, I wish to take that and make a bit of music with it. So, there actually are all of these issues in that piece of…that piece of music. So, there may be the sound of a nuclear reactor turning on, doing what’s referred to as a pulse, uh, for the primary time. And that’s really utilized in a part of the beat. The Geiger counters used as parts of the beat that type of seems like a drum machine just a little bit.

I reversed the sound of, uh, the atomic bomb, the preliminary flash hitting the digital camera, making this “bzzz” sound. I reversed that and made it pulse backwards and forwards via the beat. After which, you understand, afterward the music is like quite a lot of guitar stuff to go together with it and the whole lot, however all that stuff that’s happening with the synthesizer is all based mostly round, you understand, like radiation. And I used to be like, “Ah, that is cool!”

At any time when I acquired finished with it, I used to be like, “Lastly!” I had an concept, like an idea concept for a bit of music that stems from like an actual life factor and put all of it collectively. In order that was like, that’s one of many standout moments for me on that soundtrack. I used to be actually pleased with that.

TA: Are you able to say something in regards to the DLC music or is that simply as much as the devs for them to launch?

AH: Uh, that’s as much as the devs for them.

TA: Something that’s completely different or attention-grabbing or ought to we simply count on one other banger soundtrack?

AH: I’m undecided in the event that they’re going to make use of the bottom recreation stuff or if they need me to work on something new. I’ve my suspicions that they’ll give me a shout in all probability someplace within the close to future, however I haven’t heard from them but.

TA: I feel in a latest interview the place you spoke in regards to the Iron Lung soundtrack, which you’re doing, clearly you possibly can’t speak a lot about it, however I, don’t wish to know in regards to the soundtrack particularly, I’ll watch for the film to return out, however I wish to know three issues: How is it engaged on a film soundtrack? How is it working with Markiplier? How has the funds out there for the soundtrack modified the way you’re in a position to strategy music composition?

AH: So the primary one was, how’s it engaged on a film soundtrack? Fully completely different. Like, I believed that, I believed that I’d be capable of stroll in and simply be like, “Eh, this received’t, this’ll be easy.” Oh. Like, it’s simply as difficult as the sport stuff, however in a very completely different route. The place I might know precisely to speak to a developer about “Let’s put a bit of music right here, let’s put a bit of music right here, let’s do this.” I can do this with Mark, however they’re utterly completely different conversations. One is, you understand, I do know precisely what’s presupposed to be taking place within the recreation right here, that is, you understand, you’re choosing up this weapon, otherwise you’re, this journey is occurring in entrance of you, that is the tone. The opposite is a movie that I’ll get one thing out of, however Mark could also be intending for a distinct emotion. So we’ve got to speak about these issues backwards and forwards earlier than I make a bit of music. So it’s actually attention-grabbing. It’s a enjoyable problem, to be trustworthy with you.

The second was working with Mark? Mark is superior. He’s a lot enjoyable to work with. He hears issues that I don’t hear, uh, brings issues up in, in my very own music, the place I’m like, “Oh, I didn’t even take into consideration that.” And he’s very a lot, um, a musician with out, like, being a musician. Like, he doesn’t, he doesn’t write, like, so far as I do know, he doesn’t write a bunch of music, like, on the common, however he understands it very, very effectively. And can, uh, often make choices after I hand him a bit of music, and he’s like, “Okay, that is, you understand, generally we must lower these backwards and forwards, however I promise you, like, like, to make it work for a scene.” He’s like, “However I promise you, we’ll do it as greatest as we will, or I’ll do it as greatest as I can.” I’m like, “Uh, you understand, like, perhaps I ought to simply recompose the scene.” And each time he cuts one thing to, like, probably make it, like, a tiny bit shorter, I’m like, “No, that’s precisely what I might have finished. Like, how are you this good at modifying these things?” Like, it’s, it blows my thoughts. Um, so he’s been implausible to work with.

The third is in regards to the funds for the film soundtrack and the way it adjustments the way it impacts composition? Budgets have been quite a bit larger. I’ll simply, I’ll simply maintain it at that. They have been, they have been, they have been a lot larger. Um, simply due to how a lot, it wasn’t, like, resulting from, um, you understand, like, “Oh, you’re engaged on a movie now.” It was, it was due to how a lot music we went via. Um, I wrote demos with them on the set. So, like, they flew me all the way down to Austin and Mark stated, “Hey, you understand, why don’t you simply write music whereas I’m doing scenes?” I’m like, “Wow, that sounds really actually, actually f***ing cool, yeah.” So, I might go down there about as soon as each two weeks and spend about two or three days there, simply sitting at, uh, sitting out entrance whereas they’re, they’re doing scenes, and I’d be writing music with my headphones, simply watching on a monitor, you understand, what’s happening in entrance of me, like, 50 ft in entrance of me. And so, there was a ton of music from that, and there’s much more music that got here afterwards that we wrote, and actually, um, I’m really about to leap on a name as a result of I feel they want yet another, yet another piece of music.

I’m gonna leap on a name in like two hours, ’trigger I feel they want yet another piece of music. Um, however it’s, it’s simply been quite a bit. There’s quite a bit there. And it’s choosing the feelings that go the place. So, like, there can be, I wrote all these songs for, you understand, um, catching a vibe of despair, and these songs for catching a vibe of anger, and these vibes for pressure, and this, and this, and we’ve got this big palette to simply select from and decide the place we would like issues to go, and that’s what, that’s what Mark’s been doing. So, yeah, it’s, it’s just about, I imply, financially, the very same factor as, that I might agree on with video games, however it’s simply, there’s the quantity that, like, we’ve finished with stuff is like, whoa, that’s quite a bit! So, yeah.

So, yeah, it’s been nice. It’s helped me out a ton. I’d like to work with Mark once more after this.

TA: Going out of your first film soundtrack, let’s speak about your first chiptune album, which was Nightfall 82. So, was that truly the primary time you probably did any type of chiptune remixing or composition or association, I ought to say?

AH: Yeah, the primary actual one, like, I imply, like, you would, you would argue that, like, the Rad Rodgers stuff has a few of that on there, however that’s, like, nearer to synth wave greater than anything, I really feel like. And, like, that type of retro really feel. So, yeah, this was the primary actual time that I, like, approached, like, a chiptune. Like, that is, it’s a must to keep inside these boundaries of restricted know-how. And it was actually, like, you understand, select your, select your sine wave. Would you like, you need sine, or select your audio wave. Would you like sine, sq., or, you understand, triangle? So, it’s one of many three. Simply constructing, like, drum kits based mostly off of that and, like, white noise and the whole lot. And, yeah, that was, that was attention-grabbing.

