8bitpeoples

Creative Commons and Chip Music Theft

8 May 2008

It's recently come to light that Crystal Castles, a Toronto-based band, has been heavily sampling music from several chip music artists without obtaining permission or crediting them. Lo-bat's tracks Bibibi and Tizzy, from his 8bitpeoples release Game Boy, are just two instances of this.

As you may have noticed, we release all our music under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND License here at 8bitpeoples. What this means is that you're free to share it however you like, with whomever you like. All we ask in return is that you credit it appropriately, do not use it for any commercial purposes, and obtain permission before creating any derivative works (such as remixing it or using it as the soundtrack for a video). Crystal Castles has violated every term of this license in their use of Lo-Bat's music. Furthermore, they have committed copyright infringement by sampling other artists such as Covox, whose drums from his song Sunday appear in no less than four Crystal Castles songs.

For more information on Crystal Castles questionable musical approach, the rising trend of chip music plagiarism, and the Creative Commons take a look at these articles:

Create Digital Music: Chiptune Music Theft Continues

CHIPFLIP: Plagiarism

Gameboy Genius: Crystal Castles and Chip Music Copyright Infringements

Fuck the posers! Respect the scene!

NEW RELEASE! 8BP083: Animal Style - Open Air

18 Apr 2008

What you think is a Game Boy is quite possibly a guitar. In Open Air, Joey Mariano aka Animal Style meshes his jazz guitar playing proficiency with Game Boy programming skills and compositional command. The concept for this release was to create a more organic sound while retaining most of the classic textures that chip music connoisseurs enjoy. Masking his guitar with the 8bit fuzz pedal, Mariano secretly adds a human touch to the robot-compliant world of chip music. Bring in some splashes of PCM flavor, some raw zaps, a few introspective breakdowns, a couple improvised guitar solos, a pulsing beat and you get the picture: The horizon of chip music is open -- and full of possibilities.

RSS FEED AND OTHER WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS

18 Apr 2008

Long overdue and repeatedly requested - We've finally added an RSS feed to the 8bitpeoples site. You can find the familiar orange icon in the top-right corner of the News column. Never have an excuse to fall behind in the chip music arms race again.

Based on user feedback and cascading strokes of genius, we've redesigned the menu bar for the site. It should be easier to use, more intuitive than before and a beauty to behold. Click around. There are still a few sections in limbo (Art Packs, Research and Development) - but hold tight, they're on the way.

You've probably also already noticed the new releases from Animal Style and Yerzmyey. Eat them up! OM NOM NOM! Some serious chip muscles being flexed, straight out of Philadelphia and Poland, respectively.

We've changed a lot of things behind the scenes as well, so send us a message using the contact page if you notice any problems.

Feel the power! Never die!

NEW RELEASE! 8BP084: Yerzmyey - FREAKuencies

18 Apr 2008

It's a common misconception that ZX Spectrum 48K sound is generated solely by the Z80 chip, with the AY chip only being used by the more high-tech 128K models. This is not true. The first AY interfaces for 48K Speccys appeared around 1990. FREAKuencies was written entirely on the ZX Spectrum 48K (more specifically a Timex Computer 2048 - the American/Portuguese ZX48K clone) with AY interface. Sound-Tracker 1.1, a Polish music editor made especially for such configuration was used to create these chiptunes on a computer not much bigger than a calculator. Class is over, now go enjoy!

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS

21 Mar 2008

The good news: We've made it so all of you freaks and freakettes may view our entire discography at once. Enjoy our bandwidth.

The bad news: There have been intermittent server issues that are continuing to elude us. We're looking into these problems and will fix them ASAP. We're under the impression that they're the result of a faulty web host. Speaking of which, the site will be down for about twelve hours beginning at 12 AM, -5 GMT. Booooo!

Central Services and Spunky Cluster Move

Feel the outage! Never die!

8BITPEOPLES TAKES SHIT TO THE NEXT LEVEL: EPIC WEBSITE REDESIGN

15 Mar 2008

A project several months in the making, we're very proud here at 8bitpeoples to finally unveil our new website designed by minusbaby and coded by openBack. Over the next few weeks we'll unveil expanded "Research and Development" and "Art Packs" sections and several usability tweeks. This is just the beginning, dear f(r)iends.

Feel the update! Never die!

8BITPEOPLES LABEL SHOWCASE FEEL THE POWER MARCH 15TH @ SXSW MUSIC FESTIVAL

15 Mar 2008

In the second stage of the one-two knockout, nine chipmusicians and one visualist invade Austin's Molotov Lounge for an 8bitpeoples label showcase event, as part of the official SXSW Music Festival programming. Anamanaguchi, Aonami, Bit Shifter, Mark DeNardo & Graffiti Monsters, Bud Melvin, Nullsleep, Tristan Perich, Receptors, and Tree Wave perform audio, with live handheld visuals all night by Voltage Controlled.

