We recently had the delightful experience to check out the colorful new music video for “Just Pretend,” from Boston chiptune electronic-pop trio, Battlemode.

You can watch the video for “Just Pretend” below

In the dull of the winter freeze, Battlemode and their bright vibrant sound shine brighter than the northern lights , on their spectacular video for “Just Pretend”

You can listen to “Just Pretend “ Here

Where prior single “Playlist” – declared an undisputed “Song of the Summer” by Boston media – was a broken-hearted breakup song and the digital impressions we leave behind, the pulsating 8-bit sophistication of “Just Pretend” suggests a new level of life and love awaits just around the corner for Astrologic (Astro), Bifflecup (Biff), and Sam Mulligan. It’s a restart of the game of love, just when everyone around them is feeling reborn.

‘Just Pretend’ is about two people starting a possible new relationship, but still having reservations because of past love trauma,” says Astro. “They ultimately decide to ‘Just Pretend’ that stuff doesn’t matter and to live for the moment. The theme and lyrics were inspired by a relationship I was in where we both were scarred by the past, but we wanted to pretend we were normal people, and could have a fresh start.”

As it turns out, January has been less about a fresh start for Battlemode, and more a continuation of last year’s successes. After being nominated for Electronic Artist of the Year at the 2024 Boston Music Awards, the band earned a slot performing live at Boston Calling Music Festival in May, joining the bill alongside Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, and Fall Out Boy.

Between now and Memorial Day weekend, the Battlemode live calendar is healthy, as the band plays Sexfest at The Jungle in Somerville over Valentine’s Day weekend, and performs live before a February 21 screening of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World at Arlington’s Capitol Theatre with Linnea’s Garden, DJ Wubson, visual artist V.Kash, and a pop-up arcade from Super Party Bros

In March, they take part in their own Boston Bitdown, a three-day chiptune and digital fusion music festival collaboration with geekbeatradio that takes over five venues in Somerville and Arlington and features more than 40 performances and visual art displays.

As we wait for all the amazing live shows, the “Just Pretend” music video takes the Battlemode talents to YouTube. Directed by McNazz and filmed by Sam Nazartian and Kyle McGandy at The Capitol Theatre and depicting the band as clowns and magicians, the vibrant visual showcases the faces behind the bleeps and the bloops, all while the song itself answers a simple question: What if Charlie Puth wrote a chiptune pop song complete with hip-hop verses? Perhaps he would have, had he stuck around the city after graduating from Berklee and partied a little bit more with the band and their raucous live shows.