Like, when David approached me about that, I used to be like, “You wanna do what?” You recognize, like, utterly make, like, the Nightfall soundtrack and chiptunes of, like, why don’t we simply, like, select a handful of, like, the hits and go from there. Like, those that individuals bear in mind essentially the most, you understand? And that was enjoyable. Uh, that was tremendous cool. Simply bouncing these backwards and forwards off Dave and David. However, yeah, that was, that was the primary time I ever did that. And it was, it was fairly cool. I’m glad individuals prefer it.

TA: I feel, uh, Nightfall 82 was, like, this free pre-order bonus with the Nintendo Change launch. So after I began taking part in that, I used to be like, “Wait, did they really do that for the soundtrack?” After which I seemed it up and I’m like, “After all they did!” I do know clearly you’re, like, tremendous busy with, like, a ton of tasks, however for those who had, like, limitless time and assets, would you do a chiptune demake of any of your different albums? And for those who would, which one would you decide?

AH: Gosh. Which one can be essentially the most attention-grabbing is de facto the, uh, the query there. I feel the one that might be essentially the most attention-grabbing if I have been to try this can be in all probability AMID EVIL. As a result of there’s a lot happening in a few of these, it could be, it could be quite a lot of enjoyable to return and, like, hear a few of these melodies which can be, like, on, like, all string sections and stuff, and right here I’m taking all the way in which all the way down to, like, 8-bit, you understand? I feel that that might match very well too. However yeah, if cash wasn’t a problem. Yeah, and time. Time’s the most important one there.

TA: Talking of money and time, I used to be going to ask you about remastering one in every of your outdated soundtracks, like bringing it to the trendy Andrew Hulshult sound. You talked about that you just’d do ROTT 2013 in the event that they paid you to remaster it.

AH: There’s a ton of labor concerned in that. Doing that only for IDKFA was a ton of labor. Like, that was months of getting that collectively. Um, yeah, I’d love to try this for ROTT if Apogee can be fascinated with it, however, like, it’s a time factor greater than anything. I feel it’s a time factor for them, and it’s a time factor for me. I imply, they’re actually down the road, so, like, they will open up that dialog anytime they need, and it’s only a matter of when, you understand? When’s the best time.

TA: WRATH: Aeon of Destroy, I feel is a recreation you composed a very long time in the past, at the least in gaming, like, just a few years in the past, and it lastly launched this yr. That’s a soundtrack the place if anybody hears it, I feel they in all probability wouldn’t count on it to be you once they take heed to the soundtrack, and that’s one of many issues I like about it, as a result of right here, like, he does extra than simply metallic, like, you might want to get that into your head, like, that looks like a kind of issues. How was it engaged on that soundtrack?

AH: It was attention-grabbing backwards and forwards. Jeremiah, the developer on that, the unique developer, at first, I feel he’ll be okay with me saying this, at first we didn’t, we didn’t see eye to eye on issues, as a result of I needed straight up, like, nearly no guitar in any respect, Quake, Like, that is what you’re going for, that is the viewers, we have to harp even additional into this, and he needed some guitar combined in there, and like, we might butt heads backwards and forwards on it fairly a bit, till we lastly got here to love a mutual understanding, and I began listening to him out just a little bit extra, and he began listening to me out, and I used to be like, okay, okay, I feel we’re all good on this.

However yeah, it was, that one was just a little, just a little extra robust, simply because the, like, the event cycle was, wasn’t, you understand, as individuals know, like, didn’t, it didn’t go as nice, like, in the direction of about midway via, perhaps just a little, even just a little sooner than that, and I might see a few of that taking place in actual time, simply because I do know all these guys, so like, it was unavoidable.

In order that’s, that’s exhausting to make artwork for when you understand that the product itself is having some issues. However I feel Christalynne Pyle did a great job with wrapping the whole lot up in the direction of the top of it, which was a activity in and of itself, for certain. However, I don’t know, there have been some bizarre concepts pitched on the market at one level, the place like, I feel Fred needed like, like straight up, like actually excessive metallic tracks at one level. I feel they even had a trailer at one level the place I used to be like, this isn’t the tone of this recreation. I don’t know the place you guys discovered that music, however like, that is, this isn’t that.

However I’m glad that the whole lot ultimately was in a position to have some cohesiveness and, and meld collectively. I actually want that we had time to do some motion tracks, like, for that recreation. Like, I really feel like there are moments the place that would have, that would have been useful, but additionally on the similar time, that’s an enormous what if. You recognize, like, as a result of there’s two issues that it’s a must to think about. Which is, that’s the Quake engine. It’s just like the OG Quake engine. You recognize, what are the restrictions that we’re working with right here? Can we dynamically swap music, and is it going to work effectively, simply in addition to you’ve heard in different titles? And quantity two, um, would that take individuals out of it?

As a result of all people remembers just like the OG Quake having like, you understand, each map had its track. Properly, I say that. It was a disc operating that simply performed a bunch of music. However mainly, each map had a track for it. So, yeah, there’s, there’s a handful of issues there. However I just like the soundtrack. I feel it’s cool. I feel it’s, it’s, it’s acquired some actually attention-grabbing moments in it the place like, one in every of them the place I used to be, I simply stated, “F*** it, no matter. We’re gonna, we’re gonna bow a guitar via a bunch of pedals and see what that comes out like.” That’s one in every of my favourite items from that. I feel that’s in the direction of the top. However, um, yeah, it was just a little little bit of a wrestle, however I’m glad I nonetheless went via it. I had enjoyable, and I feel that everyone that labored on it was fairly pleased with it by the top.

TA: Now, DOOM Everlasting’s DLC. How did it really feel for you doing IDKFA and now doing official DOOM music? Like, it’s your soundtrack with David Levy? Did id Software program really speak to you about IDKFA beforehand?

AH: I do know that IDKFA was, was handed round that studio an entire bunch, trigger I, I’d get, um, DMs from those who work there that at the moment are, like, I take into account nice mates, the place they’d attain out in, like, 2015, and 2016, and, like, all the way in which again as 2014, the place they’d be saying, you understand, hey, I’m working at id proper now, I simply need you to know that I’m listening to your, to your music whereas I work, and I used to be all the time identical to, oh, holy cow, that’s loopy, you understand? Um, and I, you understand, way back to that, I used to be identical to, hey, for those who ever, you understand, for those who ever, for those who ever want music, let me know, you understand? So, however, like, by no means, by no means, you understand, like, pushing like, the button or the boundaries, trigger like, I feel it was introduced that Mick was engaged on there in, like, 2015? Like, it was just like the yr earlier than, or one thing like that, once they actually began exhibiting among the music, and I used to be like, oh, they’ve, they’ve, they’ve acquired that dealt with, okay, cool. So, um, however I used to be all the time fascinated with, find a, a technique to work with that studio, trigger I like DOOM, and, like, it’s actually is, like, the core of my DNA desirous to work in video games, is DOOM, and like, Duke 3D, um, so, yeah,

