Chiptunes, formally a sort of “nerdcore” component of electronic music, is now “picking up steam,” according to a recent episode of Fox & Friends.Using an 8-bit NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), Br1ght Pr1mate, the band featured above, combines sultry vocals and lyrics with familiar Nintendo blips and beats, making a relatively new (to the mainstream) type of music.One of our creators, Sulumi, a Chinese 8-bit genius says, “My music isn’t for gaming, or for children. It’s dance music at its core,” which makes sense as the jerky nature of the beat makes you want to maneuver your body in fast, robotic-like ways.Many tech-y, music fans are re-making their favorite tunes and albums in chiptune version. For example videogame producer, Brad Smith, who converted Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon into chiptunes using FamiTracker, a software that works within the limits of NES equipment. All of the tracks can be found on YouTube…check out one of our favorite tracks below or download them here.Kent ‘SnowBro’ Hansen and Andreas Pedersen have taken the music making process one step further and created D+Pad Hero, a Guitar Hero-esque game that can be played on the computer by downloading an NES emulator.For composers on the go, check out the 8Bitone app for the iPhone.Still confused with how all this works? Here’s a heady explanation.If you haven’t yet, read our Q&A with Tristan Perich, who’s about to release his second full-length 1-bit symphony.Also check out CP’s favorite 8-bit artwork here.
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