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John Famiglietti had a helluva 2023. His band HEALTH released Rat Wars, which Revolver dubbed one of the best albums of the year.
They opened for Sleep Token's massive OVO Arena show in London and played the inaugural Sick New World fest in Las Vegas. In between all that they toured around the world and got fans giddy by announcing a U.S. headliner for early 2024.
But before the new year arrives, we spoke with Famiglietti about the last 365 days of music, movies, shows and more.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER HEALTH'S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT OF 2023?
JOHN FAMIGLIETTI Definitely our new record, Rat Wars. Can't really beat that. We've been working toward this record for a while. We think it's our best.
I know every artist says that. "This is our heaviest, best record yet." [Laughs.] But it actually is!
WHAT'S YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2023?
Lately for me it's been singles more than albums. This is gonna sound a little silly but my favorite song of the year is Riff Raff's "I Want a Ferrari." I think I played that the most.
There's a lot of crazy, interesting music, but there haven't been too many albums where I'm like, "This is a great fuckin' masterpiece." But there's so many songs... I like those Knocked Loose singles. I just don't have a full album [of the year]. But tons of great songs.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE LIVE SHOW OF 2023?
I think Converge in Leipzig, Germany. We played the show and it was the first time I'd ever seen Converge with good sound. Man, it's amazing.
Every time I'd seen them before, somehow it was like this festival and the wind was blowing or some bullshit where it sounded horrible. So it was really awesome to see them with good sound. It kicked my ass.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE NEW BAND YOU DISCOVERED THIS YEAR?
I've been really enjoying everything going on with this cybergrind tip. This really youthful insane-o music. And they're not even the same genre but they're related, so I'm enjoying the Callous Daoboys and Blind Equation.
There's a new American underground — or not necessarily American — of people doing that almost 2000s just insane-o music. I guess kids just really like Dillinger Escape Plan or something? They're making really crazy stuff right now and it's fun.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF 2023?
Oppenheimer, man. You can't beat that. What a movie! Saw it in 70mm and it blew my dick off. I think it really needs to be seen in theater. The sound design is probably the best I've ever seen in any movie ever.
It kind of reminds me of JFK in a lot of ways. But like JFK, it has the extremely modern, fresh presentation. Didn't feel like other historical flicks of that era.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2024?
Our tour in March with us, Pixel Grip and King Yosef. We're pumped about that.