I all the time needed to work with them, and IDKFA, I kinda checked out nearly as a resume, like, I used to be like, I’m gonna put this on the market, if it will get in style sufficient, it’ll converse for itself, and it did precisely that, as a result of, uh, in, gosh, that was, that was proper at, like, quarter one, quarter two of 2020, when, once they approached me, I feel it was, really it was, I feel it was quarter two of 2020, and stated, hey, we, uh, we’re ready the place we want, we want music, the place we want music, and, uh, we want it shortly, and would you be as much as the duty for this? They totally have been, they knew what they have been asking was, was a tall order, in a brief time period, and so they stated, you understand, we will completely use the bottom recreation stuff, however we needed to at the least attain out and, and ask you, as a result of we, we really feel like we will belief you, trigger I, I’d made relationships with, with, uh, with Marty, some gentle ones with Hugo, with Chad Mossholder, their sound man, I knew all of these individuals by then, and, um, I used to be like, hey, you understand what, it’s, it’s like 35 or 40 days, f*** it, we, let’s do it, it was like, this seems like a problem, I’m completely up for it, and, you understand, I needed to maintain my composure the whole time, however within the inside I’m like, oh my god, you understand, like, I’m engaged on an official DOOM recreation, uh, and when, however once we acquired finished with that, like, I don’t know, it’s a kind of bizarre moments the place you go, holy cow, we went from, uh, you understand, a mod undertaking, uh, all the way in which to the official factor, and it’s simply, it’s insane, it’s, it’s loopy, I maintain operating into these parts of my profession, I hope they by no means cease, there are, one thing all the time surprises me like that.

TA: I feel it’s secure to imagine that lots of people who inform you they love your music convey up Blood Swamps from DOOM Everlasting’s DLC. As a result of I feel each individual I see on YouTube is like, everybody’s simply doing Blood Swamps, it looks as if the preferred factor and all, and for you that’s in all probability a bizarre feeling as a result of you will have this track which lots of people love or one thing which you’re actually pleased with, however you possibly can’t stream it or purchase it legally. Are you able to touch upon that in any kind? What do you inform individuals who ask about shopping for your music from DOOM Everlasting’s DLC?

laughs

AH: Properly, Bethesda and id personal all that stuff, they paid me effectively for it, so like I used to be comfortable to do all that, um, that’s not like a bullshit PR factor, like, for actual, they took care of me. They personal all that, so you understand, in the event that they, in the event that they ever select to place that stuff out, that might be superior, I’d completely embrace it and get behind it with that, however generally studios do this, generally they don’t, and it’s simply utterly as much as their name, however I’ll inform you that they haven’t any downside with you, you understand, grabbing it off YouTube or something like that, so do this to your coronary heart’s content material, throw it in your cellphone, no matter you wish to do, they simply, they’re simply glad that you just just like the stuff, and so am I, to be trustworthy, however hey, hopefully someday we will get an official launch, like, that might be cool.

TA: Yeah, as a result of I’ve the DOOM 2016 vinyl soundtrack, and I’d like to have DOOM Everlasting music on vinyl as effectively. Anyway that’s one thing I’ve been eager about as a result of it’s in all probability a tough state of affairs so that you can be in, as a result of individuals would who wish to assist you, like, clearly they will purchase DOOM Everlasting and purchase the DLC and stuff like that, however it’s an unlucky state of affairs for followers, is all, like, I’ll depart it at that.

AH: It’s not likely like a bizarre state of affairs in any respect. I’m completely okay with no matter, Bethesda and id wish to do with that, as a result of they have been utterly up entrance, they’re like, we’re gonna personal this, what we select to do with that’s…Yeah, yeah, and I used to be like, yeah, that’s high quality, I simply wish to assist, I wish to make like, a cool DLC for everyone that’s caught at dwelling, and I wish to write like, some kick-ass music for it. And, so there’s no emotions of like, you understand, oh, that is bizarre as a result of this isn’t out, or something like that.

I do know individuals are gonna rip it out of the sport, I do know, like, so do they, and like, that’s high quality. However, you understand, hopefully, I want to see an official launch someday, however that’s utterly as much as them, and I’ll respect no matter they wish to do, as a result of they’ve been nothing however superior.

TA: Now let’s simply speak about Blood Swamps for a bit, as a result of like, everybody loves the riffs and stuff like that, so, what was your thought course of in creating that track? Did they ask you to make one thing that match with the bottom recreation or inform you to simply go wild and be Andrew with the music?

AH: They informed me to go wild and simply be me, which I used to be like, that felt fairly harmful to me, as a result of I used to be like, man, the, you understand, what’s established right here from Mick? I’m like, that’s fairly sturdy. Like, that’d be like any person strolling into one other DUSK soundtrack, you understand, like, for the Indie Shooter, after which being like, we’re gonna do all synthwave, you understand, like, no, that’s not how that works. You need to serve what got here earlier than you. You need to present respect to what got here earlier than you. And that’s actually necessary for the followers earlier than anyone else. Doesn’t matter with an govt producer, doesn’t matter with the musician, doesn’t matter with the artist. It’s for the followers. Like, it’s a must to make it possible for no matter you’re going to do goes to, they’re gonna go, okay, cool, yeah, I perceive, you understand, why you selected this. So actually, for me, taking a look at it once they have been like, hey, you simply be you, do no matter you need, what you suppose serves Doom one of the best. I used to be like, effectively, that’s a no brainer. I’m gonna, I’m gonna, you understand, I’m gonna source some inspiration from 2016 and Everlasting, after which write what I might wish to write.

So, the colours that I’m portray with are acquainted, however the writing that I’m utilizing, what I’m utilizing to color, or the image I’m portray is completely different. So there’s some familiarity there. As a result of, you understand, like, Blood Swamps is kind of a bit completely different than stuff that you’d hear on 2016 or Everlasting. It’s just a little bit extra, that is, uh, that is like nearly like a conventional metallic track. And like, actually, uh, I bear in mind handing that over to Chad the primary time and him being like, “Oh, metallic. Alright.” And I used to be like, “Actually? That’s like, you’re shocked. However, um, the, uh, it’s just a bit bit extra nearly conventional. However, um, yeah, there’s, like, it was good having David and Chad to bounce stuff off of. As a result of the place I might hand them one thing, like Blood Swamps was initially like simply guitar, simply, simply bass, and simply drums. And it began, I began including issues in at, uh, after speaking to, um, to Chad and David fairly a bit. The place they’d be like, you understand, “Have you considered any sound design stuff?” I’m like, “Properly, what did you, you understand, what are you pondering? Present me the devices that you just’re working with and, you understand, like, let’s simply speak stuff out.”

We’d have like hour lengthy conversations each single day. And we’d all simply study from one another. It was, it was so cool. However, yeah, like Blood Swamps comes from a degree, I simply bear in mind, I’ve to put in writing one thing that if that is the one DOOM recreation I work on, it must be simply, like, manner on the market. Like, I’ve to, I’ve to, I’ve to simply take my shot. And it has, I’ve to tear out the entire boundaries which can be like, “Hey, ought to I do that? Shouldn’t I do that? Who provides a f***?” Simply, simply simply write the quickest, most aggressive factor that you can imagine at this cut-off date, and we’ll go from there. And that’s what, that’s what Blood Swamps was. After which the whole lot else got here after it, I used to be like, “Okay.” It was like, “We are able to do various things now.” You recognize?

