| Bitpop | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Electronica Synthpop Video game music Chiptune |
| Cultural origins | 2000s, United States, Japan, Europe |
| Typical instruments | Vocals - Guitar - Bass guitar - drums - Synthesizer |
| Mainstream popularity | Underground |
Bitpop is a type of electronic music and also subgenre of Chiptune, where at least part of the music is made using old 8-bit computers and video game consoles. Among systems used are Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari 8-bit Home Computer, Game Boy, Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System. The sounds produced from these systems can be combined to any degree with traditional instruments such as guitar and drums, modern synthesizers and drum machines or vocals and sounds effects. Some artists use software-based emulators or virtual synthesizers to recreate the sounds of 8-bit systems. While some use hardware synths which use the actual sound chips from those systems, such as the Sidstation and Midibox.
In 2003 Malcolm McLaren wrote an article on bitpop and chip music.[1] It also noted a planned release in that style by McLaren. "8-bit trip" by Rymdreglage is an example of the Bitpop music genre.[2]
Contents |
The term bitpop was coined by artists who separated themselves from pure chiptune, as they used more modern production styles and equipment. The name has connotations of a pun on britpop, using the word bit.
Bitpop uses a mixture of old and new equipment often resulting a sound which is unlike Chiptune although containing 8-bit sourced sounds. For example, a bitpop production may be composed almost entirely of 8-bit sounds but with a live vocal, or overlaid live guitars. Conversely, a bitpop production may be composed almost entirely of live vocals and instruments, but feature a bassline or lead melody provided by an 8-bit device.[3][4][5]
Due to the use of "pop" in the name, Bitpop is sometimes mistaken for a popular music genre rather than a production style.
Related genres are chiptune, Gamewave (a rarely used alternate term for chiptune and bitpop), Synthpop, and electropop.
Major publishers of bitpop are 8bitpeoples and Relax Beat & Bleepstreet Records. Examples of bands in the genre are PL4Y!, Solemn Camel Crew, Tobiah, Welle: Erdball, Printed Circuit, Anamanaguchi, Covox, YMCK, Teamtendo, Receptors, Neotericz, 1986, FirestARTer, The Hardliner, capitalSTEPS (now called Square Wail), Leeni, David Sugar, 8 Bit Weapon, Tranquilvirus, 8 Bit Betty, Firebrand Boy, she, Death By Television, trash80 Mesu Kasumai, Turboknapp, Coleco Music, c64 Messiah, Thermostatic, Rymdreglage, DJ Lo Rez, ComputeHer, MelBot, Machinae Supremacy, Twilight Electric, Electric Dragon, Monster & Maskiner, Mr. Pacman, Pluxus, Shael Riley, Pontonius, Mikron 64, Puss, Nintendude, Yuppster, Crystal Castles, Bondage Fairies, You Love Her Coz She's Dead, 8 Bit Mayhem, Sabrepulse, Superpowerless, Henry Homesweet, Rymdreglage, Slagsmålsklubben and Detektivbyrån.
|
||||||||