We Are Super Pumped For Our Proving Ground Playlist

September 27, 2025The Whole Kameese Leave a comment

Listen To The Proving Ground Jam Playlist Here

We are pleased to present our all new playlist for The Proving Ground Jam. We had such a great time putting the first list together we decided to do it again .

1-“MB Anthem ( The Market Basket Song)”- Stop Calling Me Frank

You can’t go wrong with a song about , Market Basket, Stop Calling Me Frank , has crafted an absolute gem.

2 “Having A Day” – Trestles

Santa Cruz based Trestle give us a groove-tastic tune with “Having A Day”

3- “Kneejerk”-Noah Villeneuve

Noah Villeneuve, has an amazing, “traffic stopping voice. “Kneejerk”, is stunning.

4- “Surfer” -Last Hyena

Brilliant Math Rock with a surfer groove… Yes please.

5-“Slicked Back Hair- elijah woods

Retro pop banger that absolutely kills.

6- “Flown Away”- Laura Pieri

You can’t help but want to get your dance on with “Flown Away”, from Laura Pieri

7- “Bleeding Pen” – Ana Luna

Ana Luna , delivers an absolutely breathtaking track with, “Bleeding Pen”

8-“Maybe” – The New Condition

We feel like we have heard the future with the cinematic “Maybe”, from The New Condition and we absolutely love it.

9- “The Lake “– Emma Harner Featuring Henry Jamison

We were absolutely mystified by “The Lake” from Emma Harner Featuring Henry Jamison … and you will be too

10- “NVR KNO” – Battlemode

Chiptune for the win ! You will definitely level up after hearing this one.

11- “Afterlife”- Charlotte Sands

Charlotte Sands, is simply electrifying with her new single, “Afterlife”

12- “Did You Cry”- Maggie Andrew

Maggie Andrew has created a alt-pop gem with “Did You Cry” ( You are going to want this one on repeat.

13- “Stick To The Script “- Anaïs & The Hoops

Catchy and smart , “Stick To The Script “ will definitely stay with you after the music ends.

14 – “Golden Days”- Crow Follow

“Golden Days” is a stunning melodic and cinematic triumph.

15- “Cemetery Man” – The Collect Pond

The Collect Pond, are firing on all cylinders with “Cemetery Man”

16- “Light and Low- Lovina Falls

We are absolutely smitten with “Light and Low” from Lovina Falls, absolutely perfect

17- “Lizard In A Bar “ – Roberta Faceplant

We have had “Lizard In A Bar “ on permanent repeat.

18- “Kansas” – Nathalie Miller

We love the indie pop goodness of “Kansas”, from Nathalie Miller

19- “Hard Is Hard” – Tomás Doncker

We are head over heels in love with the groove on “Hard Is Hard”

20- “Tonight” – Nate Perry & Ragged Company

“Tonight” is a high energy, well written song that you will be singing along with almost instantly.

We hope you enjoy The Proving Ground Jam Playlist. We hope you gained a new favorite song or two.

Battlemode Absolutely Blow The Roof Off With Latest Gem, “NVR KNO”

September 11, 2025September 11, 2025The Whole Kameese Leave a comment

We recently had the grand opportunity to check out the latest single, “NVR KNO”, from Boston chiptune collective, Battlemode. You can listen to “NVR KNO” Here

Battlemode bleep/bloop into the autumn season with a lively and unhinged new hyper-pop bop called “NVR KNO,” set for streaming release today ( Thursday, September 11)

We all need to level up in our lives , and we can’t think of a better way to do that than to bask in the 8-bit glow of “NVR KNO”, from Battlemode.

“NVR KNO”, is a euphoric tune, that is a kaleidoscopic cautionary tale about dating in the 2020s, arrives with a rainbow comet tail alongside a live show and dance party slate that will send your circuit board into overdrive.

It’s no wonder the panoramic 8-bit electronic-pop project of Biff, Astro, and Sam Mulligan enlisted two new members to the Battlemode posse, bringing sweet boys Leo (guitar/bass) and Isaiah (drums) into the mix to flesh out the sound and enhance the overall sonic attack.

“There’s still so much left to do,” says Astro. “We feel like Boston Calling was just a stepping stone onto our future purpose. We still have an entire genre to define. We’re definitely getting a Grammy someday but for now we plan to write our best music yet, stay in Boston, and flood the city with amazing chiptune.”

The plan holds up. The “NVR KNO” drop is quickly followed by Hack The Planet, a 30th anniversary audio/visual orgasm co-hosted with Double Feature on Friday, September 12 that brings ‘90s cult classic techno-drama Hackers back to the Somerville Theatre, where Battlemode will perform live ahead of the film

After last year’s sold-out party, this year’s Hackers screening brings stars Laurence Mason (Lord Nikon) and Renoly Santiago (Phantom Phreak) to an all-evening rager that includes digital, binary code projections all over the 115-year-old theatre by Mike Videopunk; live remixes of the film presented by Double Feature (Wubson x Danny Aye), and an afterparty for the true believers of what the band calls “Hot Hacker Autumn.”