TA: I feel you talked about the way you had just a few weeks to do the DLC soundtrack, however since you had the assist system of these two, it was all attainable ultimately. I feel you talked about that in one of many different interviews.

AH: Yeah, as a result of David was dealing with, like, on the primary DLC, he was dealing with the cutscene work, and he had his personal, like, stuff the place he was engaged on a boss, and a stage, after which I acquired these two ranges, so that they cut up up the work evenly between us on each DLCs. And there’d be so many occasions the place I’d name David or Chad and simply be like, “Hey, how are you doing right this moment?” You recognize? And one in every of us can be like, “Oh my God, I don’t know the place to go.” You recognize? And we’d simply speak backwards and forwards, and in some way we might give one another concepts. It was magical. Like, it was loopy. Simply after speaking to David, if I had nothing in my head on what I ought to write, after speaking to David or to Chad, I’d be like, “I do know what I have to do now.” It was cool.

TA: Going again to IDKFA a bit, you talked about how a lot work you needed to put into revisit and, like, Remaster the unique soundtrack. What did you concentrate on revisiting these songs? Like, did you are feeling like, you understand, perhaps I ought to have finished one thing in a different way? Or have been you want, “No, I’m proud of this. I simply wish to protect it for followers of IDKFA.”

AH: Yeah, it was extra of a, it was just a little tiny little bit of, “I wish to do issues just a little in a different way.” However, like, I’m speaking to essentially, actually small levels. It was extra about preservation than anything. And if one thing was being harmful whereas attempting to protect it, these have been the issues that I might attempt to remove. An instance of that’s there was quite a lot of compression on the unique IDKFA. Simply because I used to be nonetheless in my early 20s at that time, early to mid 20s at that time, mixing in an condominium that isn’t, like, acoustically sound or something like that. So I’m making combine choices that aren’t the best, however nonetheless maintain up. Like, that album nonetheless sounds nice, however simply among the compression facet, like, on the grasp of it, is just a little aggressive.

So after I went again this time round, I really went via each single a kind of songs one after the other and simply gave it just a little bit extra head room, just a little bit extra respiratory room, in order that for those who take heed to it sufficient occasions, you’re not going to get, like, ear fatigue or one thing like that. That’s actually what I used to be involved about. And that’s the entire Doom 1 stuff from the unique IDKFA all acquired that remedy the place the edge has been raised just a bit bit in order that it sounds just a little bit extra open and pure. And I changed a pair snares right here and there, and perhaps like a kick drum and a bass, however they’re so small I nonetheless haven’t seen anyone discover them.

TA: You need to revisit Metallica’s St. Anger and do that for all of the followers.

AH: It’s inconceivable to repair that! laughs There’s been bands which have finished that. I’ve re-recorded that total file and I see it on YouTube now and again. I’m like that is… this is able to have been a cool file if it could have sounded okay, and perhaps some construction adjustments have been completely different, however yeah, it’s no matter.

TA: I feel when Metallica did Dying Magnetic, that they had the Guitar Hero Metallica stems which individuals used to combine it higher than the precise album. How does this maintain taking place?

AH: James attests to it. These guys are so massive that they legitimately have ultimate say on the whole lot that they do. So every time they’re touring and you have already got Tinnitus and also you’re mixing in a tent, I bear in mind them speaking about “Yeah, no shit, the guitars are brilliant.” I used to be listening to mixes in a tent and making combine choices on the highway. I’m like, “Oh, that makes much more sense now.” Like, oh my god. As a result of the Guitar Hero mixes do sound manner higher.

TA: This jogs my memory of after I watched Deafheaven and the way superb they sounded stay. You may have so many bands that launch albums with brickwall mastering ruining the sound of an in any other case good album. It’s a disgrace that some bands don’t get outdoors assist for issues like mastering.

AH: Yeah, it’s…I imply I nonetheless do my very own mastering stuff so I’m the beginning and end with all my stuff however I completely get it every time I see a band that has a file that’s simply utterly smashed. I’m like, “Yeah.” If I used to be only a musician who actually knew play guitar and that’s about it or actually knew play drums and that’s about it, I perceive how this occurs. It’s only a bunch of men within the room going, “Louder! This must be louder.” laughs

TA: So that you revisited IDKFA’s unique DOOM 1 music, however you additionally did nearly a whole Doom II soundtrack. I feel there was one monitor which was on YouTube or two tracks. Once you have been doing these new songs, how did it really feel for you as a result of now you’ve come to this point forward as a musician and did you are feeling tempted to make it a contemporary Andrew Hulshult album versus attempting to be Doom II? How did you strategy that?

AH: Man. This complete IDKFA factor with id’s blessing has been an unbelievable expertise. It looks like I’m closing a chapter of my profession with the followers as a result of IDKFA is what acquired me so many roles and a lot recognition beforehand. Properly, IDKFA and Rise of the Triad, however IDKFA was an enormous one and I nonetheless get individuals which can be like devs that attain out which can be like, “I do know you from the DOOM stuff.” And I’m like, “What? DOOM Everlasting?” They’re like, “No, IDKFA. I performed that DOOM WAD.” And I’m like, “Oh my god.” So I nonetheless get jobs due to that. So every time I sat down… At any time when Marty Stratton despatched me an e-mail a few yr and a half in the past to ask if I had time to take a seat down at QuakeCon final yr and speak about some issues, I used to be like, “Uh oh. One thing’s both gone terribly improper or he simply needs to hang around.”

So we sat down and he was like, “Hey.” He’s like, “I’ve an concept.” And I used to be like, “What’s that?” He’s like, “What if we offer you a license for the DOOM soundtrack for IDKFA so as to put that out on the entire streaming platforms your self and do no matter you need and also you give us a license to do with what we’re engaged on, which was the DOOM and DOOM II remasters.” And I used to be like, “That sounds cool.” I used to be like, “I’d like to lastly get that out on official websites and the whole lot.” And he was like, “Oh, it’s superior.” He’s like, “I hoped you’d say that as a result of this is able to simply be so cool to have this as a selectable factor. Prefer to go from the Bobby Prince to this if individuals needed to.” And I used to be like, “Yeah.” And I’ve been doing that with soundtracks not too long ago anyhow.

