Many of you have asked where the music is coming from which is heard over my live stream on a daily basis. A couple of our community members – Jeff and Lumpy – have graciously put together a special section of their IndieNation station just for your listening pleasure. Our stream is called 8bitwonder, and runs 24 hours per day – even if I’m not listening. The music is completely random. However, many of the tracks come to you courtesy of 8-Bit Peoples.

8-bit is NOT the only type of music you’ll hear coming from your speakers when you tune in. There are a few DJs throughout the day, and each of them brings something different to the mix:

• iscifit.tv (Jeff) – The network/tech director, also DJ’s, bringing sci-fi, tech and 80s music to the masses.
• Lumpy (John) – The programming director that bring indie/podsafe music to the masses
• Meshelly (Chell) – Programming director, started as a fan and now kicks butt on the air herself.
• The Guys Podcast – TGP brings their show each Wednesday at 9pm Eastern time (-5 GMT).
• Zack “The Mothman” Daggy – Brings you the very best indie music every Wednesday at 11AM EST.

Many people are confused as to the true meaning of “8-Bit music.” Back in the early 1980s, computers for the home became cheaper and more accessible. This led to a proliferation of PCs and gaming consoles which were abandoned as people upgraded to new generations of software and hardware. Despite this, small groups of artists and musicians continued to use those old machines to produce their audio. This type of music is commonly known as chiptune.

The gaming technologies used in chip music production are those which were produced in the early 1980s through the mid-1990s. These systems include the old Commodore 64, the Nintendo Game Boy and the NES itself. They were unique back then in that they marked a period in the tech development of gaming audio in which sound chips were used.

The term Chip Music is now applied to compositions which try to recreate the original sound, even though they are made using more complex technology. Composers use modern computers to help them compose, record and execute their craft. These same modern machines are needed to help the composers network with others throughout the scene.

The popularity of Creative Commons over Copyright in this scene has helped many musicians learn and develop their craft through the open-source environment. Emulating the original sound chips has become quite prevalent due to the increasing rarity of those old original gaming systems that were used “back in the day.”

I have to thank Jeff and Lumpy for all of their hard work, dedication and many free hours of service to keep this stream running. Be sure to tune in – either via my stream or their direct link – to listen whenever you have a chance.

8-Bit Music on the Live Stream

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I recently had a chance to have a video conference with Rachael, from 1 Indie Nation. She produces her own podcast, discussing Indie music. Make sure you go check out what they have available for you!

1 Indie Nation podcast explores the authentic essence of Electronica, Rock and Hip Hop culture. It offers an alternative to the mainstream and attempts to bridge generations, genders, and cultures. We offer an independent voice, free from record label and big business imperatives.

Rachael’s responsibility is to find cool new music on the Indie scene, and then record a podcast each Friday night. She admits she tends to get sidetracked with other things, so she may not always get one out each week. She’s also in the job market, looking for something where she can create podcasts on a daily basis. Keep that in mind if you guys need someone to fulfill this role!

You can also find Rachael’s blog online, where you’ll find posts about things from music to whatever is in her head at the moment.

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Where Do You Find Indie Music?