Exclusive: Andrew Hulshult Discusses DOOM IDKFA, Blood Swamps, and Gaming Industry Insights

This extensive interview with Andrew Hulshult, a prominent video game composer, delves into his career, creative process, and musical influences. From his early work on projects like Rise of the Triad and Duke Nukem 3D Reloaded, to his contributions to critically acclaimed titles such as DOOM Eternal DLC, Dusk, and Nightmare Reaper, Hulshult discusses his evolution as a musician and the challenges and rewards of composing for video games.

The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including:

• His career trajectory: Hulshult recounts his unexpected rise to prominence after initially considering leaving the game industry, highlighting the importance of financial stability for artistic pursuits.
• Misconceptions about video game music: He addresses the common belief that game music is easy, emphasizing the complexity of translating a game's atmosphere and design philosophy into a musical score.
• His creative process: Hulshult details his approach to composing for different games, balancing respect for source material with his own unique style. He shares anecdotes about working with various developers, including his collaborations with New Blood's Dave Oshry and Apogee's Terry Nagy.
• Specific game soundtracks: The interview features in-depth discussions of his work on Rise of the Triad 2013, Bombshell, Dusk, Amid Evil (including the DLC and the challenges of composing during a family emergency), Nightmare Reaper, and Prodeus. He reveals insights into his compositional choices, influences, and favorite tracks from each game.
• His gear and setup: Hulshult provides a detailed description of his current guitar setup, pedals, amps, and recording process, including his preference for Neural DSP plugins and specific Seymour Duncan pickups.
• His work on the DOOM Eternal DLC and IDKFA: He recounts the experience of transitioning from a fan-made soundtrack to composing official music for id Software, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the project and the overwhelming positive response to his work, particularly "Blood Swamps."
• His first film soundtrack for Iron Lung: Hulshult discusses the differences between composing for film and games, his collaboration with Markiplier, and the impact of a larger budget on his creative approach.
• His chiptune album, Dusk 82: He reflects on his experience creating a chiptune version of the Dusk soundtrack, and considers the possibility of creating similar reinterpretations of other works.
• His musical influences and preferences: Hulshult shares his favorite bands (including Gojira and Metallica) and video game composers (Jesper Kyd), discussing their impact on his own work.
• Hypothetical projects: He speculates on the games and movies he'd most like to compose for, given unlimited time and resources.

This comprehensive interview offers valuable insights into the world of video game music composition and the creative journey of a highly successful artist.