About midway via that complete factor, we have been simply buying and selling battle tales in regards to the trade and simply getting alongside. And I used to be having a blast. I used to be pondering, “Man, that is actually going to be closing a chapter in my profession.” I used to be getting just a little emotional. I used to be like, “I’ll inform you what.” I used to be like, “I’ll do you one higher.” I used to be like, “Why don’t we end DOOM II and make it the true deal?” Folks have requested for it ceaselessly. I’m like, “That may actually poke my viewers.” They’d be like, “Holy shit! Doom 2 is lastly completed!” And he was like, “When you’re up for it, yeah, completely.” He’s like, “We’ll get you a license for something that you just do on that as effectively so as to put that out as effectively.”

So, yeah. It was…strolling into doing DOOM II was a lot enjoyable. Each step of the way in which. Adam Pyle, the man that labored with me on Quake Champions, was the man that I bounced all my mixes off of. He informed me at first, he stated, “Hey, you understand, do no matter you need.” He’s like, “It’s you. It’s the explanation individuals wish to take heed to it, so I don’t actually have a lot of a say.” I used to be like, “Bullshit!” I used to be like, “You labored with me on Quake Champions. I’m going to bounce each combine that I do off of you, and I wish to hear suggestions from you.” It’s like, “I respect your opinion as a result of we acquired stuff like we did on Quake Champions as a result of we talked backwards and forwards.” So we did. I’d ship him… I’d end Working from Evil and ship it to him, and he’d go, “This sounds nice, or, you understand, like, what for those who did this?” It was solely a pair occasions the place he was like, “What for those who did this?” I used to be like, “Oh!” They have been all the time cool concepts. However I actually respect Adam’s skill to throw out issues now and again. He’s only a nice individual to bounce mixes off of. So, simply doing these one after one other and attending to the top of it.

As soon as it was all wrapped up, I’m not going to lie, as soon as it was all collectively, I used to be simply in my workplace and I used to be like, “Oh my god!” Having a second the place I had a grown man cry the place I used to be like, “I can’t imagine that that is taking place. I can’t imagine that, primary, I’m going to be a part of the unique DOOM in an official capability. Quantity two, they’re going to ask me to speak at QuakeCon, like, stay on stage and announce the whole lot. And quantity three, they gave me a license for all these things in order that I can put it out and I can really make some cash off of it. That doesn’t occur with an enormous studio. They don’t simply go, “Right here’s the soundtrack. Have enjoyable.”

I don’t know. It’s simply nonetheless so loopy. It hasn’t actually sunk in for me nonetheless. I’m nonetheless in that bizarre spot the place I’m like, “Yeah, that is on the market. We’re selling it.” And as soon as that’s over, I’m certain I’ll be like, “Oh my god.” You recognize, like, “Holy cow.” But it surely’s been enjoyable.

The DOOM II stuff, I needed it to be one thing just a little bit extra contemporary on the place I’m at as an artist. I didn’t need it to be precisely like IDKFA, like the unique DOOM I stuff. As a result of if I have been to try this, I’d have to return and utterly remix all of DOOM I stuff, which I used to be like, “No, that must be preserved. Folks know what that’s.” So you possibly can’t contact that. That’s already finished. So I believed, “Okay, effectively what if I simply gave them how I might do DOOM II proper now?” Which is strictly what it’s. All that stuff is like, “Yeah, f*** yeah.” These are the precise choices that I might make with synths, with guitars, with drums. I feel the whole lot slams. I feel it sounds nice. So it’s only a image from 2011, 2012 with the unique IDKFA. It acquired formally launched in 2016, however it began engaged on it way back to again. So it’s an image of the place I used to be as a musician, that far again. After which this one is an image of 2024. So that you get it’s type of like a time capsule.

TA: Was The Healer Stalks one of many new songs as a result of it positively looks like trendy Andrew Hulshult?

AH: Yeah, that was the second written. I feel I nearly went in chronological order doing that total soundtrack.

TA: You and I’ve each been taking part in DOOM because the 90s. Once I began studying guitar and taking part in quite a bit, I began eager about the DOOM soundtrack and among the songs positively have bits that remind me of different band music like Pantera. Once you did IDKFA and simply heard the music normally, what did you consider that and the way does it really feel revisiting a few of these songs now? Stuff like A New Stage and This Love from Pantera immediately spring to thoughts.

laughs

AH: Yeah. A few of that stuff’s fairly shut. Like generally, proper? But it surely’s completely different sufficient the place you’re like, oh, okay. Yeah. However yeah, there’s positively some inspirations that have been taken from like thrash metallic for certain. As a result of I imply, like they all the time talked about Romero having on like Slayer and Metallica and all that stuff like taking part in whereas they have been making the sport. So it solely is sensible that they’re like, you understand, hey, make one thing comparable round this. I don’t know precisely how that story went. I wasn’t there. I used to be like, you understand, I used to be like 4. However that makes full sense in my head. And yeah, going again and listening to them like, yeah, it’s there someplace within the ballpark of it for certain. Like

TA: So after DOOM II, have you ever gotten individuals saying, when are we getting an IDKFA model of Quake and stuff? Since you did one track, proper?

AH: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I did the theme. I feel I did that only for enjoyable. And I feel I actually did that as individuals have been, I noticed a bunch of discussion board posts. It was both discussion board posts or Discord about individuals undecided like about me on DUSK of all issues. Prefer it wasn’t even like a completely introduced recreation, however they have been like, “I’m undecided Andrew”. And I used to be like, OK, you understand what? I used to be like, f*** you. I’ll simply remake the Quake theme. And then you definitely’ll see if I’m the best individual for the f***ing job. laughs And so I put that out and other people have been like, oh, and I bear in mind like a bunch of the feedback have been like, oh yeah, okay, he can work on DUSK.

TA: Do you take heed to that soundtrack typically? The unique Quake?

AH: Oh, man. I don’t take heed to it. Hearken to it. However like each time I’m going hearth up Quake, which is about like as soon as twice a yr. Somewhat greater than that if I’m taking part in multiplayer with mates. That’s the factor I look ahead to essentially the most apart from like the extent design is the soundtrack simply because it’s so on the market. Reznor did such a great job on that. It’s unbelievable. God, I want it’s a pipe dream, however I’d like to work with him on one thing and Atticus Ross on one thing in some unspecified time in the future. That may be loopy. However they’re like manner up there, you understand.

TA: Their film soundtracks are superb. I’ve really been watching among the motion pictures simply because they’ve finished the music as a result of I feel the audio design in The Social Community is unbelievable. I feel they did just like the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles factor, which I nonetheless want to observe.

AH: It’s so cool when artists step out of their consolation zone like that, the place it’s such as you’re identified for such as you’re indignant and miserable music after which it’s like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s like now I’m . Yeah.

TA: Going again to your music, we coated Blood Swamps being the preferred track which individuals convey up once they meet you and stuff. I noticed this interview with Closing Fantasy 14’s composer Masayoshi Soken who was requested a few track which he actually preferred, however nobody really brings up, and that he thinks deserves extra consideration. He stated Sport Principle. I wish to know what’s that for Andrew Hulshult.

