Watch Out For Snakes is 8-bit chipwave from Atlanta geek Matt Baum. Layering NES chip sounds, Watch Out For Snakes creates darkly energetic tracks that pay homage to old video games and 80s films without taking things too seriously. Scars, WOFS’ second full-length, released November 2019, supported by the Dark Future Tour with fellow synth artists Glitch Black and Gregorio Franco as well as appearances at Echosynthetic Fest (Atlanta), Neon Rose Watch Out For Snakes Fest (Seattle/Portland), and MAGFest (Baltimore). Atlanta, Georgia Genre: Chiptune + synthwave SO... WHAT IS CHIPWAVE? For fans of: College, SURVIVE, Makeup and Vanity Set, Waveshaper In 2015, unable to choose between playing music or playing video games, Baum split the difference, synthesizing samples from the old NES and Game Boy systems of his youth to build a unique sound – part synthwave, part chiptune, all retro. But drawing influence from both, Baum found himself on the fringes of traditional synthwave and chiptune genre definitions and half-jokingly, half-lovingly coined the term “chipwave” – which has since caught on with fans – to give his sound a home. With a high-energy stage performance that draws from his hardcore/ punk upbringing and includes a red keytar, fog, neon, and lots of head-banging, WOFS has won even over more fans to the chipwave camp. Appearances at MAGFest, BitGen Gamer Fest, Outrun the Sun Fest, Echosynthetic Fest, and supporting slots for artists such as Dan Terminus, Makeup and Vanity Set, Tokyo Rose, Betamaxx, NINA, and Title: Scars Parallels have further solidified this fanbase. Release Date: 11/09/19 Track List: SCARS: SPACE-Y TRANSITIONS 1 Set Up Us the Bomb Scars, the follow-up relase to UPGRADE, uses a body horror and 2 This Ain’t No Cutscene 3 Scars * intergalactic warfare narrative as a backdrop to explore themes (ft. Megan McDuffee) around life transitions. With Scars, Baum takes a similar approach 4 Airlock as UPGRADE, conceptualizing the album as the soundtrack to an 5 Rip ‘Em Up! * imaginary video game. (ft. Gregorio Franco) 6 Stranded Over the album’s arc, Baum examines the idea that while we all 7 Arms Race experience hard times, it’s the scars we’re left with that help us know 8 Starlight who we truly are and remind us not to repeat past mistakes. * featured singles
OFFICIAL SITE: https://watchoutforsnakestheband.com BANDCAMP: http://watchoutforsnakestheband.bandcamp.com BOOKING/PRESS: [email protected] HIGHLIGHTS
“...BAUM’S 8-BIT HOOKS STILL CARRY THAT UNDERLYING FEELING OF PANIC THAT COMES FROM LOSING AGAIN AND AGAIN AT WHATEVER SIDE-SCROLLER SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE AS A KID.” – IMMERSIVE ATLANTA
“UPGRADE IS A SOLID RELEASE THAT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO GUZZLE CHEAP BEER, PLAY NES, AND DANCE, DANCE, DANCE.” – ORIGINAL SYNTHS
“...LIKE PROG ROCK FOR FOLKS WHO’VE GROWN UP GLAMORIZING THE DAYS OF GIORGIO MORODER AND THE ATARI 2600.” – STOMP & STAMMER
SELECTED REVIEWS
Rhyphte Reviews: “Scars” by Watch Out For Snakes. The ChipWIN Blog. November 26, 2019. Album Review: “Scars” by Watch Out For Snakes. Nightride.FM. November 11, 2019. Watch Out for Snakes…And Silly Genre Names. Stomp and Stammer. July 14, 2018. Review: Watch Out For Snakes - UPGRADE. Immersive Atlanta. June 28, 2018. The Consoles Are Alive: Watch Out for Snakes’ UPGRADE - Music Review. Original Synths / Reel Reviews. June 26, 2018. UPGRADE by Watch Out For Snakes. Watermelon Banzai. May 24, 2018.
VIDEOS / LIVE FOOTAGE
WOFS Live Footage (YouTube)
SHOW HISTORY
Past WOFS Shows (Songkick)
OFFICIAL SITE: https://watchoutforsnakestheband.com BANDCAMP: http://watchoutforsnakestheband.bandcamp.com BOOKING/PRESS: [email protected]