Once I first wrote about boomer shooters final 12 months on Steam Deck and likewise on Switch, other than New Blood and Nightdive, the commonest identify was Andrew Hulshult who has accomplished some superb music over time. He lately was concerned with the DOOM + DOOM II re-release that included his IDKFA soundtrack with new music for DOOM II, and having wished to interview him for some time now, I lastly had an opportunity to speak with him on name for a couple of hours to debate sport soundtracks, composition, bands he likes, guitar strings, pickups, chilly brew espresso, his first movie soundtrack, video games he’s enjoying, and much more. This interview was accomplished on video name after which it was transcribed and edited for brevity. Similar to my interview with Dave Oshry from New Blood, this one was extra informal than normal, and that is probably the longest interview on TouchArcade so strap in and seize a chilly brew.
TouchArcade (TA): So for these unaware, inform us a bit of bit about your self and what you do.
Andrew Hulshult (AH): Yeah, my identify’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 only write music on my own generally when it’s not for a sport or movie. However that’s primarily what I do. I work within the sport and movie business doing sound design, soundtracks, and generally voice appearing.
TA: How did you find yourself engaged on the canceled Duke Nukem mission and likewise Rise of the Triad 2013?
AH: Duke Nukem 3D Reloaded was truly simply sort of like, I believe that was 2010. That’s, I’m reaching again right here a bit of bit. So I believe Frederik on the time, Frederik Schreiber, the man who runs 3D Realms now, or I believe he nonetheless does, principally he was remaking maps in the midst of Unreal Engine 3 of like a few of the unique Duke 3D maps and posting them on Gearbox boards, which I believe considered one of them that acquired a variety 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? Perhaps this could be enjoyable. Like, I actually appreciated Duke 3D again within the day. And he stated, yeah, certain. You recognize, like if you wish to remake a few of the stuff and hand it off to me.
So I simply did a few of that. I simply had gear laying round and I wished to sort of discover ways to do that anyway. So I simply dove in head first and began sort of remaking a few of the outdated Duke 3D tracks. That sort of spawned into, you recognize, not quite a bit, not quite a bit was accomplished in Duke 3D Reloaded. It was identical to, you recognize, like some odds and ends stuff. In some way that become 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 if you happen to guys need to give it a strive. 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 folks now are like, you recognize, on the, we have been all on the forefront of just like the retro FPS revival stuff.
However principally after Duke 3D Reloaded, yeah, Apogee got here, stated, hey, we’re . And Fred stated sure on our aspect. And we began making Rise of the Triad 2013.
TA: It was humorous you talked about Dave Oshry as a result of once I lastly acquired an interview with him, I believe it was simpler for me to satisfy Iron Maiden than get that interview, however after getting that accomplished, I had New Blood coated. I lately additionally interviewed Nightdive about The Thing, however I wanted to finish the trifecta for boomer shooters: Andrew Hulshult. Now that’s lastly taking place.
We each chortle.
TA: I bear in mind in a previous interview you probably did, you talked about how if you have been doing the 3D realm stuff, you weren’t conscious of how a lot you have been in demand within the business. So when that door closed, instantly 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 large 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 need to know the way you’ve modified as a musician and as an expert from again then to now.
AH: Oh, that’s an awesome query. Man, beginning off within the business with, you recognize, 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 stepping into. After which a variety of occasions you’re like, I don’t even know what I ought to be getting paid, you recognize, like you will have an concept, however you’re not, you don’t know. And so like wading by means of these waters is attention-grabbing and likewise harmful territory. However the stuff that I’ve discovered has been all from, you recognize, 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 be sure that we do that once more, you recognize.
It’s studying the complete 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 recognize, they only, they need to make actually, actually superior, stunning artwork for video games. And like, there’s completely nothing flawed with that. It is best to, that ought to be the core precept that you simply do. However it’s a must to just be sure you receives a commission with the intention to proceed to do it. As a result of in any other case you burn your self out and also you don’t need to work within the business 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 accomplished with video games. I used to be like, you recognize what, like there’s not a variety 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 understand till I stepped out from 3D Realms how many individuals wished to rent me. And like, it’s a type 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, if you happen to’ve ever simply held like a easy, easy day job, you may get sucked into that whole cycle of that job and nothing else issues round.
So an instance of this could be, I labored for a music retailer for about 15 years, okay. I used to be doing effectively for them. They wished to provide 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 numerous different issues in life. And that’s sort of what occurred to me whereas I used to be working with 3D Realms. That’s nothing unhealthy about them. It’s simply if you’re working for an organization 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 recognize, like that’s actually the subsequent factor that and AMID EVIL have been the very subsequent issues that I labored on. It was loopy.
TA: Clearly you get a variety of questions on sport music, however what’s like, because you introduced up this entire factor about the way you’ve modified, what’s the largest false impression that individuals each within the business and just like the gamers have about video video games music proper now?
AH: The most important 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 sort 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 sneakers for a day and let’s discuss once more. Yeah, it’s actually troublesome since you, you actually need to trick your self into stepping 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. It’s important 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 believe we must always do and why we must always do it. And there’s a variety of, there’s a variety of social confidence that’s wanted to do a gig like this.
It’s advanced in a variety of alternative ways. The artwork aspect of it’s arduous sufficient, like pulling shit out of skinny air, is troublesome already, however then, um, explaining to folks why you need to go this route and generally even arguing to get that route could be a trouble 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 dwell, I, I threw 100 pound containers from 6 AM to 4 PM. And generally I miss that.
Whiskey and occasional fueled half of the @RiseoftheTriad OST. Most songs have been composed between 9pm and 3am.
