Ben-DutkaIf you're a long-time PSXE reader, you know we like to be…well, eclectic when it comes to our interviews. We don't do too many but when we do, we like to be sorta special. It's why we've done everything from Dr. Khanna and the PS3 Gravity Grid to Piano Squall to The Pornstar Gamer to The Real God of War . Sure, we talk to guys like David Jaffe and Jack Buser, too, but really, "eclectic" is our interview theme.
And that's why we had a few questions for one of the hot new bands that's going to lend a lot of zip to Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit . Meet Hadouken! These guys are heavy into games and their style seems a perfect fit for the madcap racing action in NFS.
PSXE: How long have you guys been gaming, and what are your favorite types/genres?
Hadouken: "We've all been gaming since we were kids. My first console was the NES with Super Mario and Duck Hunt. Right now we play a bit of everything, we've got a PS3 on the bus and an Xbox at home and are currently playing FIFA 11, Battlefield: Bad Company, Street Fighter 4, Assassin's Creed 2, Medal of Honour and Call of Duty."
PSXE: Have you always thought about putting your music in video games, or did that opportunity surprise you? And do you plan to make more game music in the future?
Hadouken: "It wasn't really something we had considered until we were approached by EA but it's something we're really excited about. For us it's a great opportunity to reach out to people who might not otherwise hear about our band in a really direct way. We've not recorded any music specifically for games yet, only licensed tracks we've already released. However, we're currently working on our third album and will certainly be keen to get some of the tracks off that on some games if possible."
PSXE: Music has become more and more important to the industry this generation. Do you agree that a quality soundtrack greatly enhances the immersion?
Hadouken: "Absolutely, the right soundtrack can really add to the excitement of a game so it's great that people like EA are reaching out to up and coming bands and finding new talent to use in their games to achieve the best effect."
PSXE: Do you think we should have more original compositions for games, or should developers pursue more licensed tracks from established artists?
Hadouken: "I think it depends entirely on the game and on the artist, we feel like some of our album material works well on gaming soundtracks so we'll continue to go down the licensing route. However I just heard that Noisia (who produced our second album 'For The Masses) are composing music for Motorstorm 3 which I'm sure will be amazing."
PSXE: Need for Speed is an iconic franchise. What's your reaction to being involved with such a recognizable and well-respected name in gaming history?
Hadouken: "We're thrilled, it's a legendary franchise and we've played it ourselves for years so we're really pleased to be involved in the next part of their story."
PSXE: Do you think other bands should look to games for a big break and/or more exposure? In other words, would you consider it a good career move for up-and-coming musicians?
Hadouken: "It's hard to say, whilst the numbers of people playing games is huge it's hard to say how many of those who hear a track they like on a game then go to the effort of checking out the credits to see who it's by and then track down their album or come to a show. We've certainly heard some people who say they've discovered us in this way but I think it's still important for bands to go down traditional routes of building a fan base."
PSXE: What do you think of Hot Pursuit? We assume you've seen some of it…do you think it'll be what the long-time NFS fans want?
Hadouken: "We went down to EA offices in Guildford to see a demo of it and it really does look awesome. The cars look incredible and it feels stupidly fast bombing round the tracks, we can't wait to get our hands on a finished copy. I'm sure NFS fans will be more than satisfied!"
End Interview
It's great to see more evolving bands contributing to the world of gaming, isn't it? And you have to admit, these guys have quite the flair. To learn more about the band, feel free to check out their official site and for another bit of music, here's the M.A.D. video . …I'm sorry, but that's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. It just is. Props to the boys on the giant mouse suit.
We'll have a few albums to give away, along with a few copies of the game. I'll figure out how to give them away in due time. 😉 And thanks to Hadouken! for answering our questions. We hope the NFS experience is a good one for you!
I always enjoy reading your interviews. You always pick questions that work (if that makes any sense). Well these guys sound pretty mad, and I liked the song. I'll see what else of theirs I can find sometime. Keep it up.
Peace.
These guys remind me of Rage Against the Machine. They had a song called mic check as well. Too bad they didn't have any sexy chicks like this band 😉
Sorry… but apart from the song title… there's absolutely no comparison here. Rage stomps these guys, with a pocket full of shells.
This genre really isn't my taste but at least the song is worth listening to.
Nice kind of a techno sound, which I happen to love.
Yaou know what, I'd love to hear some Depeche Mode in some games, but any games that would fit DM's music would definitely have to be just as artistic as their music has been.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 10/23/2010 11:57:49 PM
I think one of their songs was in Burnout Dominator on the PSP.
You're interests are quite eclectic, and you've kept with the times. You're a shining example for us all. Now, if we can only get you to play online now and then.
