Periphery and Warframe 1999 come together with a new guest track, but how on earth did that happen?

Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out, and it is a variety of enjoyable. However, one factor chances are you’ll not have seen as a participant or a far-flung spectator is that progressive steel band Periphery labored alongside Digital Extremes on a particular visitor observe for the replace. All of it suits inside the rock band vibe that got here with Temple and the brand new defence mission.

However how did this truly come to be? How did Periphery find yourself working with DE on Techrot Encore, and what went into creating the observe? To seek out out, I despatched over a number of inquiries to Periphery’s Jake Bowen and Mark Holcomb, in addition to Elliot Coleman from Good Tiger who labored alongside the group on lamenting the Days.

VG247: How precisely did this collaboration come about? When did work begin on the observe?

Holcomb: It got here collectively very organically. I’ve identified Megan, Rebb, and Steve since 2016 or so, and we had at all times mentioned doing one thing collectively. Jake and I frolicked with them at a Periphery gig again in 2024, and that’s when the wheels formally began turning on this mission. We started engaged on the observe in earnest throughout the summer season of 2024.

Bowen: We have now been pals with the Warframe group for some time, and it got here up fairly casually, I believe. It simply began as a “Hey, wouldn’t it’s cool if we collabed?” and it simply began to coalesce from there. I do know they have been engaged on a music/guitar-based character and have been searching for a band which may be capable to contribute music and seek the advice of on what the character’s “sound” may very well be.

Coleman: Jake initially reached out to me to gauge my curiosity in working with them on an unique track for the sport. The three of us have labored on music collectively prior to now, so it was a no brainer for me. The three of us have nice chemistry!

VG247: How lengthy did you need to make this new track for the Warframe 1999 replace?

Holcomb: We got the chance of getting months of runway to complete the track, however Jake and I met at his place in Jersey Metropolis to get the majority of the track written and recorded solely in a pair days. We spent months tweaking afterward, and that allowed us to have the Warframe group bounce concepts and strategies off of us in no hurry, with a view to mildew the track even additional into one thing they felt match their imaginative and prescient.

Bowen: I don’t know a lot about online game improvement but it surely appears to me you could’t make a online game, a lot much less a online game on Warframes scale with out plenty of time and precision planning so we had a number of calls with Rebb and Megan and so they helped us lay out the plan and gave us ample time to provide you with the perfect factor we may. So whereas the majority of the track’s association got here collectively in about two days within the studio we had fairly a little bit of time to hone the observe and get it sounding proper.

Coleman: I had a variety of melodies come to my head fairly rapidly after I heard the instrumental they have been engaged on. I fired up the sport and would take heed to the track on repeat for a number of days to get a really feel of how I needed the vocals to sound.

VG247: Periphery has composed for video video games a number of instances, together with a observe for Deus Ex in 2016, the Halo 2 anniversary OST, and Homefront all the best way again in 2011! What impressed this return to the medium? Is online game work one thing the band is at all times eager to do?

Holcomb: Since our bandmate Misha primarily dealt with the music lent to these aforementioned video games, this was a golden alternative for me to dip my toes into this world. I’ve performed voice-acting in video video games relationship again to 2017, however I’ve by no means composed music for one, so I jumped on the probability to do that with Jake and Elliot. I’m a life-long gamer, and I’d climb mountains to be concerned in that world, be it by way of voice-acting or music composition.

Bowen: The fascinating factor about a few of that earlier work is that was all dealt with by one member of Periphery, Misha Mansoor, so for me this was an opportunity to essentially get into that facet of issues, I discover the concept of composing for another person’s mission very intimidating however the Warframe group being followers of Periphery’s music gave a way of consolation as a result of not less than I do know they like this different factor I do.

VG247: What distinctive issues are there for composing for a online game reasonably than making a track for an album? What does the band should take into account that differs from the common course of?

Holcomb: I’d say the most important consideration is ensuring you’re adhering 100% to the imaginative and prescient of the developer. When Periphery information an album, it’s an absolute free-for-all in that we’re creating artwork for artwork’s sake, and precedence primary is making one thing that makes us glad, with as few concessions as doable. For tasks like this, we had boundaries inside which we would have liked to remain with a view to fulfill Digital Extremes’ imaginative and prescient. However that was supremely thrilling in its personal method since their imaginative and prescient was so particular and well-thought-out from the start.

Bowen: I believe the primary factor I used to be desirous about when writing the music was “does this match inside a 1999 theme”, there was discuss of pertaining to a variety of the extra iconic musical voices from that period, bands like Stone Temple Pilots and Deftones have been at all times in my head when making an attempt to provide you with the riffs. Aside from that, I needed to create a track an precise band may write, Verse/Refrain/Verse/Bridge/Outro, or one thing resembling that. I even added sound parts from the sport to assist it match higher inside the recreation’s world.