From there, Battlemode appear at the 2025 Moon Over Salem festival at Bit Bar in downtown Salem on Saturday, September 13, prepare their own Astro Fest for late September (details on that very soon!), and are busy playing a full serving of parties in New York City and all over New England — all while collaborating with other local artists and working tirelessly to get Willie Burmley Jr,. elected as the next mayor of their home base of Somerville.

And let’s not forget the cherry on the chiptune cake….the Battle-bois are carefully growing the Boston chiptune community, planning potential live dates in Japan come 2026, and organizing the sophomore edition of their own Boston Bitdown, which pressed play earlier this year as instantly one of the largest chiptune festivals in the world, bringing more than 50 artists to the Boston area across five venues in three days.

Battlemode, has a lot going on and we are here for all of it.

Breakups Are Hard But Battlemode, Makes Them Sound Good With Latest Earworm, “Game Over”

May 16, 2025The Whole Kameese Leave a comment

We recently had the opportunity to check out the new single, “Game Over”, from Boston’s finest chiptune trio, Battlemode. You can listen to “Game Over” on Spotify Here, Apple Music Here,

Game Over” soundtracks a broken relationship in a way only Battlemode could; its vibrant Game Boy pulsation and moody blacklight kiss-off slams the controller down on the game of love and quickly unplugs the console. It’s a polished earworm that takes us back the dank mental arcade of our youth, with a kaleidoscopic euphoria, a glitchy witch house undercurrent, and a hypnotic tumble that demands repeated listens.

Not only do we get blazing new music from Battlemode, but the trio is getting ready to take the stage at Boston Calling , “Game Over”, comes exactly one week before taking the stage at Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston alongside Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, Vampire Weekend, Fall Out Boy, and a few dozen others.

Lining up this new single ahead of the Memorial Day weekend music festival is no coincidence. While last summer’s smooth synth-pop jam “Playlist” was all about wallowing after a bad breakup and listening to all the songs two lovers once shared in the good times, the moody pulsation and basement rave kiss-off of “Game Over” slams the controller down on the game of love and quickly unplugs the console.

When the song declares “I’m so done with you” in a high falsetto that arrives with such sass our heads snap back to the dank mental arcade of our youth, it’s clear Battlemode – the tag-team combo of Astrologic (Astro), Bifflecup (Biff), and Sam Mulligan – is moving on and moving out.

Following in the path of “Playlist” and buoyant “Just Pretend,” which got the proper music video treatment this past January, “Game Over” is a polished earworm with a kaleidoscopic euphoria, a glitchy witch house undercurrent, and a hypnotic tumble that demands repeated listens. The infectious track was produced by Curt Martin, and Narvicto DeJesus delivered the bright and animated single artwork.

“Oh, not Battlemode doing another song about a soured relationship,” says Biff with a cocksure wink and a roll of the eye. “Are we petty for writing a song about exes who have wronged us? Our last breakup song ‘Playlist’ came from a place of heartbreak and vulnerability. We’re sad bois, OK?!?! But ‘Game Over’ covers the colder side of breakups. When someone has tried your patience to a point where you’re dead inside.”

“Game Over” is Battlemode, fully charged and playing at full strength. The lyrics may imply “Game Over” However, Battlemode, is ready for the next level.

Battlemode Delivers A Colorful Reboot With Video For “Just Pretend”

January 28, 2025The Whole Kameese Leave a comment

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.

“Just Pretend “ From Battlemode Is 2 Minutes Of Can’t Miss Musical Perfection

August 30, 2024September 3, 2024The Whole Kameese Leave a comment

We recently had the most excellent opportunity to check out the new single “Just Pretend” from Boston chiptune electronic-pop trio Battlemode and we can’t stop smiling and grooving. You can listen to the musical Picasso that is “Just Pretend” on Spotify Here on Apple Music Here and on Bandcamp Here

Let us start by saying that from the moment we pressed played on “Just Pretend” from Battlemode we fell instantly in love with. “Just Pretend” iis everything that is right and good about music . “Just Pretend” gave us literal goosebumps from the first note so freaking good.

Where July 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. 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.” – Astro

Battlemode, will make an appearance at a special 35mm screening of Hackers at the Somerville Theatre on September 15’s Hack The Planet Day (an event curated by Battlemode themselves), the idea of starting over – and leaving the past behind – rings clear across a cool wave of Game Boy bleeps and bloops. You can find more information Here

“Musically, the center of gravity on ‘Just Pretend’ is the chiptune solo section,” says Biff. “The idea was to present a digital pop song that doesn’t initially reek of chiptune. The solo acts like a hair-metal guitar solo – slightly virtuosic, dramatic, and shows-off what a Game Boy can really do.”

Battlemode make vibrant and meaningful music that touches your soul and makes you move your feet and “Just Pretend “ is a shining example of this.

The Whole Kameese

A Whole Lot of Music and a whole lot of Kameese

Category #CHIPTUNE