AH: Splitting Time. Like everytime you introduced that up, I used to be like, oh yeah, from the AMID EVIL DLC. I imply prefer it’s effectively it’s DLC. So like by nature, DLC doesn’t get as a lot consideration, you understand. However just like the AMID EVIL DLC altogether earlier than I speak in regards to the music, the DLC is unbelievable. Like that’s my that’s one in every of my favourite issues I’ve labored on like in latest reminiscence. Like all of the music’s nice. Prefer it was , it was a pleasure to place all of it collectively. All of the sound design, all of the traps and the whole lot. It’s simply an unbelievable DLC. When you don’t have it, you must go get it. That’s not me shilling and simply oh go purchase the sport. Prefer it’s f***ing superior. They did an unbelievable job.

TA: Everybody can purchase that recreation and DLC.

AH: Properly, I don’t wish to appear to be a shill. When you prefer it, you prefer it. Like for those who don’t, for those who don’t dig it, don’t purchase it. You recognize we’re not not right here to love, you understand attempt to promote a bunch of stuff.

However like splitting time ending up that piece of music. It felt like an actual second the place I don’t know. I felt like type of a shift as an artist the place I used to be. I used to be far more comfy with quite a lot of the extra aggressive sound design parts being combined in with compositions and discovering methods to make them gel higher. And the whole lot actually got here collectively on that monitor and out every time midway via I used to be like, that is the ultimate boss monitor. I used to be like I don’t care what you’re designing. I’m like, that is the ultimate boss monitor. And you understand, two seconds after they began listening to it, they’re like, oh yeah, that is the ultimate boss monitor. We hadn’t even made the character but. I used to be identical to, right here it’s. That one hung round for a very long time. And yeah, that’s I really feel like that track could be very a lot a great indicator of the place I’m musically proper now.

TA: Now let’s get a bit into the weeds. Let’s speak about your present guitar setup, your pedals, your amps, string gauge, pickups, I wish to know no matter you’re utilizing.

AH: So the guitar I’m utilizing essentially the most is a Caparison Dellinger 7. I really simply had a pickup swap on it the place I put some Seymour Duncans. I feel I put an SH5 within the bridge and an SH2 within the neck on this one. Particularly as a result of the SH5 on it has a very attention-grabbing factor the place it doesn’t emphasize the low mids an entire bunch however they nonetheless lower via very well. So everytime you’re sitting there and like, you understand, like chugging on stuff and it’s a must to monitor that 4 occasions, it simply sits quite a bit higher within the combine than for those who have been to simply use like inventory pickups. There’s nothing improper with Caparison inventory pickups. They’re nice. They’re tremendous, tremendous punchy. However for my mixing model I simply, I do know what I would like when it comes to pickups so I simply, I swap these out.

I additionally did the identical factor really final week with the 8 string. This can be a Caparison Brocken 8 string. I don’t suppose they make this anymore. I swapped out the pickups on this one as effectively to a gosh, what’s it? It’s Duncan. They’re actually, actually well-known 8 string pickups by Duncan. And I can’t bear in mind what they’re referred to as now.

TA: I didn’t know Seymour Duncan even had 8 string pickups.

AH: They do 8 and like, I used to be initially going to get some Fishman Fluences for it as a result of they appear like they’d maintain the highest finish within the midrange just a little bit higher however after I don’t know, I’ve simply all the time been a Seymour Duncan man. And after discovering a pair that I actually preferred at a store referred to as Tone Store up the road from me. I used to be like, man, I actually wish to put these in my 8 string and so they have a tech there that’s simply unbelievable at what he does with all my guitars. So I used to be identical to, hey, order these and I’ll simply depart the guitar with you and like every week later they got here again and I used to be like, yeah, that’s precisely what I needed, sounds unbelievable.

I’ve acquired my Caparison 7 and eight, and I nonetheless have all of the guitars that I’ve had through the years for essentially the most half. I’ve acquired one other Schecter 8 string right here that may be a actually cool shade. It’s tremendous neat, like, it really adjustments from blue to purple.

TA: I feel it’s referred to as Prism or one thing like that. John Petrucci has one thing like that on one in every of his guitars.

AH: However yeah, this one has just like the EMGs in it and it’s a cool guitar. It nonetheless performs nice. Like, I nonetheless prefer it. However let me present you one thing that’s really fairly candy. So I nonetheless have, I purchased this in like 2004. And I nonetheless have it. That is the guitar that I really wrote all of IDKFA or most of it on and I wrote all of, I tracked all of Rides of the Triad with. It’s only a Schecter C6. It’s like simply inventory. It even nonetheless has the plastic within the again which is loopy. However yeah, that is like, I nonetheless have this guitar. I used to be like I used to be so near going as much as id, like which is simply on the road for me and being like after IDKFA was completed, I nearly was identical to, right here, you guys, you want this. You recognize, like, maintain on to this or one thing. Like that is the one. However like, I don’t know. It’s not like a mainline DOOM recreation, you understand? Like, it must be one thing like a mainline recreation the place I’d be like, I wrote this on this guitar right here. You recognize, in order for you this, it feels prefer it belongs to you. And likewise, a part of me is like, no, don’t do this. Like, hold on to it.

TA: Okay now string gauges.

AH: For string gauges, 10 to 59 on 7 strings. And on 8 strings, I feel it’s 10 to 65. After which usually on 6 strings, I identical to 10 to 46.

TA: Do you employ D’Addario strings? I exploit them largely.

AH: I exploit D’Addario for essentially the most half, however I bounce backwards and forwards generally to Ernie Ball.

TA: What about your amp setup and your pedals and stuff like that?

AH: So amps, I’ve offered nearly each amp I’ve ever owned. I had a JC-120. I had a few these Crate Blue Voodoos manner again within the day. Those that have been like, yeah, those that have been, have been mainly copies of these Ampeg tube amps that they made a very long time in the past. I had a Valve State 8100. I had a bunch of amps and a bunch of VHT cupboards as effectively too. And I offered all of them years in the past. I’ve actually simply been like working contained in the field for essentially the most half with like neural DSP plugins into an RME interface and I additionally went so far as getting one in every of these not too long ago, which is a Neural DSP Quad Cortex. So mainly that is all of their plugins constructed into like a very nice processor. However for a undertaking I’m engaged on not too long ago they have been like, hey you want an amp. And I used to be like, yeah, you’re in all probability proper. I do want an amp. So I went and purchased this and I plug it into two 100 watt Seymour Duncan energy phases. Okay.

They’re like, they’re these little tiny like 100 watt energy amplifiers. They’re strong state energy amplifiers. And I run the stereo out from that factor into the left and proper facet of these and people go into two Engel 2×12 cupboards. Which, okay, Engel 2×12 cupboards are superior. Ever since I heard a Rammstein file that used them I all the time needed to seize one as a result of I used to be like, god, these issues sound enormous.

TA: I wasn’t certain about this as a result of a pal of mine stated he was certain AMID EVIL was recorded on an Axe FX Extremely.

