Nerd music (or geek music) is the overall category of music collecting the musical genres that grew from nerd culture; different styles that share the same common ground. [1] [2]
The earliest example was filk music, from the 1950s onwards, played by fans at science fiction conventions. [3] Towards the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, other styles of music developed. Factors that made this possible were the increasing affordability of equipment, the growth of the internet and the increase in the nerd-geek demographic. [4] [5] [6]
Nerd-folk (also nerd folk, geek-folk, or dork-folk) [7] is a musical genre derived from filking that features humorous original songs involving geeky topics performed in a folk style. Laser Malena-Webber and Aubrey Turner of The Doubleclicks credit Marian Call and others with creating the genre. [8] The genre is related to filking and other nerd music genres such as nerdcore hip-hop and geek rock (alternative rock). [8]
The music festival Nerdapalooza (2007–13) described itself as "the first of its kind to invite all genres of the nerd music movement under one roof, including nerd rock, nerdcore hip hop, chiptunes, and video game music." [9] Other conventions and events such as MAGFest and Rock Comic Con have since hosted nerd music acts of a range of styles.
The music of South Korea has evolved over the course of the decades since the end of the Korean War, and has its roots in the music of the Korean people, who have inhabited the Korean peninsula for over a millennium. Contemporary South Korean music can be divided into three different main categories: Traditional Korean folk music, popular music, or K-pop, and Western-influenced non-popular music.
Nerdcore is a genre of hip hop music characterized by subject matter considered of interest to nerds and geeks. Self-described nerdcore musician MC Frontalot has the earliest known recorded use of the term in the 2000 song "Nerdcore Hiphop". Frontalot, like most nerdcore artists, self-publishes his work and has released much of it for free online. As a niche genre, nerdcore generally holds to the DIY ethic, and has a history of self-publishing and self-production.
Damian Alexander Hess, better known by his stage name MC Frontalot, is an American rapper and web designer. Hess began releasing music as MC Frontalot in 1999. His first successes came through Song Fight!, an online songwriting and recording competition, where he became known for consistently beating opponents. Throughout his history at Song Fight!, he has never lost a competition as MC Frontalot, although he has entered only seven entries in that name. In one such song fight, entitled "Romantic Cheapskate", he likens Song Fight! to a neglected lover who favors him regardless of how he treats her. The song went on to garner a total of 614 votes, while the next closest song ended the round with 28.
Raheem Jarbo, also known by his stage names Mega Ran and Random, is an American underground nerdcore rapper, chiptune DJ, author and record producer. In February 2015, he changed his stage name to Mega Ran, removing Random from any releases.
Keith A. Moore is a nerdcore rapper, better known by the stage name Beefy, from the Tri-Cities, Washington.
Nerdapalooza was an annual nerd music and arts festival in Orlando, Florida, United States, the first of its kind to invite all genres of the nerd music movement under one roof, including geek rock, nerdcore, chiptune, and video game music. The festival was conceived by John "hex" Carter, who hosted a nerdy music themed radio show through KRFH, the student-run radio station at Humboldt State University. The word is derived from nerd and palooza, a reference to Lollapalooza. Nerdapalooza, LLC was dissolved on October 29, 2013.
Beau Fa'asamala, known as ZeaLouS1, is an American rapper and producer from Oceanside, California. The self-proclaimed "King of the Boss Fights" and "The Sleeping Dragon of Nerdcore" started making beats, producing, and MC'ing while attending California State University, San Marcos as an Audio Production major. He has worked with notable artists such as Dr. Awkward, MC Frontalot, MC Lars, YTCracker, Random, and Beefy.
Nerdcore Rising is a documentary/concert film starring MC Frontalot and other nerdcore hip hop artists such as MC Chris, Wheelie Cyberman of Optimus Rhyme and MC Lars, with contributors from artists such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Prince Paul, and Brian Posehn. The film, directed and produced by Negin Farsad, was premiered at the 2008 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. It combines interviews about nerdcore and its origins with footage of MC Frontalot's 2006 Nerdcore Rising national tour.
Sci-Fried is an American Independent music geek rock band from Orlando, Florida, United States, that performs original and parody songs with lyrics mostly about pop culture, science fiction, video games and comic books.
Christopher Brendan Ward IV, better known by the stage name MC Chris, is an American rapper, voice actor, comedian, and writer. He is known for his high-pitched voice and for combining his "geek" background with the "gangsta rap" image which resulted in the genre of nerdcore. He has released ten albums, five EPs, one re-release and a tenth anniversary edition of his recordings with the Lee Majors.
The Doubleclicks are a nerd-folk musical duo based in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles, California, consisting of siblings Laser Webber and Aubrey Turner. They first became known for performing nerd-friendly comedy music, including songs about Dungeons & Dragons, dinosaurs, and other geeky themes. While their later songs retain those elements, there has been a stronger focus on feminist and other social issues, and more personal themes.
Geek rock is a musical subgenre derived from pop rock and alternative rock within the nerd music group. It is characterized by the standard instruments of rock music often combined with electronic and unusual instruments, references to geek culture and specialized yet mundane interests, whimsy, and offbeat humor in general.
Chainmail and Cello is the debut album by nerd-folk duo The Doubleclicks as The Doubleclicks. It was released on 30 April 2012. An earlier demo album, called Beta Testing 1-2-3 (2010) was recorded under the more-generic band name "Angela and Aubrey Webber Version 1.0".
Lasers and Feelings is the second album from the nerd-folk duo The Doubleclicks, released on July 9, 2013. The album debuted at #7 on Billboard's Comedy Albums chart for the week ending July 27, 2013.
"Nothing to Prove" is a feminist nerd-folk song by The Doubleclicks released on their second album Lasers and Feelings. It is a response to the misogynist concept of the "fake geek girl" and the subsequent bullying and gatekeeping prevalent within the geek community. The Doubleclicks released a crowd-sourced music video, featuring segments filmed by women within the geek community, that went viral and received over a million views.
Thundering Asteroids! is an American four-person, female-fronted nerd punk band from Portland, Oregon, United States. The band was formed in 2009, released an EP in 2011 and studio albums in 2012 and 2014. Their genre of music is often inspired by geek pop culture, the band is named after a Robotech exclamation and each member uses a stage name based on the Star Wars expanded universe.
Lucia Fasano is an American singer-songwriter, comedian, actress, comic book writer, cartoonist, and writer based in Los Angeles, California. Fasano co-created and co-stars in the web series Catty B's.