Coleman: After I’m engaged on a Good Tiger report, the general tone of the album normally takes form fairly rapidly. We all know what our band seems like and what its strengths are. Engaged on this track, I had to remember the imaginative and prescient Rebb and Megan had for it, and that was simple as a result of they gave nice course!

VG247: In Warframe 1999 the audio group has established the setting firmly within the late 90’s grunge period music-wise. Periphery was based again within the early 2000’s! Can we count on a music model extra aligned to the band’s unique sound, extra aligned to your modern work, or one thing vastly completely different?

Holcomb: I believe by nature of Jake and I being in Periphery, you’re sure to get a bit extra of that fashionable steel sound, however sure, we actually tried to get that ‘90s sound captured within the track. It was a pure match since I grew up on ‘90s-era grunge.

Bowen: I believe that was the opposite half of the track’s equation, along with paying tribute to our ‘90s inspirations we additionally needed to make room for a few of that Periphery sound which might sound a bit extra fashionable. To me, that was essentially the most enjoyable a part of this mission. I cherished music from the ‘90s, so having the ability to channel that whereas doing a method that’s naturally extra present was a variety of enjoyable.

VG247: In an interview with Tuonela Mag last year, Misha said that “musical motifs and summary ideas from only a purely musical standpoint” and that the method of creating new music for you guys is basically intuitive. Was the creation course of for this track the identical? Did Digital Extremes present any tips or necessities that made you method this track in another way?

Holcomb: I might say it was nonetheless largely intuitive, and it didn’t differ an excessive amount of from how I function in Periphery, however the primary distinction was the set of standards Digital Extremes laid out for us. The thought of writing a track that may really feel at dwelling within the late ‘90s was the overarching thought behind each element within the track, so we needed to throw a few of that uncooked, unfiltered thread-chasing we achieve this a lot in Periphery. However I’ve to say, it was rewarding as a result of we hardly ever ever get to put in writing inside tips in Periphery, so it was a enjoyable train in creativity.

Bowen: We’ve positively tried to constrain this course of with the rules set forth by Digital Extremes. When Periphery is within the studio, we get to name all of the pictures, and that’s a variety of enjoyable. However when somebody is asking you to put in writing a track for his or her online game you clearly should be sure to’re in step with their imaginative and prescient and that is precisely why I discovered this course of a lot enjoyable – it made me method the writing and manufacturing otherwise, but it surely wasn’t in any respect unfamiliar. For those who’re a musician, you may relate to this. It’s at all times scary to strive new issues and be in new musical tasks, however as soon as it will get rolling and it appears like you recognize what to do, it feels actually good.

Coleman: I wasn’t given any laborious tips to observe, however they did reference a number of completely different singers for vibe. Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Eddie Vedder, and so forth. They weren’t searching for an actual copy, so I used to be nonetheless capable of be myself.

VG247: In that very same interview Misha said that the band would not get many probabilities to play collectively (except for excursions) as you all stay far aside. How difficult is it to create a track on deadline with out having the ability to sit in the identical room and determine it out?

Holcomb: It positively isn’t very best, however as a band, we spend a variety of time on planes and Zoom calls, haha. It wasn’t too tough this time since Jake and I have been capable of write and organize the track in particular person, after which we have been capable of do a lot of the tweaking remotely.

Bowen: It definitely presents a number of challenges for the band to be unfold out all around the United States. Normally, all of us will simply fly to at least one place for a number of weeks and craft what we’d like in that point. With regards to touring, we normally will rehearse collectively a number of days earlier than a tour begins.

Coleman: Probably the most necessary issues when collaborating together with your bandmates, or friends, or pals, is that you just all agree that you just’re working in the direction of the identical aim. I’ve a variety of belief of their constructive criticisms.

VG247: Mark, you are additionally a voice actor in video video games! Can we count on your voice to pop up in a future Warframe replace?

Holcomb: Sure! I voiced Flare within the new replace. It was insanely enjoyable attending to discover that character and tread some floor I’ve by no means tread in my voice-acting profession. An enormous thanks to Digital Extremes for writing such an fascinating, enjoyable character for this and trusting me to assist convey him to life.

Bowen: I do know this query isn’t directed at me, however I additionally did some voice work for Warframe as a brand new villain character, you’ll be listening to some fairly brutal sounding stuff!

Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out proper now, and whereas Periphery’s observe Lamenting the times is not out on Spotify as of writing, you’ll be able to test it out on YouTube proper now!