The extra you recognize
— Andrew Hulshult (@AndrewHulshult) September 30, 2015
TA: So I additionally need to discuss quite a bit about your gear, however earlier than that, I believe we must always focus on a few of the sport particular issues. So let’s begin with ROTT 2013. I’ve simply despatched you a tweet proper now, which I wished to reference. That is fairly an outdated one (linked above). Properly, I truly didn’t know a lot about this soundtrack till lately. I had heard about it and I had heard that a variety 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 wished to correctly strive it then. I wished to speak about your thought course of between like, you recognize, redoing these tracks and arising with your individual flare on them, as a result of anybody who, at the very 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 at the start factor was to be sure you respect your elders. I wished to be sure that 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 entering into one thing effectively established again within the day. Individuals are very accustomed to this. In the event you f*** it up, you’re toast. That was my first skilled gig. Entering into that sort of stress.
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 steel stuff predominantly? That’s the sort of music I take heed to on a regular basis. They stated let’s strive it. Even Terry was like it’s best to do it.
Actually they only kinda gave me free reign to provide it a strive on a few of these issues. The primary one I did as a demo to work on it was “Goin Down the Quick Method” and I bear in mind I handed that to Terry. Terry is superior and he has been nice to me for my whole 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 Method”. His remark coming again to me was “It’s in the appropriate route nevertheless it feels like a diarrhea of sound” As a result of it wasn’t blended accurately. I used to be simply excited handy him one thing. I used to be like okay that is a type of moments the place I’m going to need to discover ways to settle for suggestions even when it isn’t from a musician and I do know that they imply effectively. I remixed a few issues and I believe that is what he was speaking about and I despatched it again to him and he stated it was approach higher and it was superior. Okay cool, this man doesn’t simply hate me.
It sort of simply got here from the center. All of the soundtracks I work on, it’s me. Even whether it is entering into another person’s sneakers, I’ve to keep in mind that the supply materials comes first, you then put your influences on. So the supply materials is the construction of the home however you possibly can put up no matter partitions you need and paint on it, and grasp and adorn, however simply be sure that the home continues to be the identical home that individuals bear in mind.
Now to handle the Tweet above, Whiskey and occasional 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 repeatedly take me right down to a bar referred to as Hula Fingers. And he would purchase the drinks after which he would simply take me residence 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 duplicate a particular sound and it was the right technique to do it.
AH: That was Darkish Halls in DOOM. It has the tremolo guitar that’s imagined to be the rolling bass synth from that sound. I really like that track.
TA: After ROTT 2013, one other sport I didn’t actually play till lately was Bombshell and I actually solely purchased that sport due to your soundtrack. I acquired it once 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 look after a lot of it, however the music was nice. I sort of consider that soundtrack with Nightmare Reaper the place they really feel like simply steel albums from Andrew Hulshult reasonably than devoted sport soundtracks. Was this the purpose in your profession the place you realized you’re actually good at bringing steel into these sorts of video games? It felt like a turning level.
AH: That’s that’s an awesome query too like truly yeah like proper round that point I used to be experimenting quite a bit with simply you recognize making large atmospheric like synth stuff and like orchestral as you possibly can hear on that soundtrack if you happen to acquired far sufficient, laughs, but in addition like for the for the larger fights and stuff, I actually wished to begin dialing up you recognize my very own sound and my very own writing and you recognize I’d already accomplished the quilt stuff I wished to need to present folks what what I may do and so yeah that’s sort of actually the place my introduction to love my very own unique items began coming into place, so yeah that’s truly proper. I by no means even considered that that’s the place that began and likewise like I imply I gosh that’s if I give it some thought, that was 2013 is the tip of 2013 is when improvement began on that, and it initially began as a Duke Nukem sport earlier than the lawsuit, and I had an eight string by that point. I used to be tuning down large time at that time, and there’s a variety 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 a variety of stuff that by no means by no means confirmed up on it as a result of it was a bit of too aggressive you recognize however that stuff would later present up in DOOM you recognize. laughs
TA: When simply discovering your music a few years in the past, the whole lot was actually good steel, and this was in all probability across the time I used to be primarily listening to steel earlier than I began broadening my horizons. I went by means of this part once 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 occupied with how once I take heed to your music now, you handle doing distinctive issues for every sport and make the songs match the sport correctly. It isn’t simply steel anymore so there’s no fear about being typecast. Did you will have that concern that everybody is simply going to anticipate steel from you if you’re behind a particular 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 recognize like, as a result of I don’t need to be like I don’t need to be like straight up often known as steel man you recognize like I really like steel I really like enjoying it I’ll make these information all day lengthy as folks so long as folks 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 totally different brushes like particularly once I grow old, 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 approach out as a result of I’ll discover one thing that I like, and likelihood is 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 simply’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 totally different. I imply if somebody’s not into steel perhaps they suppose nightfall sounds the identical as bombshell however you possibly can completely inform that DUSK was making an attempt to be like this center floor of what you want and 9 Inch Nails’ Quake. I believe it has considered one of my favourite guitar tones in gaming proper now, and it’s nonetheless fairly timeless. I need to transfer to AMID EVIL. I really like the soundtrack to the primary sport, however I need to ask concerning the DLC for 2 causes. Now the very first thing is sort of like a private matter as a result of I imagine you have been going by means of a household emergency throughout the time if you have been recording the soundtrack, proper? Once I was enjoying 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 capable of sit down and digest it that approach 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 believe it was on New 12 months’s Eve. It was like 9 PM on New 12 months’s Eve. It was the 12 months earlier than it was launched And I used to be midway, I used to be like halfway by means of 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, Now we 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 believe 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 may get on Medicare. And you recognize, 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. However it 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 truly needed to sedate him for a couple of days earlier than they may 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 a degree 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 enjoying with a band and writing songs for you sort of vibe stepping into. And a variety of that stuff in a AMID EVIL, the stuff that’s like acquired a variety of power behind it, that’s fairly private for me. There’s a variety 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 a variety of that as effectively. And that’ll nonetheless be some time earlier than that pops up. However I’d say that that was my foremost outlet for some time. You could have one thing to sit up for.
