Hip to be Square Wave: An Interview with Chiptunes Artist iSv
Sometimes, newer isn’t always better. Ask anyone who prefers a record to a CD, or a black and white suspense film to a modern action flick. There’s a certain appeal to nostalgia that you can’t deny. It brings you back to a different era, where things were often simpler and “had more heart.” Likewise, there are many that would rather play Bubble Bobble than Splinter Cell. I know that’s blasphemy to some, but I kid you not.
The same holds true for the sounds associated with these older games. Sure, there are tons of modern games with brilliant sound design, but there’s just something about a bleep that’s endearing—like a robot that wants to give you a hug. Fortunately, for people that can’t get enough “robot hugs,” there’s a whole music genre dedicated to this notion. “Chiptunes” manipulates the 8-bit sounds we know and love to create funky beats, and it’s bringing lots of retro gamers to their feet.
Never heard of chiptune music? You’re not alone. Like most cool things, it’s big in Japan and Europe, but few chiptune artists have caught on in the U.S. yet. They’re definitely making progress, however. The most notable exception is 8 Bit Weapon, who have completed music projects for Disney, Microsoft, Nokia, and Cartoon Network, to name a few. Games themselves have been returning to the “chip” sound as well with titles like Tetris DS and Mega Man Battle Network. With modern media giving props to games’ pixelated predecessors all over the place, it’s suddenly cool to play Pong again.
I asked Detroit chiptune artist iSv to answer a few questions for some firsthand insight:
GotGame: What consoles do you currently have/play most?
iSv: I finally got a DS, so I’ve been catching up on lots of awesomely zany Nintendo titles, but my trusty first-gen PS2 is still going strong at home. I used to spend countless hours on RPGs like the Final Fantasy sequels, regardless of format/platform, but I just don’t have the time now. I realized recently that I’ve been buying nothing but arcade and retro collections, not only for the nostalgia trip but also because one can jump right into them and still put them back down after 30 minutes, 15 minutes, etc….
GG: What kind of equipment do you use to make your music?
iSv: Normal answer: Other than an entire album built in Sawcutter [drawing all the waveforms by hand, no less], I use this grid-based sequencer called Making Waves to construct all of my tracks. I’ve tried a ton of programs, and all my friends want me to convert to Ableton Live, but I have yet to take that leap… I have lots of synths, instruments, records/tapes and electronic toys, but they all get fed into Making Waves at some point.
Uber-l33t answer: I paint repeating geometrical patterns of syrup onto wax cylinders and then release colonies of ravenous ants into the room. This accomplishes two things: first, the finished cylinders make delightful noises when played on my victrola, which I then record and convert to MP3 for online distribution; second, it ensures that I am never able to keep pets for very long. Damn ants.
GG: For somebody new to chiptunes, how would you recommend they learn more about it?
iSv: I would tell them to steer clear of it at all costs! There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than someone in the depths of a chiptune binge.
GG: I’ve heard that chiptune music is more popular overseas. Why do you think that is? Do you think it’ll catch on more in the States?
iSv: Well, you see, it’s like the Inuit and snow– the people of Japan and Sweden have hundreds of words in their native tongues to describe the sounds made by video games, from BLIP and BLEEP to BOOM, BAMF and beyond… It is only after we develop the language necessary to properly describe game sounds fully that the West will truly embrace chiptune music! [...and if you believe that, I also have some NES World Championship 1990 carts to sell you...]
GG: What sets iSv apart from other chiptune artists?
iSv: Well, my Wolverine-esque facial hair and snappy fashion sense, for one, but seriously– and this both a pro and a con, depending on who you’re talking to– I’m usually not a hardware/platform purist. I don’t compose songs solely on the Gameboy/SidStation/Synthcart, I grab sounds from all over the place, organic and synthetic, and mash them together until they sound like music *I* would like to hear in a game.
GG: Who are your favorite chiptune artists?
iSv: YMCK is dreamy. My buddies Amor Antiquita, Mesu Kasumai, and Naked Intruder also rock a hell of a good square wave.
GG: Any last words?
iSv: I just posted a new EP of my more game-y material for free download via the iSv MySpace, and I’m in the [slow] process of updating my new website, so those are probably worth mentioning, but other than that, I would have to say: Don’t Console Hate! I was a naive consumer pawn as a kid, worshiping everything Nintendo while hating everything Sega with the Nintendo Fun Club News as my bible. I admit that I missed out on some really good games from “the other guys” as a result. Oh, and thanks to GotGame for convincing my captors to release me from my subterranean prison long enough to answer some questions!
If you’re a fan of electronic music, retro gaming, or are just curious what it would sound like if Donkey Kong went to a dance party, then I implore you to delve further into the chiptunes scene. Many talented underground artists like iSv are popping up all over the U.S., and I predict more gamers will be “doing the robot” in years to come because of this!
