April 15, 2008

From First to Last on Getting Music Into FaceBreaker, Other EA Titles
By Louis Bedigian

“Gaming is huge, it’s gonna be huge and it’s only going to get better. It seemed like a really cool route to take.”

In the beginning, musicians had two dreams: to play in front of a devoted crowd and to get on the radio. In the last few decades their dreams have grown tremendously with MTV, festivals like Lollapalooza, Internet proliferation, and big-name video games. When a Madden, Burnout or FIFA game has the power to sell records, you know that times have changed.

Among EA’s new franchises, FaceBreaker is one of the hottest. This Punch Out-inspired classic-in-the-making is said to be jam-packed with jaw-dropping and jaw-breaking action. Drawing upon the strength of EA Trax, From First to Last will be one of the bands carrying its soundtrack.

“We play games constantly, we stay on Xbox all day,” said bassist Matt Manning. “This [EA deal] was cool, it was something we could relate to, and it was a different way for us to get our music out there. Gaming is huge, it’s gonna be huge and it’s only going to get better. It seemed like a really cool route to take.”

From First to Last’s music will appear in several EA titles this year, starting with FaceBreaker. Tell us about that.

Matt Manning: We got hooked up with EA. They’re really into the record, and they want to put our songs out there as much as possible. We’re gonna be doing a lot of stuff with EA this year.

How did you get hooked up with EA?

MM: Our manager talked to them. They started talking back and forth, shooting ideas, and it was perfect.

You said you’re big gamers – is that you or the entire band?

MM: [Lead vocalist] Matt Good spends a lot of time playing World of Warcraft. Derek [Bloom, drummer], on the other hand, spends a lot of time playing every game that ever came out on Xbox 360. I’m more of a Call of Duty online kind of guy. Travis [Richter, guitarist] plays a lot of Halo. As far as Xbox 360 goes, that’s where we spend most of our time.

Are you a fan of Grand Theft Auto?

MM: I had it on PlayStation 2. That’s the last time I played it but I’m hearing good things about the new one. It’s supposed to be amazing.

I bring it up because your album was once due on April 29, the same day Grand Theft Auto IV is being released. It’s now due on May 6. I’m guessing that’s a coincidence…? But I’ve heard that big game launches tend to scare off sales of music and movies.

MM: The record has been pushed back a lot. There are reasons, but I quit asking why and just let ‘em do it.

Do you think now that the release date is pretty solid?

MM: It definitely seems solid. I’m pretty sure they [won’t] push it back again. We’re all excited for it. May 6 is the date.

Tell us about FaceBreaker. What song do you have in that game?

MM: We have our single, “Worlds Away,” I believe... We actually have two songs in it from what I’ve heard, but I know we have the single. We just did the video for that, and you can see that now [at fromfirsttolast.com].

Does the video have anything to do with FaceBreaker? Did you incorporate that element at all?

MM: We didn’t go to that extent, which we may do in the future, but not yet. But that’s a cool idea. It gets tossed around a lot – which song [for a video], and which game [a song should appear in]. But that’s where we can work with EA and see what they want to do. We have a lot of big plans with EA.

That’s what I’ve heard. From First to Last will be in more EA games, and I know you can’t say which ones yet… But can you tell us anything about what’s coming? Will these songs be solely from your new album?

MM: We did the record and then we did about six other songs, not on the record, for things like that [games, special offers, bonus downloads, etc.]. We talked a little bit about, when we get a break, actually recording songs directly for a video game.

You can’t see it, but there’s a guy pouring candy just inches above this screen.

Those additional tracks for EA – they won’t be anywhere else, you’ll only hear them in the game?

MM: Only in the game.

That’s cool.

MM: We wanted to go in a direction that not many people had gone in.

I know a lot of times bands don’t know where their song will end up in a game…

MM: I’m not 100% sure. With FaceBreaker, it’s the first game we’re on. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a menu screen – that would be amazing.

Is it a lump sum deal? EA says, “We’re gonna take a bunch of songs, put ‘em in these games,” and it’s done? Or is it on a per game basis?

MM: It’s kind of on a per game basis. They said they were putting out X amount of games this year, and they would like our music on ‘em. And I think it’ll be a different song in every game.

Do you know anything about FaceBreaker? Have you gotten to play a demo or see gameplay footage, anything like that?

MM: It’s kind of like an arcade-style boxing game. It’s a newer game but is also like the older, [classic boxing] games.

Your new record is somewhat of a departure from the band’s previous releases. I know you’re new to the band, but before it seemed to go in the screaming rock direction. From First to Last has seemed to mellow out this year.

MM: [We wanted it to be] more of a straightforward rock record that could be everywhere. With the screaming sound, you kind of commit yourself to [one] audience. You’re pushed off into this little group of people. We wanted to make a record everyone could enjoy. We want our music to be everywhere and branch out.

The deal you have with EA – does that apply worldwide? Obviously FaceBreaker will be released overseas, but will your music appear in those versions as well?

MM: Yeah. I think once it gets going it’ll be everywhere.

When coaxed for further comments on FaceBreaker, Manning replied: “I don’t know if there’s anything else I can say about the video game. I might know stuff I’m not supposed to be sharing.” [Laughs]

Will FaceBreaker be the first game From First to Last has appeared in?

MM: No… Burnout.

I thought I had heard you guys in another game. Was that the latest Burnout?

MM: Burnout 2.

Cool. That’s all the questions I have, thank you for your time.

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