However yeah, like that soundtrack let’s wrap it up. That soundtrack did have a variety of stress and a variety of feelings tied to my father nearly passing away and me making an attempt to wrap my head round that. You’re proper. I hadn’t considered that.
TA: The opposite factor concerning the AMID EVIL DLC is that this particular track I need to contact on: Splitting Time. This track is attention-grabbing for a couple of causes. It jogs my memory of a few of my favourite sport trailers just like the track used within the Nioh 2 launch trailer, I’m undecided if you happen to’ve seen it. However extra attention-grabbing than that’s I used to be enjoying 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 wished 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 wished to ask if Killer Intuition influenced that track?
AH: No I didn’t truly. However there may be little hints of that backwards and forwards as a result of gosh, there are moments once I went again to that Killer Intuition reboot as a result of I believed Mick did such an awesome job on it. The place I’m like, man, the manufacturing right here is precisely what I’ve been making an attempt to do for like a handful of years, And like that soundtrack was simply actually inspiring to take heed to. I believe he’s simply, he’s a superb composer.
TA: That’s one other sport I purchased due to the soundtrack as a result of once I performed DOOM 2016, I used to be like I must play extra video games with this man’s accomplished 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 sport? I purchased it and appreciated the music much more than the sport.
AH: That entire soundtrack slaps, man. He did a incredible job on that.
Once you understand @AndrewHulshult put his entire bussy into the Nightmare Reaper OST as a substitute of saving it for DUSK 2 pic.twitter.com/tU1AsySok0
— Dave @ Residence (@DaveOshry) October 11, 2023
TA: OK, so now let’s go to Nightmare Reaper a bit. I already talked about how this might be your individual steel album. I don’t even suppose it must be associated to this sport. And that is one other sport I simply purchased as a result of the music was so good. And I used to be like there’s sort of like this disconnect between what I anticipated within the sport and after I heard the music, as a result of I heard the music earlier than enjoying the sport and I used to be like, OK, I must get used to this. However so earlier than I ask you about your thought course of between doing the music, I need 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: Every time Bruno reached out to me, Bruno is the developer of Nightmare Reaper. Every time he reached out to me, we simply actually began speaking about a few of our favourite bands and we’d simply go off backwards and forwards as a result of he confirmed me a sport that he was making. I used to be like, “That appears cool.” I used to be like, “Properly, let me know if you happen to’re ever .” After which we simply began speaking about music. He’s like, “Would you be keen on working with me on this?” And I stated, “Yeah, I believe that will be cool.” And he actually was like, “I simply need this to be like a steel document 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 steel document.” I used to be like, “Properly, it may’t be simply that.” I used to be like, “However it’ll be largely that.” You continue to want to love, we have to, it must nonetheless be for a sport. As a result of in any other case you’d have me, you recognize, 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 along with a, as time strikes on, tastes change. And you recognize, however like at the moment, for certain, that’s what you’d have gotten for a steel document. I believe that’s fairly shut, yeah.
TA: How do you handle doing that and likewise maintaining the soundtrack dynamic for a sport then?
AH: Um, play by means of it a variety of occasions the place you possibly can work out the place you possibly can have rests and lulls. And the place any individual’s gonna presumably simply stroll round and search for issues. After which attempt to write one thing that you simply your self wouldn’t get tired of. And that’s nonetheless attention-grabbing by way of like, you recognize, like an ambient monitor or like a low power monitor that also strikes a bit of bit. Simply music to discover to, proper? After which attempt to make a bit that enhances what that’s, however is tremendous excessive power or, uh, simply greater power 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 totally 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 sport. 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, if you happen to have been to only crossfade them at random occasions, you recognize? 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 type 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 subsequent sport 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 evaluation, 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 seems like steel, industrial, bass heavy, and punchier normally. It really works effectively with the aesthetic however I believe Cables and Chaos is my favourite. You’ve spoken quite a bit about Prodeus, however I wished 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 won’t find out about?
AH: Cables and Chaos is unquestionably my favourite one. Like, for certain. Like, that was the second. Um, so, like, they initially solely wished me to work on, like, the music that first shipped. Not lots of people know that I went by means of, like, this entire nightmare the place I needed to pull the complete soundtrack down throughout the complete, 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 need to… we need 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 by way of, like, the degrees and the whole lot that I hadn’t seen and I used to be like, “Good lord, these look unimaginable!” So I acquired actually impressed with that and made a ton of actually simply extra aggressive items of music which become issues like Chaoscaster, Cables and Chaos, uh…I’m simply making an attempt to think about the opposite ones. Dystopian Dimension.
That entire soundtrack is superior. Like, that entire 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 document’s far more aggressive than the primary half. Simply because, like, I don’t know, I used to be at residence and I’m like, I can’t get something out. Like, by way of my outlet, I can’t exit. I can’t do that. So, like, all of my power was targeted on how aggressive can I make the remainder of this, you recognize? Like, after which we lastly get to place it out. I believe that was 2022.
Right here’s one factor from Prodeus that I believed was tremendous neat. So, Spent Gas is among the solely occasions that I’ve been…Properly, it was one of many first occasions I’d accomplished it in the intervening 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 recognize, inexperienced sludge and radiated bullshit all over the place. It seemed like Chernobyl. And, um…I used to be like, man, I actually need 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 need 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 truly utilized in a part of the beat. The Geiger counters used as parts of the beat that sort of feels like a drum machine a bit of bit.
I reversed the sound of, uh, the atomic bomb, the preliminary flash hitting the digicam, making this “bzzz” sound. I reversed that and made it pulse backwards and forwards by means of the beat. After which, you recognize, in a while the music is like a variety of guitar stuff to go along with it and the whole lot, however all that stuff that’s occurring with the synthesizer is all primarily based round, you recognize, like radiation. And I used to be like, “Ah, that is cool!”
Every time I acquired accomplished 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 concerning 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 totally different or attention-grabbing or ought to we simply anticipate one other banger soundtrack?
