Get Your Remix On: GameChops’ Powerglove Remix Contest

 

VGM netlabel GameChops has recently presented its very first remix contest for Dj CUTMAN‘s track “Powerglove (It’s So Bad)” featuring Benjamin Briggs, which takes a classic NES sample and throws in “a heaping dose of french electro and gritty automation to create something so good, it can only be called ‘so bad'”. The winning remixes will be featured on an upcoming GameChops release.

Remixes must be hosted on GC Soundcloud dropbox and submitted through the GameChops website on or before the deadline of June 25th, 2012. All genres and interpretations are welcome, but winners will be decided on strength of concept, mixing quality, and goodness of the song itself.

While you can listen to “Powerglove (It’s So Bad)” above, download the remix stems here (or here). Happy remixing!

Sick Damage Presents: Cinco De Chipo, An 8-Bit Charity Party

Down for video games, electro music, and getting drunk in the name of good causes? The Manhattan-based ‘geek nightlife’ promotion company Sick Damage is hosting a Cinco de Mayo charity party in New York this weekend to help aid David A. Croach, a close friend who has been recently diagnosed with leukemia:

This show is a benefit for our good friend, and avid gamer, David A. Croach “DAC”, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Half of the door profits with be donated to DAC and his family in search for a perfect-match bone marrow transplant. For more information on how to help/donate or how to get tested to see if YOU are a perfect match for DAC, please check out his site!

Cinco De Chipo, held at Union Hall in Brooklyn, looks incredibly promising with action-packed performances from various artists featuring chiptune/dubstep/electro sets of Dj CUTMAN and KNIFE CITY, a one-of-a-kind chiptune violin performance by Fluxer, ’90s pro-wrestling inspired chiptune music by Heavyw8bit, and dark and dramatic ’60s-inspired stylings from PROM QUEEN.

The event is restricted to those who are 21 and up with a $5 cover. You can find more information on the event on Sick Damage’s Facebook, but be sure to check out the Cinco de Chipo event page to RSVP for one of the most thrilling Cinco de Mayos yet!

Sound Bytes: Dj CUTMAN’s “Transformation (Little Nemo)”

Yeah, yeah. We’re huge Dj CUTMAN fans here at ThaSauce. But can you blame us? With his charismatic presence on-stage, rad live sets that mash up everything from dubstep to hip-hop to chiptunes, and extensive knowledge of the video game music (or even electonic music overall, to which we entertain ourselves with his frequent Facebook updates), Dj CUTMAN really has us going on. This time around, this captivating DJ takes his proficient skills in audio engineering up a notch to remix music from the NES platform Little Nemo: The Dream Master. “Transformation (Little Nemo)” is an intriguing yet nostalgic take on Junko Tamiya’s classic work, adding a more upbeat, house-y vibe that just begs for some rhythmical head-bobbing while listening.

Check out his Soundcloud page to get your quick fix of more Dj CUTMAN goodness. Not enough? For more catchy tunes, you can also explore more similar styles of music on his newly established game music and chiptune netlabel, Gamechops.

Attend T-MODE, Acquire Skills from Inverse Phase & Dj CUTMAN

 

Calling itself a “hybrid event that fuses together the powerful appeal of anime with the high energy entertainment of video games”, T-MODE, also known as Tournament Mode, is a anime and gaming convention in the Washington, DC metro area that celebrates the fusion of anime, gaming, music, cosplay, and all things otaku. This year, T-MODE will commence this weekend, Friday, April 20th until Sunday, April 22nd.

Yes. Yes, we know. We’re actually writing about a gaming and anime convention. However, what sets T-MODE apart from other gaming and anime conventions are the panels dedicated to chiptune and DJing by none other chiptune wunderkind Inverse Phase and video game DJ mastermind Dj CUTMAN. From learning how to spot fake chiptunes to being educated on the art of laptop DJing, these dudes have you covered. You can even learn how to write your own Nintendo music!

While the pre-registration deadline for T-MODE has already passed, those in the Rockville, MD area can still register and buy tickets at the door — 1-Day and 3-Day memberships are available for $35 and $55, respectively. Don’t miss out on this cool opportunity to learn how to make and mix music from some of the pros.

Benjamin Briggs’ Diddy Kong Racing: Bootleg Circuit Just Released

Remember when chasing intergalactic pig wizards was the right thing to do? Or how about collecting those elusive amulet fragments? Don’t mind us over here, just fondly reminiscing about Diddy Kong Racing.

Benjamin Briggs has us at ‘hello’ with keen memories of DKR. While we’ve enjoyed many a bingo real money app and have gone on and on about his expressive talents as an upcoming artist within the VGM scene, Briggs’ Diddy Kong Racing: Bootleg Circuit has finally inspired the creative juices in us once more to gush about his latest endeavor with smooth house and disco influences. Even as his first-ever sampled game audio album, Briggs really takes the time to both highlight and complement Dave Wise’s original  arrangements that most gamers have come to know and love about one of the fastest-selling racing games within video game history. For example, “Hi There! (Lobby)” evokes sentimentality of Wise’s thumping cadences but efficaciously transitions into what we’d call a classic “Briggs-esque” twist, leaving the listener with toes tapping and heads bobbing when noone is looking… or when they are. Who are we kidding? “Hot Pockets (Hot Top Volcano)”, another favorite, encourages a major chill-out mood with entrancing rhythms while bringing about nostalgic yet gut-wrenching feelings for that damn volcano stage.

Did we mention that all the tracks have been mastered by Dj CUTMAN? Released exclusively from Dj CUTMAN’s new music label Gamechops, Brigg’s newest EP gives us an exciting preview of what we should expect from this group of artists who are driven by the simple passion of creating music. Diddy Kong Racing: Bootleg Circuit is available on Bandcamp now, which you have no reason NOT to download because it’s free!