Final Fantasy 14's in-house rock band, The Primals, recently made their debut at Download Festival, the UK's premier rock and metal event. The group, fronted by FF14 composer Masayoshi Soken alongside localisation lead Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and musicians Eikichi Iawi, Tetsuya Tachibana, and GUNN, delivered a high-energy performance that aimed to bridge the gap between video game music and the live rock scene. This marked their first non-Fan Festival appearance outside of Asia.
The band's performance was almost impacted by logistical issues, with Fox recounting a near-miss for their stage time. "So we didn't get back until like, 10 minutes before we were supposed to go to the stage," he explained. "Normally you sit around and you get nervous because you're thinking about it, but because all this was happening I didn't have time to get nervous. And by the time you get on the stage, it's like 'go, go, go.' And of course, once you see people, you take all of that power and go."
Curating a five-song setlist for an audience that might not be familiar with Final Fantasy 14 presented a unique challenge. "Not everyone knew [Final Fantasy] 14, so we approached it from that perspective," Soken said. "We wanted to make the most of the time we had, so we knew that we couldn't just rely on the songs that get a really good reaction at Fan Fest." The band focused on their most energetic tracks to ensure everyone could enjoy the performance, a strategy that, according to Fox, made for an intensely demanding set. "Even though it was 25 minutes—our shortest set ever—I think that's the most tired we've been after a set because it was just 'go, go, go, go, go' all the way to the end, 100% of the way." Soken added, "Shouting. I just shouted the whole time."
Fox even joked about the physical toll, admitting, "I was like, am I gonna pass out on stage? But if I pass out on stage, that'd be pretty fucking cool. I was like, I wanted some oxygen!" While tracks like "Absolute Tyranny" were highlights for some, the band identified "Not Afraid" and "Under the Weight" as particularly effective in capturing the festival's energy and appealing to newcomers.
Reflecting on the performance, the band members noted a significant shift in the perception of game music. GUNN observed, "10, 15 years ago, when we were starting out with this kind of thing, there was game music and there was rock music. And there was a divide in between the two. But in the past few years, I really feel like they've come a lot closer together, and in fact, sort of within that same bubble now."
Koji pointed out that the limitations were often technological rather than creative. "You look back at the music in games 20 years ago and go 'Oh, that's game music,' but it's only because that's how it was sold. You go back and listen to some of those soundtracks from Mega Man. They hit hard. You've got some rocking beats, bass lines that are just crazy. But it was because the technology limited it... But you go back and listen to that now and you're like, 'Oh, I see what they were trying to do. If only they had the technology they have now.'"
Looking ahead, Soken revealed that The Primals are working on a new album featuring rearrangements from Final Fantasy 14's Dawntrail expansion. The positive reception at Download has also fueled a desire for global touring. "We've never had any opportunity to go and meet our fans in Australia," Soken stated. "I want to make contact with The Primals fans in areas and regions where we haven't been able to get in touch with yet. So the next goal: Primals world tour."