AH: I’m undecided in the event that they’re going to make use of the bottom sport 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 believe in a latest interview the place you spoke concerning the Iron Lung soundtrack, which you’re doing, clearly you possibly can’t discuss a lot about it, however I, don’t need to know concerning the soundtrack particularly, I’ll look forward to the film to come back out, however I need to know three issues: How is it engaged on a film soundtrack? How is it working with Markiplier? How has the finances accessible for the soundtrack modified the way you’re capable of strategy music composition?
AH: So the primary one was, how’s it engaged on a film soundtrack? Fully totally different. Like, I believed that, I believed that I’d be capable to 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 totally 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 try this.” I can try this with Mark, however they’re utterly totally different conversations. One is, you recognize, I do know precisely what’s imagined to be taking place within the sport right here, that is, you recognize, you’re selecting up this weapon, otherwise you’re, this journey is going on 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 unique 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, repeatedly make selections once I hand him a bit of music, and he’s like, “Okay, that is, you recognize, generally we must reduce 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 finest as we are able to, or I’ll do it as finest as I can.” I’m like, “Uh, you recognize, like, perhaps I ought to simply recompose the scene.” And each time he cuts one thing to, like, presumably make it, like, a tiny bit shorter, I’m like, “No, that’s precisely what I might have accomplished. Like, how are you this good at modifying these things?” Like, it’s, it blows my thoughts. Um, so he’s been incredible to work with.
The third is concerning the finances for the film soundtrack and the way it modifications the way it impacts composition? Budgets have been quite a bit larger. I’ll simply, I’ll simply preserve 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, because of, um, you recognize, like, “Oh, you’re engaged on a movie now.” It was, it was due to how a lot music we went by means of. Um, I wrote demos with them on the set. So, like, they flew me right down to Austin and Mark stated, “Hey, you recognize, why don’t you simply write music whereas I’m doing scenes?” I’m like, “Wow, that sounds truly 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 recognize, what’s occurring in entrance of me, like, 50 toes 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 truly about to leap on a name as a result of I believe they want yet another, yet another piece of music.
I’m gonna soar on a name in like two hours, ’trigger I believe they want yet another piece of music. Um, nevertheless it’s, it’s simply been quite a bit. There’s quite a bit there. And it’s selecting the feelings that go the place. So, like, there could be, I wrote all these songs for, you recognize, um, catching a vibe of melancholy, and these songs for catching a vibe of anger, and these vibes for stress, and this, and this, and we’ve got this large palette to only select from and choose 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, nevertheless it’s simply, there’s the amount that, like, we’ve accomplished 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 really the primary time you probably did any form of chiptune remixing or composition or association, I ought to say?
AH: Yeah, the primary actual one, like, I imply, like, you possibly can, you possibly can 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 sort 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 expertise. And it was actually, like, you recognize, select your, select your sine wave. Would you like, you need sine, or select your audio wave. Would you like sine, sq., or, you recognize, triangle? So, it’s one of many three. Simply constructing, like, drum kits primarily based 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 probably the most, you recognize? 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 folks prefer it.
TA: I believe, uh, Nightfall 82 was, like, this free pre-order bonus with the Nintendo Change launch. So once I began enjoying 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, “In fact they did!” I do know clearly you’re, like, tremendous busy with, like, a ton of tasks, however if you happen to had, like, limitless time and sources, would you do a chiptune demake of any of your different albums? And if you happen to would, which one would you choose?
AH: Gosh. Which one could be probably the most attention-grabbing is basically the, uh, the query there. I believe the one that will be probably the most attention-grabbing if I have been to do this could be in all probability AMID EVIL. As a result of there’s a lot occurring in a few of these, it will be, it will be a variety of enjoyable to return and, like, hear a few of these melodies which are, like, on, like, all string sections and stuff, and right here I’m taking all the way in which right down to, like, 8-bit, you recognize? I believe that that will match rather well too. However yeah, if cash wasn’t a difficulty. 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 considered one of your outdated soundtracks, like bringing it to the trendy Andrew Hulshult sound. You talked about that you simply’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 do this for ROTT if Apogee could be keen on it, however, like, it’s a time factor greater than anything. I believe 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 recognize? When’s the appropriate time.
TA: WRATH: Aeon of Damage, I believe is a sport you composed a very long time in the past, at the very least in gaming, like, a couple of years in the past, and it lastly launched this 12 months. That’s a soundtrack the place if anybody hears it, I believe they in all probability wouldn’t anticipate it to be you once they take heed to the soundtrack, and that’s one of many issues I really like about it, as a result of right here, like, he does extra than simply steel, like, it’s worthwhile to get that into your head, like, that seems like a type 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 believe 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 wished 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 wished some guitar blended 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 a bit of bit extra, and he began listening to me out, and I used to be like, okay, okay, I believe we’re all good on this.
However yeah, it was, that one was a bit of, a bit of extra powerful, simply because the, like, the event cycle was, wasn’t, you recognize, as folks know, like, didn’t, it didn’t go as nice, like, in the direction of about midway by means of, perhaps a bit of, even a bit of sooner than that, and I may see a few of that occuring in actual time, simply because I do know all these guys, so like, it was unavoidable.
In order that’s, that’s arduous to make artwork for when you recognize that the product itself is having some issues. However I believe Christalynne Pyle did a very good job with wrapping the whole lot up in the direction of the tip of it, which was a process 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 believe Fred wished like, like straight up, like actually excessive steel tracks at one level. I believe they even had a trailer at one level the place I used to be like, this isn’t the tone of this sport. 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 in the long run was capable of have some cohesiveness and, and meld collectively. I actually want that we had time to do some motion tracks, like, for that sport. Like, I really feel like there are moments the place that would have, that would have been useful, but in addition on the identical time, that’s an enormous what if. You recognize, like, as a result of there’s two issues that it’s a must to consider. Which is, that’s the Quake engine. It’s just like the OG Quake engine. You recognize, what are the constraints 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 folks out of it?