Dang. Edit: "You're"->"Your".
I bought the song People Are People by Depeche Mode a few months ago. They're a little stranger than what I remember, but the late 80's and early 90's had a lot of bands that I think are strange.
Great interview Ben, hadn't heard of these guys but those beats sound like they fit in a racer for sure.
"It's hard to say, whilst the numbers of people playing games is huge it's hard to say how many of those who hear a track they like on a game then go to the effort of checking out the credits to see who it's by and then track down their album.."
I actually looked up the credit's music for inFamous, "Silent Melody" by Working For A Nuclear-Free City, because i really dug it, and it so fit the mood of the ending. Still Alive for Portal was brilliant. And i remember looking up a whole bunch of groups on Wipeout, Wipeout XL, and Wipeout 3's soundtracks (Chemical Brothers, FSOL, Prodigy, Orbital etc…), whom not only i wouldn't have ever heard of, by any other means, but they also introduced me to new genres i wouldn't have known. I actually played my Wipeout XL as a CD in my car, and copied the music to play as custom soundtracks in Wipeout HD/Fury. Same with Wipeout HD/Fury, and Motorstorms (from which I heard the band Hadouken for the first time). Very interesting varieties. GTA4 and Liberty City Episodes had quite a number of songs that i still listen to. So, yes, the music from video games is very relevant to me. And although it certainly isn't at the level of broadcasted radio, i highly doubt i'm the only one. I'd say it's even more influential than Film soundtracks at this point, basically because i play games more than watching movies.
By the way, Ben, I don't know how i missed the "PS3 Gravity Grid" interview with Dr. Guarav Khanna from 2008. Looks like i wasn't the only one as there were only 3 comments. I just read it now, and this one, too. Always a joy.
We did the interview just after starting the Comments section.
I checked the credits for FF13, especially when playing as Sazh I found the music to be totally sweet.
Totally agree with you Shams, I've been introduced to many new songs I've never heard of before thanks to video games (esp. GTAIV)
I have quite a few favorites from GTA4, Simcoe, including Oleg Kvasha's "Zelenoglazoe Taksi" ("Green-eyed Taxi") from Vladivostok FM, Gil Scott-Heron's "Home is where the hatred is" (1971) form IF99, Deluka's "Sleep is Impossible", "I Walk Alone" by The Jane Shermans both from Radio Broker. There's even a song called "No Sex for Ben" by The Rapture that's actually quite catchy. Talk about variety.
love that song and video
Simcoe,
In GTA4, I listened to every radio station, especially the all-talk ones, just to hear some of the hilarious sh*t they were putting out over the airwaves.
Anyway, after checking out all the stations, I settled in on my top 3 stations….
# 3 Radio Broker
# 2 Electro_choc
But my all-time #1 favorite was "The Journey", with that sultry computer generated gal's voice. And besides all the other techno music there, I was pleasantly surprised to hear my guy, Jean Michel Jarre's "Oxygene Part 4") there too. Wow, just wow!
BTW, I DO have to give a big honorable mention" shout-out to "Tuff Gong" station too for helping my reggae fix, with Bob Marley & the Wailers".
Shame though that they didn't include his best songs, I shot the sheriff, Jamming, Stir it up, or Get up, stand up….for your rights!!!
And they should have added a few more great reggae artists, such as Peter Tosh into that mix too.
Hm… I've never heard of these guys before, but they're pretty interesting. They have a definite, recognizable sound. Good interview, too, by the way. I think PSXE should interview A LOT more because your questions are quite compelling and demand more than just a yes or no. We definately need more interviews like this one.
We'll try. 🙂
Great interview, thanks.
Not the type of music i´d listen to but sure does fit well in NFS.
ditto.
i might pick up nfs. not because of these guys. their music is pants. imo.
I think its great Hadouken are supporting nfs, ive seen them live and there pretty awsome.
I've never heard of this band before. I'm not a fan of their musical style, but it does seem fitting for a racing game. That song has a lot of energy and would fit in nicely during police pursuits.
I decided to read the interview despite being given the bird. They might play a few games here and there, but they don't sound like kids that know too much about the habits of hard core gamers.
Wow, you guys actually did the interview.
When Ben replied to my comment on the NFS trailer, I thought he was joking.
Excellent.
I don't joke about interviews…usually.
Thinking I should start a band called Tatsumaki-Senpuukyayu.
Holy crap, after downloading a few of Hadouken!'s song, I've been playing it more than my Nirvana's song.
I'm wondering why they're pretending to play real instruments in the video.
Because it's a music video?
Guaranteed whomever thumbed me down wears an ascot. LOL
Last edited by fluffer nutter on 10/24/2010 8:38:33 PM
HA.