AH: Any guitar stuff I’ve finished has used both Native Devices Guitar Rig from manner again within the day. Like IDKFA used a ton of Native Devices Guitar Rig 5 and Guitar Rig 4. However just about the whole lot since DUSK has used Neural DSP for guitar work. It’s simply me plugging straight into my RME UFX and generally I’ll use pedals going into it just like the Unique BB Preamp however more often than not it’s only a dry DI sign getting manipulated contained in the field.

So, those that acquired essentially the most use on DUSK have been the Moogerfooger low cross filter. Imagine it or not, like anytime you hear the sound of one thing turning into type of lo-fi or something. It was all the time run via this filter. It was fairly cool. However the factor I like about it essentially the most is the drive circuit on it. Like I don’t even prefer it that a lot as like a filter filter. The drive part on it’s simply so aggressive that it’s a very attention-grabbing sound and like that sound that you just hear on the DUSK soundtrack which is like the entire actually excessive excessive finish that’s like actually excessive vitality. It’s nearly just like the 9 Inch Nails stuff. A ton of that comes simply from driving the entrance finish of this factor. And similar manner with the Fulltone Catalyst. However yeah, it’s just some of them. I feel there’s yet another that I exploit quite a bit. I don’t suppose I’ve it right here. It’s the ZVEX Fuzz Manufacturing facility which is simply an insane sounding pedal. It simply seems like rubbish. And that’s why I prefer it. It simply seems like you’re destroying a sign which is ideal. I’m cool. That sounds cool. That’s a fantastic impact. I like that.

TA: You’ve completed quite a bit in your profession to this point with recognizable music. As a musician, how have you ever been studying to enhance your individual abilities like programming drums, software program, and the way do you steadiness doing that when you have quite a lot of of us who wish to work with you on new tasks?

AH: Each day is rather like I don’t know. When you’re not instructing your self one thing day-after-day, that is my practice of thought. If I’m not attempting to sound higher in my very own head, no matter I feel is best, I’m losing my time. So if I really feel just like the drum equipment I’ve used like two or 3 times on two to 3 completely different information, if I’m like that feels stale. If I then go if it feels stale and I do know the ends and outs of it and make it sound good then I want to alter that drum equipment. I want to search out one thing completely different and work with it and see if I can get some completely different sounds out of it. So I’ll change devices and simply purposefully put myself in positions the place I don’t know the place I’m at or what sounds good with it simply in order that I can discover my manner out of it.

It’s type of like limiting your self, like placing your self in a field that’s actually necessary as an artist to just be sure you are working inside a sure scope of issues and going hey, you understand, right here’s one thing that’s utterly unfamiliar, get used to it and that is what it’s a must to work with. So, yeah, like I don’t know, simply always difficult myself is a part of who I’m for essentially the most half. So, it’s simply the way it all the time goes.

TA: I’m glad you introduced that particular bit up as a result of in one other interview of yours you talked about how as soon as you bought to your thirties an important factor turned getting good sleep which lots of people take as a right of their twenties. So my query is that attempting to have a routine is essential even for those who can’t keep on with it 100%. What does a day in your life appear to be proper now?

AH: A day proper now seems like about, a typical day is about anyplace between 6 to 7 hours of sleep which is about what I want I’ve came upon, prefer it’s like someplace round there, generally 8 after which randomly I’ll have days the place it’s like, oh you want like 11 hours I don’t know why, however I really feel high quality waking up utterly recharged with like 6 and a half to 7 and a half hours of sleep. So what I’ll do each morning is I’ll get up, I’ll go take a bathe instantly, like that’s the one manner I can begin my day is like I really feel like I’ve acquired to it looks like I’m washing off yesterday I don’t know the way else to clarify that after which I gotta have a espresso after which I gotta begin writing issues on a whiteboard that’s proper over beside me to the left as a result of in any other case I’m simply gonna spin my wheels all day lengthy and suppose, oh I ought to do that, I ought to do this, I’ll be eager about the whole lot I have to do after which by no means really do something. I don’t know if that’s ADD, ADHD or no matter that’s undiagnosed, I’m certain it’s to a point which I’ll get to that in some unspecified time in the future however till then I’ve the whiteboard and so long as I write stuff down on it on what I wish to do this day, I’ll knock all of it out, each single piece of it. However what’s tremendous necessary for me to do is simply plan out the day early on after which the whole lot simply involves it afterwards.

The opposite factor that’s type of new for me too is round like 4 o’clock usually I’ll now attempt to do, this has been throughout the final 3.5 months, I’ll attempt to do about 20 to half-hour of cardio. Simply because I really feel like for some motive elevating my coronary heart fee actually takes me from hey I might focus earlier than to now I’m tremendous laser targeted and may get via no matter I have to and it additionally places me in a a lot better temper if I’m having a shit day.

TA: You’ve beforehand talked about that you just love taking part in Cities Skylines. Did you play Cities Skylines 2?

laughs

AH: Yeah, however you understand like I haven’t gone again to it but. I have to attempt it once more in some unspecified time in the future. However oh boy prefer it wanted some extra time within the oven every time I attempted it. Like no offense to them. I used to be identical to wow.

TA: I imply you in all probability tried it on like your correct gaming PC. I identical to to play Steam video games on a Steam Deck and I might get it at 5 fps or one thing after a little bit of taking part in.

AH: Even with the 3080 I feel I used to be at factors I used to be sitting there at like 35 frames a second. I’m like actually? With the 3080? That is the place we’re at huh? Okay.

TA: Do you continue to play Hunt: Showdown and did you attempt the brand new Hunt: Showdown 1896 replace?

AH: Yeah. They’d some actually attention-grabbing selections with their UI that they simply pushed with this one which lots of people aren’t in favor of. I’m getting just a little extra used to it as time goes on. However man there are some issues they should hammer out with it. However yeah I nonetheless play that like a pair occasions every week with my buddies in New Blood. Like with Dylan who’s engaged on Gloomwood. I’ll play it with David now and again. I’ll play it with Mason who’s the developer on Religion. Like we’re all, identical to all of us simply hang around. We’re all simply mates. So Leon, me and Leon play it I feel essentially the most. Leon’s the lead on AMID EVIL. However yeah like New Zealand and America taking part in a web based fps recreation is a wild factor however we’ve got a good time doing it.

TA: Earlier than we wrap up, I wish to know your favourite bands and artists proper now out and in of video video games.

AH: I’m fairly boring on this one to be trustworthy with you. I have to department out just a little extra. Favourite bands outdoors of video video games proper now like for certain and so they’ve sat there for some time is Gojira. I actually like their mixing. I like how tight they’re stay. I like their selections on composition. I don’t really feel like they write a nasty track. I might throw out the apparent ones. Metallica is one other one simply because James Hetfield’s proper hand is like what impressed me to play guitar. Like how briskly you are able to do these issues is loopy.

