The Aesthetics of Demoscene Tracker Music

Abstract

In this project I have worked towards the production of an EP, focused on replicating and understanding the musical aesthetics found within the computer art subculture of the 80s and 90s known as the demoscene. In order to adopt this style and understanding, I have used the same type of software used at the time, a tracker. I have found and utilized the same sample sets available to them at the time. And spoken to still-active members of the scene, to understand the way they worked. The computers at the time had quite limited resources compared to what we have available today. Much of this project went towards learning how to bring as much out as much sonic depth from these limited resources as they did. And understanding how the software and workflow affects the final result.