The Game Dame™

In the late 80s and early 90s, using sound chips found in video game consoles was the easiest way to create music on a computer. These days, there are all sorts of fancy schmanzy programs to help you create and mix flawless sounds. But some people don’t want perfection. Some still find comfort in those old-school bleeps and bloops. And these 8-bit loving joystick junkies have created a new genre of music now referred to as chiptunes.

I had a chance to chat with UK musician Matthew Applegate who – in addition to several other bands – performs as Pixelh8, a chiptune-lover’s dream. Pixelh8’s specialty? Serving up fat helpings of totally original beats created from the 8-bit consoles and old-school handhelds we all know and love so well. He’s taken his Franken-bot synths on stage to open for Imogen Heap and just released an amazing new album – Video games ruined my life – now available on iTunes.

GD: How do you define chiptune music?

MA: Chiptune is exactly that. It relies on utilizing the sound chips from computers of yesteryear to make new music. For me, I had to go back and learn how to program the NES, the Gameboy, the Commodore 64, etc. to make them play the notes I wanted. Some people sample other people’s game music but I think that’s really shortsighted and pretty lame. If I get one more kid claiming he wrote the theme to Tetris, I am going to scream.

GD: Describe your music for those who haven’t heard it.

MA: My music is pretty funky. I am heavily influenced by Sly & the Family Stone, Marvin Gaye & Curtis Mayfield, so musically it’s 70’s funk music played on video game machines. It’s got to have that NYHF (Nod Your Head Factor). You have to be able to listen to it, nod your head, and get up and dance. “Kilobyte Rider” on my new album is just like that, I think it’s almost impossible not to dance to.

GD: What inspired you to write your first chiptune song and what system(s) did you use?

MA: That’s a tough question because when I was writing music on the Amiga 500 in 1992, it was just called music. Only in retrospect is it called chiptune. It’ like people calling 70’s music 70’s music. They didn’t call it that in the 70’s. So I think my first chiptune music was around 1992, but as computers got “better” they sounded less like a computer. It was only in 2005 when I decided I wanted that “chiptune” sound again and I’ve stuck with it.

GD: I’ve heard that your live shows are half music/half lecture. How does this work?

MA: Yeah, some bands just go “This is blah blah blah,” play and leave. I’ll give a brief explanation of how I did it and why and my explanations are normally quite funny. It’s good also because I normally have a line of people after a gig waiting to have a go on my crazy instruments and ask questions. I am planning to have the audience involved in some upcoming gigs where they will be given NES control pads to trigger off sound effects. It’s more about people being interested and getting involved than “Yeah I’m a big rock band and you can’t talk to us.” It’s about having fun – not an ego problem.

GD: When you perform as Pixelh8, what do you bring on stage with you?

MA: I have a touch screen monitor that controls the Mac Mini and all my midi stuff, a Gameboy Advance and an original Gameboy as it has better bass on it. In the future I will include other machines and gizmos. I am working on the visuals at the moment and some crazy interactive ideas, I’m sure my insurance will cover it if anyone gets electrocuted. (laughs)

GD: Artists find inspiration in different ways. Some have a favorite setting (in complete darkness with the laptop on the patio). Some have a ritual (gotta have 3 beers and a smoke first). Do you have a favorite spot or ritual for creating your music?

MA: Well first up I don’t drink, smoke or do drugs, but I do eat lots and lots of sweets and drink a lot of fizzy drinks. I have a “sweet box” next to me in the studio so I constantly have an insane sugar rush, and that is the only food allowed in the studio.

As for inspiration, it can come for anywhere. I have a really strange way of looking at music. It’s hard to explain … I see music. I’ll see a shape and that will make me want to recreate it as a drum hit or turn it into a waveform. I’ll read about a famous composer from the 18th century using certain vocal techniques in their music and I’ll want to try it out – but on a NES. I read and study so much music theory you wouldn’t believe it. I go to old bookshops and read about composers like Stravinsky and Schoenberg and try to weave some of their ideas into my music.

GD: In an interview with Plugged, you say you first started playing video games when you were seven and your “neglectful, self-absorbed parents kinda just dumped (you) in front of an Atari 2600‚” So your latest Pixelh8 album title, Video games ruined my life, goes a little deeper than I originally thought. Do you think that disassembling video game consoles was a form of rebellion (Take that, you stupid video game console!) that actually worked out in your favor (Oh wait, it makes a cool sound when I do that!)?

MA: I do love video games, and yeah it seems a little ironic to now say that video games ruined my life. The whole album was meant as a catharsis to my childhood, and I think that it has worked in my favor. Some people understand how to grow plants. Some people can build things. I know how to make computers do funny things and I have a bizarre understanding of vintage video games that I couldn’t have gotten any other way.

GD: Tell me about the GBA Synth cartridge you created.

MA: A lot of fakers were using tracker programs on stage and pretending they were playing live which kind of upset me. I wanted a real time synth to play lead melodies on stage. So I learned C and I learned about PCBs and Gameboys and now I have made my own “Music Tech.” Originally it was for just me, but several people asked me for one, so I am making 100 – most of which are already reserved. There are a few left. You can actually have a goon at it and reserve a copy online. The cost is a mere £20 plus shipping.

GD: What’s your next big project?

MA: At the moment I am programming every old computer and console I can get my hands on to make a “Music Tech” style program so I can use them all as instruments. I have already done the ZX Spectrum – an English computer. You can see all my craziness on YouTube.com. Just search for “pixelh8″ and it’s like my video diary of madness. I am also working on several interactive musical experiences but they are a way off at the moment.

GD: What video games are you into right now?

MA: The last game that absorbed almost a month of my life was Lego Star Wars II, but I managed to escape its tractor beam. I am really interested in the Wii at the moment. It looks a lot more fun to play than other consoles. I’m not really into long, drawn out games. I think I’ll get one of them soon and resist taking it apart.

GD: Any closing remarks/words of wisdom for my readers?

MA: At the moment I am tormenting people with my music just here in the UK but I will be heading over to America in September to play at the Nerdapalooza Festival in California. It’s gonna be good fun. Check out my music on iTunes and add me on MySpace. I am always on there

So there ya have it. Matthew – thanks for a great interview!

Add Pixelh8 on MySpace
Listen to Pixelh8 on iTunes
See Pixelh8 on YouTube

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Interview with Pixelh8 – Chiptune Guru

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