As a result of everyone remembers just like the OG Quake having like, you recognize, each map had its track. Properly, I say that. It was a disc working that simply performed a bunch of music. However principally, 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 believe it’s cool. I believe it’s, it’s, it’s acquired some actually attention-grabbing moments in it the place like, considered one of them the place I used to be, I simply stated, “F*** it, no matter. We’re gonna, we’re gonna bow a guitar by means of a bunch of pedals and see what that comes out like.” That’s considered one of my favourite items from that. I believe that’s in the direction of the tip. However, um, yeah, it was a bit of little bit of a wrestle, however I’m glad I nonetheless went by means of it. I had enjoyable, and I believe that everyone that labored on it was fairly pleased with it by the tip.
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 truly discuss 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 folks that work there that at the moment are, like, I think about nice mates, the place they might attain out in, like, 2015, and 2016, and, like, all the way in which again as 2014, the place they might be saying, you recognize, 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 at all times identical to, oh, holy cow, that’s loopy, you recognize? Um, and I, you recognize, way back to that, I used to be identical to, hey, if you happen to ever, you recognize, if you happen to ever, if you happen to ever want music, let me know, you recognize? So, however, like, by no means, by no means, you recognize, like, pushing like, the button or the boundaries, trigger like, I believe it was introduced that Mick was engaged on there in, like, 2015? Like, it was just like the 12 months earlier than, or one thing like that, once they actually began exhibiting a few of 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 at all times keen on, to find a, a technique to work with that studio, trigger I really 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 at all times wished 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 common 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 believe it was, truly it was, I believe it was quarter two of 2020, and stated, hey, we, uh, we’re able the place we’d like, we’d like music, the place we’d like music, and, uh, we’d like it shortly, and would you be as much as the duty for this? They absolutely have been, they knew what they have been asking was, was a tall order, in a brief time period, and so they stated, you recognize, we are able to completely use the bottom sport stuff, however we wished to at the very least attain out and, and ask you, as a result of we, we really feel like we are able to belief you, trigger I, I’d made relationships with, with, uh, with Marty, some mild ones with Hugo, with Chad Mossholder, their sound man, I knew all of these folks by then, and, um, I used to be like, hey, you recognize what, it’s, it’s like 35 or 40 days, f*** it, we, let’s do it, it was like, this feels like a problem, I’m completely up for it, and, you recognize, I needed to preserve my composure the complete time, however within the inside I’m like, oh my god, you recognize, like, I’m engaged on an official DOOM sport, uh, and when, however after we acquired accomplished with that, like, I don’t know, it’s a type of bizarre moments the place you go, holy cow, we went from, uh, you recognize, a mod mission, uh, all the way in which to the official factor, and it’s simply, it’s insane, it’s, it’s loopy, I preserve working into these parts of my profession, I hope they by no means cease, there are, one thing at all times surprises me like that.
TA: I believe 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 believe each individual I see on YouTube is like, everybody’s simply doing Blood Swamps, it looks like the most well-liked 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 recognize, in the event that they, in the event that they ever select to place that stuff out, that will be superior, I’d completely embrace it and get behind it with that, however generally studios try 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 recognize, grabbing it off YouTube or something like that, so try this to your coronary heart’s content material, throw it in your cellphone, no matter you need to do, they only, they’re simply glad that you simply just like the stuff, and so am I, to be trustworthy, however hey, hopefully someday we are able to get an official launch, like, that will 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 occupied with as a result of it’s in all probability a troublesome state of affairs so that you can be in, as a result of folks would who need to help you, like, clearly they will purchase DOOM Everlasting and purchase the DLC and stuff like that, nevertheless it’s an unlucky state of affairs for followers, is all, like, I’ll depart it at that.
AH: It’s probably not like a bizarre state of affairs in any respect. I’m completely okay with no matter, Bethesda and id need 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 tremendous, I simply need to assist, I need to make like, a cool DLC for everyone that’s caught at residence, and I need to write like, some kick-ass music for it. And, so there’s no emotions of like, you recognize, oh, that is bizarre as a result of this isn’t out, or something like that.
I do know persons are gonna rip it out of the sport, I do know, like, so do they, and like, that’s tremendous. However, you recognize, hopefully, I wish to see an official launch someday, however that’s utterly as much as them, and I’ll respect no matter they need 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 sport or inform you to only 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 recognize, what’s established right here from Mick? I’m like, that’s fairly robust. Like, that’d be like any individual strolling into one other DUSK soundtrack, you recognize, like, for the Indie Shooter, after which being like, we’re gonna do all synthwave, you recognize, like, no, that’s not how that works. It’s important to serve what got here earlier than you. It’s important to present respect to what got here earlier than you. And that’s actually essential 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 be sure that no matter you’re going to do goes to, they’re gonna go, okay, cool, yeah, I perceive, you recognize, why you selected this. So actually, for me, 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 recognize, I’m gonna supply some inspiration from 2016 and Everlasting, after which write what I might need 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 totally different. So there’s some familiarity there. As a result of, you recognize, like, Blood Swamps is sort of a bit totally different than stuff that you’d hear on 2016 or Everlasting. It’s a bit of bit extra, that is, uh, that is like nearly like a conventional steel track. And like, actually, uh, I bear in mind handing that over to Chad the primary time and him being like, “Oh, steel. Alright.” And I used to be like, “Actually? That’s like, you’re stunned. 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 might be like, you recognize, “Have you considered any sound design stuff?” I’m like, “Properly, what did you, you recognize, what are you considering? Present me the devices that you simply’re working with and, you recognize, like, let’s simply discuss stuff out.”
