Bubblegum Octopus

New Jersey based experimental electronic pop solo project of multi-instrumentalist Matthew "m@ the c@" Morden. The project began in 2005 after the release of the c@ album copy as an attempt to recreate the synth-punk sound of the late 70s. As writing progressed, the original intention was supplanted by the development of a melodic hybrid of cutesy picopop/shibuya-kei style pop, "extreme" metal and punk, eurobeat and bemani type dance music, early 00s style digigrind, and predominantly 90s, 16-bit video game music style electronics with elements of breakcore, noise, idm, synth-funk, 8-bit, uplifting trance, and electro-punk. Because the project is so often inaccurately pigeonholed into various sub and quasi-genres of electronic music, m@ and his fans have seriocomically adopted the terms spazzpop and tweegrind to describe the project. A number of other, less used terms (cat-wave, picothrash, blackened disco, sugar doom, and pizzacore, for example) have also been used, as well as "fey-pop," coming from an early magazine review of the project. The songs were initially rooted in MIDI sequenced synthesis, vocals, and occasional guitar or electronic noise, but have evolved to incorporate circuit-bent toys, effect pedal chains, hardware sequencers, drum machines, synths, theremin, mandolin, horns, percussion instruments, SNES and Gameboy soundchips, a host of different programs, the manipulation of self-made samples, and a variety of other hardware. Ideologically, the project is rooted firmly in an absurdist outlook on life and art, combating the Peter Pan complex, and rejecting the type of fandom culture-centric lifestyles that so many video game influenced music projects thrive on. The love of cats is also promoted heavily. The project is often thought to include samples of video games or other things and pitch altered vocals, but nothing of the sort has ever been used in a Bubblegum Octopus song. Since it's inception, the project has been promoted almost exclusively through the word of mouth of supportive fans, bringing in enough attention to bring the project to #99 in the list of the top 100 unsigned myspace artists over all in 2006 and 2007. Shows in the past were extremely rare (twice a year or so, and only locally,) and, according to m@, not even a very important part of BgO's existence, until 2009, when touring and regular, more exciting shows became commonplace. Discography: • 8-Legged Dance Moves (demo, self release 2005) • split w/ Scissor Shock (Kiddieriot Records, 2008, soon to be re-released) • The Album Formerly Known As "8-Legged Dance Moves" (full length, self release 2009) • Take Control: split with yatagarasu (Sketchlife Recordings 2009) • My God Is The Cat King: split with Dental Work (Placenta Recordings 2010) • Possible Party: Part i (b-sides/rarities/live audio compilation, 2010) Compilation appearances: • Christmasasaurus Vol. 1 (So Passé 2005/Robo! Robtica!! re-release 2008) • Friends Of Brokecore Vol. 1 (Brokecore Records 2006) • Squish Squash Squad Vol. 1 (Squish Squash Squad 2006) • Digital Revolution: Vol. 1 (no label 2006) • Christmasasaurus Vol. 2 (Candymind Records 2007) • Sloppy Seconds (Obscura Records 2006) • Placenta Recordings Compilation (Placenta Recordings 2008) • Christmasasaurus Vol. 3 (Robo! Robotica!! 2008) • Judgement Day (Dancing Is Forbidden 2009) • Placenta Family Tree: Vol 1 (Placenta Recordings 2009) • Spooky Sounds And Violent Screams (Robo! Robotica!! 2009) • Christmasasaurus Vol. 4 (Robo! Robotica!! 2009) • Cybernetic Underworld (Insidious Clothing 2010) • Genres Unknown To Mankind (Robo! Robotica!! 2010) • Robo! Robotica!! Spring compilation (Robo! Robotica!! 2010) • Fuck Your Speakers (Trash Fuck Net 2010) In spite of a busy schedule, the project continues to play shows, record, and tour actively, as well as appearing on compilations, radio shows, and interviews. m@ the c@ is known for being 1/2 of the original team responsible for the organization of the Christmasasaurus compilations (1/3rd of the current team,) teaching music lessons to children and teens, filling in for other bands' band members live, and writing music for commissions, random production and engineer work, and for having founded and written music for the following projects and bands: Rage-a-holic Tortise (2003 - 2004) yamiwosukasu (2004) Black Clocks (2004 - 2005) c@ (2005 - present) First Aid Squid (2006) Fork Sister (2005 - present) Frame House (2006 - present) Ultra Death Men (2008 - present) I Am A Hexagon (2008) The Rew-mi-ref-rots (2009 - present) Mercury Syringe (2009 - present) Mob Boss (2010 - present) Currently, the project is recording for it's second full length, Bad Happy.