Yeah. This music makes me want to drive really really fast. Good job music selection committee.
Lawless,
Thanks about the PSP Burnout Dominator, I'll be on the lookout for it now.
Shams,
Thanks(….blushes!).
Yeah, I love music of all kinds, & I try to find some of the more obscure bands, groups, or composers to help fulfill my desire to explore musical nirvana.
I'm into all kinds of music, but except for a few tunes, I don't like most rap & gangsta, or some of that angry mosh pit psycho-screaming instead of real music.
I'm heavy into the older bands just because they were of my era of growing up, like Steppenwolf, Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Doors, Deep Purple, Iron Butterfly, etc.
But I'm just at home listening to light jazz such as Tower of Power, Kenny G, Michel Bolton(THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS, I DID just say the M.B.) etc.
And there used to be a great group back in the day that did jazz & R&B in the Philadelphia area called Mandrill which used to jam at all the glorious be-in's of my younger old days.
I also used to hang around Rittenhouse Square(a 4 block city Phila. park) & just listen to a bunch of unknown guys just come & go with whatever instruments they could carry & jump in & jam all day long.
Man, to this day, they were some of the best blues I've ever heard came out of those park sessions. And at least 2 guys could howl with a harmonica that would send chills up & down your body.
And like I said in my earlier post, I love techno music, along with some new wave & alternative, plus all of the 80's disco beat,Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, the Beegee's etc,(just to name a few).
And I still have my Saturday Night Fever album, and all the instrumental theme song albums that were put out by Mego,(instrumental of the Star Wars Cantina, etc, in my album collection.
I even have a small collection of those rare collectible picture disc albums, & I own all 4 Kiss discs(each one has a full disc-sized pic of a different Kiss member embedded into the actual vinyl album).
tes37,
Yeah, I think Depeche Mode's sound is pretty much the type that somebody either will love or hate almost instantly. But like them or not, they're one of the most influential & one of the very first bands to actually mold the techno sound.
I can't remember exactly which of their old tunes I first heard being played in some music store, but it stopped me in my tracks & I questioned the register biscuit until he gave up the name of it & who they were.
Since then I've bought almost every album/CD they've made & I own a bunch of their underground dance re-mix singles & extended 2 & 4 song version'ed discs too. Hell, just in their re-mix singles discs alone, they've got at least 40 to 50 different songs that were being played at one dance club or another, all over the world(especially in Europe).
And they even have one of their older songs that would be great in a Zombie video game, called "Dead of the Night".
Anyway, my top 3 Depeche Mode CD's are Ultra, Violator, & Exciter(in that order)
Wikipedia has a decent storyline on Depeche Mode here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Mode
Depeche Mode are not techno and are not considered a band that influenced or started techno. That would be Kraftwerk. 😉
tes37,
BTW, not sure if you'll like these, but here's 2 more of my favorite musical performers….
French composer,Jean Michel Jarre….
He introduced electronic MOOG synthesizers & Mellitron(sp?) synthesizers into a whole new musical machines format.
Every sound made in his music came from keyboards he hooked up to these machines and a electronic drumbeat box.
I read an old article once about how he had to study for 4 years on these synthesizers, in order to get a government license just so he'd be able to use them, because they could produce any sound known to man, therefore they could be used as weaponry to kill by creating the perfect sound frequency to make an acoustical sound wave bomb.
Anyway, see if you can sample some tunes somewhere from his 3 greatest albums "Oxygene"(1 thru 6), "Oxygene" (7 thru 13), and "Equinoxe"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Michel_Jarre
BTW, I just found a whole page full of his amazing machine-produced music video's….
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Jean+Michel+Jarre&aq=f
**************
And here's Andreas Vollenweider…..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Vollenweider
Try to sample from this album… "Dancing with the lion"
Here's a couple links to some of his music
"Dancing with the lion" music video….
http://www.vollenweider.com/magazine/music/video.php?c=us&act=show&ref=html&vid=17
Andreas Vollenweider & friends LIVE….
http://www.vollenweider.com/magazine/music/video.php?c=us&act=show&ref=html&vid=19
His music in the "Book Of Roses" movie trailer……
http://www.vollenweider.com/magazine/music/video.php?c=us&act=show&ref=html&vid=16
I'll check these out soon and tell you what I think. If I like any of it, I may ask for more suggestions.
Nice interview Ben. It's refreshing to get a break from the same ol same ol.
I can't say their genre of music does it for me though. Not to say it isn't any good, it's just not my bag baby.
That said, I do think it's quite fitting for some frantic fast paced NFS racing. It's just not something I'd queue up on the stereo if I was itching for some tuneage.
Good interview. As for the music… meh. I think it'll sound great in the game, just you won't find me buying their music.