A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK.

Current music trends are often influenced by what was popular twenty years ago. Chiptune is no exception.

To find the root of what’s inspiring the music currently topping the charts, you have to look at what shaped the childhoods of a generation of musicians. Look back to the eighties and every kid wanted the same thing, a NES, or Nintendo Entertainment System to anyone born after ’95.  Most peoples’ parents threw these things out when their offspring hit 18 and went to Uni, but some clever kids have been scouring charity chops, boot fairs, and flea markets to rescue them. Say hello to the rise of the Chiptune scene.

Originally an underground concept, 2007 saw ‘Game Boy music’ briefly propelled into the mainstream when Timbaland allegedly used samples from Chiptune artist Janne Suni’s track ‘Acidjazzed Evening’ without properly crediting him. Removing the original drums and adding his own plus a killer vocal from Nelly Furtado, it was released as 2007’s ‘Do It’ and became a smash hit, to the dismay of Suni. The story hit the presses and suddenly, people knew what Chiptune was.

A few months later in March 08, Crystal Castles released the record everyone was talking about. Their self-titled album was a Chiptune masterpiece, although just like Timbaland, they encountered issues with plagiarism that are still unresolved. Crystal Castles use Chiptune to produce chaotic dance music with pitch-shifted vocals and numerous catchy samples. Like many acts, their popularity has thwarted any chance they had for long-term success, and they seem set to go the same way as Klaxons with a poorly received second album surely on the cards for both.

DJ Scotch Egg is a Brighton based producer and composer. Originally hailing from Tokyo, fans had to campaign for his student visa to be extended to full time citizenship. Luckily they won, and Brighton now has Scotch Egg, plus his Game Boy orchestra, full time. Constantly gigging, often alongside his long-term friend Shitmat, he pioneered Chiptune and creates whole albums from the beeps of his numerous consoles. Together they co-founded the Noise night, Wrong Music, from which the label of the same night was born.

Pixelh8 is often referred to as the ‘Godfather of Chiptune’. He engineered one of the first programmes that allowed users to create music with retro consoles like the ZX spectrum, Commodore 64 and Game Boy. His simple style has been called ‘Blip-Blop’ and is a more classic use of video game samples. Winning numerous awards and a competition to support Imogen Heap live, he has gained recognition over the past year for his 8 bit, techno-style. As well as this he runs workshops across the country preaching the word of Chiptune and is a Mentor at the British Academy of New Music.  Not just a Game Boy wizard then.

This scene will thrive on the underground for many years to come, and its influence in dance, metal and indie is already being felt. However, as with all fledgling genres, it will take a lot for the mainstream not to chew it up, and spit it out within 6 months. Terms like ‘Nintendo-core’ are being thrown around all too soon and bands like ‘I Haunt Wizards’ look about to burst into NME and ruin all credibility Chipcore once had. Stay close to Scotch Egg though, and cover your ears, it’s Wrong Music after all, they’re meant to hate it.