SXSW • 8bitpeoples Label Showcase
2008 03 15 | Sat | 07:00 p.m.
Molotov Lounge
719 W 6th St
Austin TX 78701
US
21+

SXSW Music Festival artist list

BLIP FESTIVAL: REFORMAT THE PLANET DOCUMENTARY FEATURE WORLD PREMIERE MARCH 8TH @ SXSW FILM FESTIVAL

8 Mar 2008

Blip Festival: Reformat The Planet, 2 Player Productions' feature-length documentary film about the 2006 Blip Festival and the chipmusic movement worldwide, will have its world premiere on March 8 as an official selection of the SXSW Film Festival. Features performances and interviews with chip-scene musicians, visualists, and organizers, including Coova, Peter Swimm, Hally, Random, Nullsleep, Bubblyfish, Mike Rosenthal of The Tank, Portalenz, Glomag, Mark DeNardo, Voltage Controlled, Bit Shifter, Bud Melvin, Neil Voss, and many others.

Blip Festival: Reformat the Planet
SXSW Film Festival listing

2 Player Productions

NEW RELEASE! 8BP082: Gijs Gieskes - Molen

1 Feb 2008

Gijs Gieskes is an industrial designer from the Netherlands who is probably best known for the fascinating mechanical devices he constructs for musical and visual expression. However, with 'Molen' his debut release on 8bitpeoples, he puts aside physical implements and we find him operating solely within the digital realm. Despite the change in approach his songs retain a clockwork feeling, sometimes breaking down in surprisingly charming ways. As they whir, stutter and plod along delightfully toward some unseen destination one can't help but imagine their creator standing by, watching and smiling.

NEW RELEASE! 8BP081: Stu - GreateST HITs

2 Dec 2007

Finally, here's your chance to enjoy Stu's hard hitting dancefloortracks from the comfort of your own home! Don Atari electro and YM Rocker Stu, member of the infamous drop da bomb collective delivers you a handful of YM2149 killer tracks made on the Atari ST. As the famous German writer Goethe wrote: 'In der Beschrankung zeigt sich erst der Meister', implying that limitation reveals the real mastery, and this is particulary true for Stu's ultra efficient electro and breakbeat flavoured music. A minimum of equipment with a maximum impact, in the creative hands of this Swiss maSTer.

NEW RELEASE! 8BP080: Xinon VS Sabrepulse - Realization

1 Dec 2007

Gameboy techno overload! LSDJ pop/trance conflict! 8bitpeoples proudly present its first split release, an onslaught between two warring chiptune factions. Xinon provides five weapons-grade anthems, the bittersweet melodic prowess of 'Attitude' setting up the bomb perfectly for the hard hitting 'Vanishing Point', providing a critical blow to the enemy! Jetting hyperspeed into his adversary , Sabrepulse unloads a salvo of differing styles, with the ultrasweet pop dance party of 'Hey Kate' at variance with the bass-laden sting of 'Venom'. This collection will open your ears to the realization that international chiptune relations are stronger than ever.

NEW RELEASE! 8BP079: Random - Bad Joke EP

1 Jul 2007

Once again, Random delivers an EP full of hard kicking, lazer bouncing and arpeggio punching tunes. With new, unstoppable techniques, fresh, mindblowing melodies and beats made out of Game Boy and Win, he shoots up in the clouds, breaks through the atmosphere, and out into space - where all the stars and planets are bowing to him -- the new ruler of Cosmos.

NEW RELEASE! 8BP077: Nullsleep - Electric Heart Strike

1 Jun 2007

Nullsleep tears the space-time continuum a new one, emerging from the 10th dimension to deliver his new 8bitpeoples release – Electric Heart Strike. Equal parts elegant data corruption and unbridled chiptune intensity, it is at once a suitable soundtrack for your next dance party or your first time surfing the superstrings to Alpha Centauri. Epic low-bit rock anthems, beat-driven juggernauts that spontaneously segfault, and romantic squarewave duets are the order of the day here. Until the future, Parity Hard!

NEW RELEASE! 8BP078: Mr. Spastic - Uber l33t n00b br34k5

1 Jun 2007

This release is perfect for nerds, electronica fans, internet gurus and the average 8bit Joe. But, let it be known that it sounds like music hacking your eardrums on massive amounts of jolt cola. Don't be fooled by the sounds of yesteryear, this is pure retro modern. Mr. Spastic will spas out your system and oscillate your hips to the funky clock ticks and digitized rhythms. Tres l33t!

NEW RELEASE! 8BP076: RushJet1 - Out There

1 Apr 2007

Ever wondered what it's like in outer space? Ever wondered whether there's life on other planets out there? In RushJet1's second 8bitpeoples release, humans venture into space to find out and begin colonizing other planets. All is not well, though, as war ensues over control of a newly-found abandoned alien planet with advanced technology. What will the fate of the human race be? Recorded straight from the NES, these tunes were specifically written with the hardware in mind. Thanks to SLiVeR and Nullsleep!

NEW RELEASE! 8BP075: Kplecraft - Multi-Boxer

1 Mar 2007

KPLECRAFT is an electro-acoustic chiptune duo hailing from Japan. Kuske and Eddie first caught our attention with their KNMS-001 release on Monotonik netlabel in late 2005. In 2006 they released their full length CD Hamlin and cemented their status as some of the most unique and eclectic musicians in the chiptune scene -- combining Nintendo hardware with saxophones, a variety of hand-drums, guitar and toy instruments. So its with great pleasure that we present Multi-Boxer, their debut 8bitpeoples release and a truly brilliant one at that. Enjoy the didgeridoo and famicom too.