An Interview with David "Biff" Jubinsky of Battlemode and Boston Bitdown
One of my musical highlights of 2025 was attending one of the nights of Boston Bitdown. I wasn't sure what to expect from a chiptune festival, but I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse based on Gameboy samples could be, and just how much fun it was. This year sees Boston Bitdown expand to four nights (March 5-8) and taking over eight venues throughout Somerville, Medford, Arlington, and Salem. We had some questions about what to expect this year, so we reached out to David "Biff" Jabinsky of Boston Bitdown (and Battlemode) to fnd out some more! If you're looking for tickets, who is playing this year, and some more info, check out the festival's website.
First question we have to ask: What is chiptune?
David “Biff” Jubinsky: It’s video game music! There are deeper, convoluted, conversations out there about the definition of chiptune, but to keep it simple: It’s music made with Game Boys.
What is it about the Game Boy that makes it so popular to create music?
I think people are initially drawn in from the associations we made as kids to our video game systems. If it sounds like Mario, Mega Man, or Kirby, we’re going to have some natural interest.
People stay for the pure timbres. The sine waves, sawtooth waves, and square waves are electronically perfect. They’re exactly as the chiptune gods intended them to be.
What are the crowds like at Boston Bitdown? Who attends a chiptune festival?
Good question! We’re still learning about that. Chiptune shows are normally very tight-knit and niche. The artists and attendees are all very close; we’re in the same community. We’re trying to expand on that. We know not everyone is aware what chiptune is. We’re trying to build that crowd up. I think these first few years of Bitdown are going to be attendees wanting to try something new. The tastemakers, the trendsetters, and the party starters.
If someone is curious about the festival but doesn't want to commit to all four dates, what is the show they should check out?
I have 2 answers:
Either come Thursday night to see Grammy nominated artist, Mega Ran at Warehouse XI in Somerville, or come Saturday to see David Javelosa (SEGA of America Audio Director from 1989 to 1996) at The Rockwell, also in Somerville (but at the other end of the city).
Pick an artist you’ve never heard of, and commit to seeing them. We didn’t select any bad artists. Most of our artists lock themselves away in their bedrooms crafting their chiptune masterpieces. What they’re about to present will blow your 8-bit mind. Choose at random; whoever you see is about to become your new favorite chiptune artist.
Last year I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse the artists were, and this year looks even more so. What artists do you think most exemplify Boston Bitdown?
We’ve also started a new tradition at Bitdown – the “and now for something completely different” artist. It will be an annual riddle to exemplify chiptune without using chiptune. Every year, we’ll showcase an artist entirely dissimilar to chiptune sound but completely identical in spirit. This year, we’ve invited the Boston Typewriter Orchestra to perform. They represent unconventional innovation through non-traditional instrumentation.
What tips would you give to someone looking to take in as much as they possibly can over the festival?
Sometimes when I go to fests, I need to combat over-stimulation. It can be good to find a quiet corner to just recharge.
Part of the reason we selected multiple venues for Bitdown is so that folks have a chance to go outside, get air, and not get stuck in any singular space.
We’ve built in breaks. If you’re trying to see every single performance, utilize those breaks to get food, hydrate, and mentally prepare for the 8-bit experience in front of you.