We’d have like hour lengthy conversations each single day. And we’d all simply be taught from one another. It was, it was so cool. However, yeah, like Blood Swamps comes from some extent, I simply bear in mind, I’ve to jot down one thing that if that is the one DOOM sport I work on, it must be simply, like, approach on the market. Like, I’ve to, I’ve to, I’ve to only take my shot. And it has, I’ve to tear out the entire boundaries which are 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 will do various things now.” You recognize?
TA: I believe you talked about the way you had a couple of weeks to do the DLC soundtrack, however since you had the help system of these two, it was all potential in the long run. I believe 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 degree, after which I acquired these two ranges, so that they break 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 at this time?” You recognize? And considered one of us could be like, “Oh my God, I don’t know the place to go.” You recognize? And we’d simply discuss backwards and forwards, and one way or the other 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 must 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 recognize, perhaps I ought to have accomplished one thing otherwise? Or have been you want, “No, I’m proud of this. I simply need to protect it for followers of IDKFA.”
AH: Yeah, it was extra of a, it was a bit of tiny little bit of, “I need to do issues a bit of otherwise.” 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 making an attempt to protect it, these have been the issues that I might attempt to eradicate. An instance of that’s there was a variety 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 house that isn’t, like, acoustically sound or something like that. So I’m making combine selections that aren’t the best, however nonetheless maintain up. Like, that album nonetheless sounds nice, however simply a few of the compression aspect, like, on the grasp of it, is a bit of aggressive.
So once I went again this time round, I truly went by means of each single a type of songs one after the other and simply gave it a bit of bit extra head room, a bit of bit extra respiratory room, in order that if you happen to 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 brink has been raised just a bit bit in order that it sounds a bit of 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: It is best to revisit Metallica’s St. Anger and do that for all of the followers.
AH: It’s unimaginable to repair that! laughs There’s been bands which have accomplished that. I’ve re-recorded that whole document and I see it on YouTube once in a while. I’m like that is… this could have been a cool document if it will have sounded okay, and perhaps some construction modifications have been totally different, however yeah, it’s no matter.
TA: I believe when Metallica did Demise Magnetic, they’d the Guitar Hero Metallica stems which individuals used to combine it higher than the precise album. How does this preserve taking place?
AH: James attests to it. These guys are so large that they legitimately have closing 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 selections 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 approach higher.
TA: This jogs my memory of once I watched Deafheaven and the way superb they sounded dwell. You could 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 exterior 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 document that’s simply utterly smashed. I’m like, “Yeah.” If I used to be only a musician who actually knew the best way to play guitar and that’s about it or actually knew the best way to play drums and that’s about it, I perceive how this occurs. It’s only a bunch of fellows 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 believe 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 up to now forward as a musician and did you are feeling tempted to make it a contemporary Andrew Hulshult album versus making an attempt to be Doom II? How did you strategy that?
AH: Man. This entire IDKFA factor with id’s blessing has been an unimaginable expertise. It seems 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 folks which are like devs that attain out which are 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… Every time Marty Stratton despatched me an e-mail a couple of 12 months and a half in the past to ask if I had time to take a seat down at QuakeCon final 12 months and speak about some issues, I used to be like, “Uh oh. One thing’s both gone terribly flawed 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 provide you with a license for the DOOM soundtrack for IDKFA with the intention 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 could simply be so cool to have this as a selectable factor. Wish to go from the Bobby Prince to this if folks wished to.” And I used to be like, “Yeah.” And I’ve been doing that with soundtracks lately in any case.
About midway by means of that entire factor, we have been simply buying and selling struggle tales concerning the business and simply getting alongside. And I used to be having a blast. I used to be considering, “Man, that is actually going to be closing a chapter in my profession.” I used to be getting a bit of 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 without end. I’m like, “That will actually poke my viewers.” They’d be like, “Holy shit! Doom 2 is lastly completed!” And he was like, “In the event you’re up for it, yeah, completely.” He’s like, “We’ll get you a license for something that you simply do on that as effectively with the intention 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 recognize, do no matter you need.” He’s like, “It’s you. It’s the rationale folks need 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 need 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 Operating from Evil and ship it to him, and he’d go, “This sounds nice, or, you recognize, like, what if you happen to did this?” It was solely a pair occasions the place he was like, “What if you happen to did this?” I used to be like, “Oh!” They have been at all times cool concepts. However I actually respect Adam’s potential to throw out issues once in a while. He’s only a nice individual to bounce mixes off of. So, simply doing these one after one other and attending to the tip 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, dwell 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 truly 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.” However it’s been enjoyable.
The DOOM II stuff, I wished it to be one thing a bit of 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 do 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 accomplished. So I believed, “Okay, effectively what if I simply gave them how I might do DOOM II proper now?” Which is precisely what it’s. All that stuff is like, “Yeah, f*** yeah.” These are the precise selections that I might make with synths, with guitars, with drums. I believe the whole lot slams. I believe it sounds nice. So it’s only a image from 2011, 2012 with the unique IDKFA. It acquired formally launched in 2016, nevertheless 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 sort of like a time capsule.
TA: Was The Healer Stalks one of many new songs as a result of it positively seems like fashionable Andrew Hulshult?
AH: Yeah, that was the second written. I believe I nearly went in chronological order doing that whole soundtrack.
TA: You and I’ve each been enjoying DOOM because the 90s. Once I began studying guitar and enjoying quite a bit, I began occupied with the DOOM soundtrack and a few of 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? However it’s totally different sufficient the place you’re like, oh, okay. Yeah. However yeah, there’s positively some inspirations that have been taken from like thrash steel for certain. As a result of I imply, like they at all times talked about Romero having on like Slayer and Metallica and all that stuff like enjoying whereas they have been making the sport. So it solely is sensible that they’re like, you recognize, 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 recognize, 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 folks 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 believe I did that only for enjoyable. And I believe I truthfully did that as folks have been, I noticed a bunch of discussion board posts. It was both discussion board posts or Discord about folks undecided like about me on DUSK of all issues. Prefer it wasn’t even like a completely introduced sport, however they have been like, “I’m undecided Andrew”. And I used to be like, OK, you recognize what? I used to be like, f*** you. I’ll simply remake the Quake theme. And you then’ll see if I’m the appropriate individual for the f***ing job. laughs And so I put that out and folks 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 usually? The unique Quake?