Outdoors of or in video video games I’d nonetheless say I nonetheless suppose and it’s going to be a bizarre selection since you’re like effectively you write all this aggressive music. What’s Jesper Kyd? That man is rather like nice on the whole lot he touches and the whole lot he touches is all the time distinctive. However I all the time return to his early stuff just like the Hitman franchise as a result of it’s simply so unusual and prefer it actually fits these early video games very well. When you take heed to it outdoors of it, it looks like a very bizarre chilly type of soundtrack. Even from the very first recreation which has quite a lot of attention-grabbing issues like nearly drum and bass selections. It nonetheless looks like a chilly entrance.

You recognize, like a Hitman. And I all the time simply discover that stuff fascinating. How he was in a position to take so many alternative genres of music between all these video games and nonetheless make them match appropriately for that character. So yeah and I feel he labored on the Darktide stuff extra not too long ago which I want to present a take heed to. Everyone’s informed me that’s unbelievable however I don’t know I used to be knee deep in like 4 lively developments every time that recreation got here out. So I simply haven’t given it an opportunity.

TA: Hypothetical state of affairs, for those who had no time or funds constraints, for those who might compose for any single recreation and any single film which might you decide?

AH: So let’s see for any recreation if it had the best route I’d actually prefer to take a shot at like a Duke recreation. As a result of I really feel like that’s an IP that could possibly be introduced again if it’s introduced again in the best manner. And it’s a must to suppose that’s actually going to be dictated by whoever the inventive manufacturing is on the time. So if it was finished in the best manner I’d like to step into that.

Both that or I’m going to throw one other one out to you. I’d like to work on Minecraft. Identical to relax you understand. Like simply make one thing that’s utterly chill. So these are utterly two reverse sides of the spectrum.

However so far as a film, man, that’s a fantastic query. Let me give it some thought for only a second. Man on Fireplace. Like I like Denzel Washington’s work as primary: as an motion hero I feel he’s nice. However quantity two every time he is ready to have sufficient time to place drama into issues. And like both I don’t know the way else to clarify it apart from he does a f***ing loopy implausible job.

Both Man on Fireplace or American Gangster. A kind of two soundtracks I feel I might do can be nice to work on. As a result of there’s so many alternative feelings between each of these movies. It’s an enormous curler coaster that doesn’t go up and down as soon as. It goes up and down and does like a loop. And like you understand, it takes you facet to facet. Like each of these movies do that basically effectively.
01:48:40.760 –> 01:48:42.760

TA: You may have quite a lot of bands you’ve been listening to for a very long time like Metallica. What are your ideas on their latest or new albums?

AH: I can discover issues I like on just like the information that they put out as a result of like I’m a die exhausting. Even with this final Megadeth file. I might nonetheless discover stuff that I like I can chew on. No downside. Completely. However you understand these guys aren’t going to put in writing like one other Grasp of Puppets. That comes round as soon as in a lifetime. You recognize what I imply? They usually struck it 4 occasions. Like with Kill ‘Em All, Experience the Lightning, Grasp of Puppets and …And Justice for All. So prefer to even simply get that’s loopy. However I do discover issues that I like on all their newer stuff. Like I feel What was the 2016 file that that they had? Hardwired to Self Destruct. Yeah I feel that that truly had some actual moments of actually actually good writing on it.

Particularly the final monitor. I felt like Hardwired was a fantastic monitor. However I additionally thought Moth into the Flame was written tremendous effectively. There’s a handful of simply actually actually actually good writing on that file. On 72 Seasons, there’s nonetheless a handful that I actually like. However they don’t sync as a lot for me. And I’m undecided if it’s as a result of I’m in search of one thing sooner or not. Which that’s simply not the place they’re at in the mean time. That’s not what they’re writing. And that’s okay. I’ll say the final monitor on that file I really feel like is ideal. It’s so good. I can’t bear in mind what it’s referred to as off the highest of my head in the mean time. I’m horrible with track names generally. It’s loopy. It’s like 11 minutes and it looks like a 5 minute and 30 second track. I bear in mind listening to it the primary time. I used to be like gosh. There’s a lot emotion thrown into this track that it’s only a pleasure to take heed to. I like it after I can inform that somebody actually dumped all their feelings onto one thing. That’s when it actually strikes a chord for me.

However yeah even the final stuff from Slayer, there’s issues that I can discover that I get pleasure from. however I do know I’m not going to get the revolutionary file that we had rising up. That’s okay. I’m simply glad they’re nonetheless making music. And it’s nonetheless fairly sick.

TA: What’s essentially the most random piece of music memorabilia that you just’ve held onto for a very long time?

AH: I had a pal that I labored with a very long time in the past who fell on exhausting occasions at one level and he was mates and and like labored with Pantera for a very long time. And he was like man he’s like I’m attempting to eliminate these things I’m like why don’t you simply maintain on to it and like like right here’s right here’s you understand right here’s some money for those who want some money to get by. He’s like no no no he’s such as you maintain on to it simply pay me for it. I used to be like okay so I’ve acquired this vinyl of the Nice Southern Trendkill that’s one of many unique vinyl releases, however I even have a plaque that got here prefer it was given to one in every of their both their sound or their lighting crew at one level and it’s like for the tour in Japan for the Nice Southern Trendkill that very same time. And I used to be like the place did you get this you understand like what the hell. And he’s like yeah we simply you understand had him and I knew the man and he had like 5 – 6 of them that they gave him accidentally so he gave me one. I used to be like oh okay all proper. So I’ve each of these issues in my closet they’ve frolicked with me for like gosh I wish to say 15 16 17 years now however these outdated ones won’t ever go away.

Some individuals maintain costly booze in a decanter. Teah and I maintain handmade chilly brew espresso. pic.twitter.com/7DJlgWcjaB

— Andrew Hulshult (@AndrewHulshult) October 10, 2020

TA: Okay for my final query, how do you want your espresso? I often ask this on the finish, however I bear in mind an outdated Tweet of yours (linked above) made me much more interested in your reply.

AH: Yeah man I just like the chilly brew stuff. I beloved sizzling espresso ceaselessly however like chilly brew I don’t know the longer I’m going the better it’s to simply sit on a desk and sip on. I don’t need to be like that’s sizzling. I can simply be like no we’re simply getting the entire caffeine if I wish to. So chilly brew espresso. Chilly brew black.

I’d prefer to thank Andrew Hulshult for his time and assist with this interview over the previous few weeks.

You may sustain with all our interviews right here together with our latest ones with FuturLab right here, Shuhei Matsumoto from Capcom about Marvel Vs Capcom right here, Santa Ragione right here, Peter ‘Durante’ Thoman about PH3 and Falcom right here, M2 discussing shmups and extra right here, Digital Extremes for Warframe cellular, Crew NINJA, Sonic Dream Crew, Hello-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and extra. As standard, thanks for studying.