Based in New York City, Bit Shifter explores high-impact, low-res music produced using primitive synthesis as a deliberate aesthetic choice. In a bracing distillation of the less-is-more philosophy, Bit Shifter operates with a standard Nintendo Game Boy as a means of exploring the aesthetics of economy, pushing minimal hardware to its maximum.

He is also in it for the laughs.

Co-administrator of the 8bitpeoples collective & label, and co-founder & co-curator of the international Blip Festival event series, Bit Shifter has released music on Hymen, Astralwerks, Mirex, 555 Recordings, Ship To Shore PhonoCo., and Ketacore, and has been fortunate enough to perform extensively around the world.

"Science City Zero" From Maladaptive Strategies Vol. 2, Data Casualty ℗ & © Bit Shifter · Maximum R&D (ASCAP)

"Tea With Galactus" From Maladaptive Strategies Vol. 2, Data Casualty ℗ & © Bit Shifter · Maximum R&D (ASCAP)

"The Butterfly" From Closed System Blues, Data Casualty ℗ & © Bit Shifter · Maximum R&D (ASCAP)

"Strange Comfort" From Bit.Trip Flux Original Soundtrack, Gaijin Games ℗ & © Bit Shifter · Maximum R&D (ASCAP)

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GIG ALERT · 2026 01 23 – 26 · NATIONAL HARBOR MD · LIVE at SUPER MAGFEST



Very excited to announce that I'll be performing in January at Super MAGFest, joining what already appears to be a wild, stacked music lineup. Four-day celebration of music and games, including live performances, panels & presentations, and more.

For the full story, and to register for the event, be sure to visit super.magfest.org.

Super MAGFest
https://super.magfest.org
2025 01 23 – 26 • Th – Su

Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center
201 Waterfront St, National Harbor MD 20745 · map

Hope to see you there!

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JAMES KOCHALKA SUPERSTAR × BIT SHIFTER COLLAB: “SWEET MOTHERFUCKER” · OUT NOW



New team-up just dropped! I got to join forces with indie comics legend & all-around rock star James Kochalka Superstar to create the chiptune singalong anthem “Sweet Motherfucker” — out now as track 2 on his brand new single Sweet Beats (flanked by two James Kochalka Superstar collaborations with Moby!)

Been a fan of James' comics for decades, in particular his Sketchbook Diaries (later collected and expanded under the title American Elf). Our paths finally converged recently, and the end result is “Sweet Motherfucker” — a fun, tuneful, cheeky track, and I challenge you to find a better (or catchier) blend of the wholesome and the profane.

① Sweet Beats (Moby Remix - Edit)
② Sweet Motherfucker (feat. Bit Shifter)
③ Sweet Beats (Moby Remix)



• Here's where to hear it!

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MALADAPTIVE STRATEGIES VOL. 2 · RETROSPECTIVE, OUT NOW



Announcing MALADAPTIVE STRATEGIES VOL. 2 — the long awaited 2nd entry in a multi-volume retrospective release series, collecting all of the Bit Shifter project’s non-album tracks — songs from far-flung compilations, songs informally made available on a homepage, and a few that never got released at all.

Taken as a whole, the series includes dozens of tracks, spanning 22 years. The Bandcamp editions also include additional bonus tracks, videos, and extensive liner notes.

Vol. 2 presents tracks made between 2003 and 2007; two have been newly re-recorded, four newly mixed, and the whole release mastered by Trey Frye & given incredible artwork by Andi Soto.

This volume focuses on material made using the nanoloop Game Boy musicmaking software, and showcases the very distinctive creative directions and timbral character that it facilitates. This volume includes some of my favorite material out of everything I've made, like the insistent "Science City Zero", the alien drum & bass of "Transmode Virus," the coldly indifferent dancefloor banger "Flight Risk," and of course a couple of pop covers thrown in for good measure.

Additional volumes on the way, so stay tuned. Thanks for listening.

Remastered by Trey Frye
Artwork by Andi Soto

Available for download or streaming at the Bit Shifter Bandcamp page; soon available on all download & streaming services.

• Bandcamp

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New items — high-quality 3" embroidered patches and 1" matte-finish pins featuring a handsome skull & ring emblem, perfect for your bag, hat, or chiptune battle jacket. New shirts with the same imagery, printed large on black Tultex tees, available in cuts the manufacturer refers to as "unisex" (Tultex 202) and "ladies" (Tultex 213). A grim and futuristic look, custom-tailored for our grim future.

Available for mailorder via my Bandcamp page.