AH: Oh, man. I don’t take heed to it. Take heed to it. However like each time I am going hearth up Quake, which is about like as soon as twice a 12 months. A little bit greater than that if I’m enjoying multiplayer with mates. That’s the factor I sit up for probably the most moreover like the extent design is the soundtrack simply because it’s so on the market. Reznor did such a very good job on that. It’s unimaginable. 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 will be loopy. However they’re like approach up there, you recognize.
TA: Their film soundtracks are superb. I’ve truly been watching a few of the films simply because they’ve accomplished the music as a result of I believe the audio design in The Social Community is unimaginable. I believe they did just like the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles factor, which I nonetheless want to look at.
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 offended 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 most well-liked track which individuals convey up once they meet you and stuff. I noticed this interview with Final Fantasy 14’s composer Masayoshi Soken who was requested a couple of track which he actually appreciated, however nobody truly brings up, and that he thinks deserves extra consideration. He stated Game Theory. I need 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 recognize. However just like the AMID EVIL DLC altogether earlier than I discuss concerning the music, the DLC is unimaginable. Like that’s my that’s considered one 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 unimaginable DLC. In the event you don’t have it, it’s best to go get it. That’s not me shilling and simply oh go purchase the sport. Prefer it’s f***ing superior. They did an unimaginable job.
TA: Everybody should purchase that sport and DLC.
AH: Properly, I don’t need to appear to be a shill. In the event you prefer it, you prefer it. Like if you happen to don’t, if you happen to don’t dig it, don’t purchase it. You recognize we’re not not right here to love, you recognize 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 sort of a shift as an artist the place I used to be. I used to be far more comfy with a variety of the extra aggressive sound design parts being blended 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 by means of 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 recognize, 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 very good 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 need to know no matter you’re utilizing.
AH: So the guitar I’m utilizing probably the most is a Caparison Dellinger 7. I truly simply had a pickup swap on it the place I put some Seymour Duncans. I believe 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 reduce by means of rather well. So everytime you’re sitting there and like, you recognize, 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 if you happen to have been to only use like inventory pickups. There’s nothing flawed 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 by way of pickups so I simply, I swap these out.
I additionally did the identical factor truly 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 might maintain the highest finish within the midrange a bit of bit higher however after I don’t know, I’ve simply at all times been a Seymour Duncan man. And after discovering a pair that I actually appreciated at a store referred to as Tone Store up the road from me. I used to be like, man, I actually need to put these in my 8 string and so they have a tech there that’s simply unimaginable 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 wished, sounds unimaginable.
I’ve acquired my Caparison 7 and eight, and I nonetheless have all of the guitars that I’ve had over time for probably the most half. I’ve acquired one other Schecter 8 string right here that could be a actually cool coloration. It’s tremendous neat, like, it truly modifications from blue to purple.
TA: I believe it’s referred to as Prism or one thing like that. John Petrucci has one thing like that on considered one 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 truly fairly candy. So I nonetheless have, I purchased this in like 2004. And I nonetheless have it. That is the guitar that I truly 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 sport, you recognize? Like, it must be one thing like a mainline sport the place I’d be like, I wrote this on this guitar right here. You recognize, if you would like this, it feels prefer it belongs to you. And likewise, a part of me is like, no, don’t try this. Like, grasp on to it.
TA: Okay now string gauges.
AH: For string gauges, 10 to 59 on 7 strings. And on 8 strings, I believe it’s 10 to 65. After which usually on 6 strings, I identical to 10 to 46.
TA: Do you utilize D’Addario strings? I exploit them largely.
AH: I exploit D’Addario for probably 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 bought nearly each amp I’ve ever owned. I had a JC-120. I had a few these Crate Blue Voodoos approach again within the day. Those that have been like, yeah, those that have been, have been principally 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 bought all of them years in the past. I’ve actually simply been like working contained in the field for probably the most half with like neural DSP plugins into an RME interface and I additionally went so far as getting considered one of these lately, which is a Neural DSP Quad Cortex. So principally that is all of their plugins constructed into like a very nice processor. However for a mission I’m engaged on lately 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 acquired this and I plug it into two 100 watt Seymour Duncan energy levels. Okay.
They’re like, they’re these little tiny like 100 watt energy amplifiers. They’re stable state energy amplifiers. And I run the stereo out from that factor into the left and proper aspect 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 document that used them I at all times wished to seize one as a result of I used to be like, god, these issues sound large.
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 accomplished has used both Native Devices Guitar Rig from approach 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 immediately 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 probably the most use on DUSK have been the Moogerfooger low move filter. Imagine it or not, like anytime you hear the sound of one thing turning into sort of lo-fi or something. It was at all times run by means of this filter. It was fairly cool. However the factor I like about it probably 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 simply hear on the DUSK soundtrack which is like the entire actually excessive excessive finish that’s like actually excessive power. 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 identical approach with the Fulltone Catalyst. However yeah, it’s just some of them. I believe 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 feels like rubbish. And that’s why I prefer it. It simply feels like you’re destroying a sign which is ideal. I’m cool. That sounds cool. That’s an awesome impact. I like that.
TA: You’ve completed quite a bit in your profession up to now with recognizable music. As a musician, how have you ever been studying to enhance your individual expertise like programming drums, software program, and the way do you steadiness doing that when you have a variety of of us who need to work with you on new tasks?
AH: Each day is rather like I don’t know. In the event you’re not instructing your self one thing every single day, that is my prepare of thought. If I’m not making an attempt to sound higher in my very own head, no matter I believe is best, I’m losing my time. So if I really feel just like the drum equipment I’ve used like two or thrice on two to 3 totally 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 the best way to make it sound good then I would like to alter that drum equipment. I would like to search out one thing totally different and work with it and see if I can get some totally 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 approach out of it.
It’s sort of like limiting your self, like placing your self in a field that’s actually essential as an artist to just be sure you are working inside a sure scope of issues and going hey, you recognize, 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 continuously difficult myself is a part of who I’m for probably the most half. So, it’s simply the way it at all times 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 a very powerful factor grew to become getting good sleep which lots of people take with no consideration of their twenties. So my query is that making an attempt to have a routine is essential even if you happen to can’t persist 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 would like 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 tremendous 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 approach I can begin my day is like I really feel like I’ve acquired to it seems like I’m washing off yesterday I don’t know the way else to elucidate 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 try this, I’ll be occupied with the whole lot I must do after which by no means truly do something. I don’t know if that’s ADD, ADHD or no matter that’s undiagnosed, I’m certain it’s to some extent 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 need to try this day, I’ll knock all of it out, each single piece of it. However what’s tremendous essential 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 sort 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 may focus earlier than to now I’m tremendous laser targeted and might get by means of no matter I must and it additionally places me in a significantly better temper if I’m having a shit day.
TA: You’ve beforehand talked about that you simply love enjoying Cities Skylines. Did you play Cities Skylines 2?
laughs
AH: Yeah, however you recognize like I haven’t gone again to it but. I must strive 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 may get it at 5 fps or one thing after a little bit of enjoying.
AH: Even with the 3080 I believe 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 strive the brand new Hunt: Showdown 1896 replace?
AH: Yeah. That they had some actually attention-grabbing decisions with their UI that they only pushed with this one which lots of people aren’t in favor of. I’m getting a bit of 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 once in a while. 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 believe probably the most. Leon’s the lead on AMID EVIL. However yeah like New Zealand and America enjoying an internet fps sport is a wild factor however we’ve got a good time doing it.
TA: Earlier than we wrap up, I need 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 must department out a bit of extra. Favourite bands exterior 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 dwell. I like their decisions on composition. I don’t really feel like they write a nasty track. I may throw out the plain 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 alternative 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 at all times distinctive. However I at all times 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 rather well. In the event you take heed to it exterior of it, it seems like a very bizarre chilly sort of soundtrack. Even from the very first sport which has a variety of attention-grabbing issues like nearly drum and bass decisions. It nonetheless seems like a chilly entrance.
You recognize, like a Hitman. And I at all times simply discover that stuff fascinating. How he was capable of take so many alternative genres of music between all these video games and nonetheless make them match accurately for that character. So yeah and I believe he labored on the Darktide stuff extra lately which I would like to provide a take heed to. Everyone’s informed me that’s unimaginable however I don’t know I used to be knee deep in like 4 energetic developments every time that sport got here out. So I simply haven’t given it an opportunity.
TA: Hypothetical state of affairs, if you happen to had no time or finances constraints, if you happen to may compose for any single sport and any single film which might you choose?
AH: So let’s see for any sport if it had the appropriate route I’d actually wish to take a shot at like a Duke sport. As a result of I really feel like that’s an IP that might be introduced again if it’s introduced again in the appropriate approach. And it’s a must to suppose that’s actually going to be dictated by whoever the artistic manufacturing is on the time. So if it was accomplished in the appropriate approach 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. Similar to relax you recognize. 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 an awesome query. Let me give it some thought for only a second. Man on Fireplace. Like I really like Denzel Washington’s work as primary: as an motion hero I believe 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 elucidate it aside from he does a f***ing loopy incredible job.
Both Man on Fireplace or American Gangster. A type of two soundtracks I believe I may do could 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 recognize, it takes you aspect to aspect. Like each of these movies do that basically effectively.
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TA: You could have a variety 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 arduous. Even with this final Megadeth document. I may nonetheless discover stuff that I like I can chew on. No downside. Completely. However you recognize these guys aren’t going to jot down 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, Trip the Lightning, Grasp of Puppets and …And Justice for All. So wish to even simply get that’s loopy. However I do discover issues that I like on all their newer stuff. Like I believe What was the 2016 document that they’d? Hardwired to Self Destruct. Yeah I believe that that really had some actual moments of actually actually good writing on it.
Particularly the final monitor. I felt like Hardwired was an awesome 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 document. 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 searching for one thing quicker or not. Which that’s simply not the place they’re at in the intervening time. That’s not what they’re writing. And that’s okay. I’ll say the final monitor on that document 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 intervening time. I’m horrible with track names generally. It’s loopy. It’s like 11 minutes and it seems 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 once 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 document 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 probably the most random piece of music memorabilia that you simply’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 arduous 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 making an attempt to do away with these things I’m like why don’t you simply maintain on to it and like like right here’s right here’s you recognize right here’s some money if you happen to 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 considered one 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 recognize like what the hell. And he’s like yeah we simply you recognize had him and I knew the man and he had like 5 or 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 need to say 15 16 17 years now however these outdated ones won’t ever go away.
Some folks preserve costly booze in a decanter. Teah and I preserve 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 normally ask this on the finish, however I bear in mind an outdated Tweet of yours (linked above) made me much more inquisitive about your reply.
AH: Yeah man I just like the chilly brew stuff. I cherished sizzling espresso without end however like chilly brew I don’t know the longer I am going the simpler it’s to only 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 suddenly if I need to. So chilly brew espresso. Chilly brew black.
I’d wish to thank Andrew Hulshult for his time and assist with this interview over the previous couple of weeks.
You may sustain with all our interviews here together with our latest ones with FuturLab here, Shuhei Matsumoto from Capcom about Marvel Vs Capcom here, Santa Ragione here, Peter ‘Durante’ Thoman about PH3 and Falcom here, M2 discussing shmups and extra here, Digital Extremes for Warframe mobile, Team NINJA, Sonic Dream Team, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and extra. As normal, thanks for studying.