Amplitude Problem: 8-Bit Chiptune Brilliance Meets Modern Synthwave
Imagine a hacker from the '80s, a jazz musician from the '70s, and a cyberpunk hero from a neon-lit future all walked into a recording studio. The result? Amplitude Problem — a.k.a. Juan Irming — a Swedish-American musical sorcerer blending chiptune nostalgia, synthwave coolness, and nerdcore swagger into one irresistible sound.
Born in 1974 on the island of Mallorca (yes, like a vacation postcard), Juan later moved to Malmö, Sweden — where instead of building sandcastles, he built demo programs on Atari computers before he was even tall enough to reach the counter. True story: a local shop called "Computer Corner" hired him as a kid to create Atari 130XE demos. Some kids mow lawns. Juan hacked the matrix.
That passion for coding, vintage computers, and underground hacker culture eventually transformed into a music career that sounds like it’s coded straight into the stars.
The Demoscene Days: 7an Was In the House
If you ever wandered through the late-80s/early-90s demoscene, you might know Juan by another name: 7an. (Pronounced like “seven” but way cooler.)
As part of the demo crew SYNC, he became a legend in the Atari ST scene, programming tracks using SID6581 and YM2149 sound chips — the OG tools of musical sorcery. We're talking pure, raw, crunchy chiptune goodness that could make even your old Commodore 64 do a happy dance.
Highlights from his early hacker days:
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Winning music contests with his tracker compositions
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Inspiring an entire generation of retro-computer musicians
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Probably wearing some amazing early-'90s hacker fashion (but sadly, no confirmed photos)
Modern Mastery: Synthwave Meets Hackercore
After a long stretch in the coding world, Juan reemerged in 2014 under the name Amplitude Problem, armed with a sound that felt like the retro-future had finally arrived.
His style is a heady blend:
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Vintage chip textures from the classic 8- and 16-bit machines
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Smooth, cinematic synthwave layers that could soundtrack your midnight ride through Neo-Tokyo
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Nerdcore rap beats that make you want to hack the planet (with style)
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Occasional nu-jazz surprises that are smoother than your favorite barista’s latte art
Some of his biggest solo releases include:
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Blue Bots Dots (2015): A perfect fusion of chiptune and jazz
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The Frequency Modulators Orchestra, Vol. 1 (2017): Because why stop at retro when you can throw in some killer nu-jazz vibes?
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Crime of Curiosity (2019): An epic hacker manifesto turned concept album featuring Loyd Blankenship himself reciting "The Hacker Manifesto" (yes, that one)
Oh, and under his alias Cybard, he even covers video game soundtracks like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Valheim. Talk about a man who can multitask.
Life Soundtracked by Amplitude Problem
Whether you’re:
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Typing mysterious code into a glowing terminal
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Powering up your old Sega Genesis for a nostalgia trip
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Strutting down the street like you're the star of your own retro-action movie
Amplitude Problem’s tracks feel tailor-made for your life’s most cinematic moments. (Warning: Listening may cause spontaneous slow-motion walking.)
And hey, if you're crafting a personal retro-aesthetic masterpiece, the look has to match the sound. That’s where Newretro.Net steps in. We've got everything you need to outfit yourself like a time-traveling rockstar — denim jackets that scream '80s rebellion, leather jackets that practically hum with synth basslines, vintage-styled sneakers, and sunglasses that say, “I have important cyberpunk business to attend to.”
Trust us, Newretro.Net and Amplitude Problem go together like neon lights and rain-slicked streets.
Friends, Collaborators, and Epic Stunts
Juan isn’t just a solo wizard. He’s worked with some of the biggest names in synthwave, cyberpunk hip-hop, and nerdcore, including:
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Mitch Murder (if you know, you know)
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Lazerhawk
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GUNSHIP
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Dual Core
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MC Frontalot
He’s performed at mega-events like DEF CON, Comic Con, and Game On Expo, throwing down tracks that make you want to dust off your trench coat and hack into the mainframe. (Note: Please hack responsibly.)
Oh, and let’s not forget that 2014 Craigslist DNS hack prank — a legendary moment where users got redirected to an animated rap video instead of Craigslist listings. Classic move. Classic Juan.
The Man, the Myth, the Retro-Futurist
Amplitude Problem doesn’t just make retro-future music — he is retro-future music. Drawing inspiration from legends like Rob Hubbard, Kraftwerk, Jean-Michel Jarre, Depeche Mode, and even Public Enemy, he crafts sounds that are rooted in history but aimed straight at the stars.
In his own words, it's "retro-future music for geeks, cyberpunks, and the occasional normal human being." Honestly? We couldn't put it better ourselves.
A Legacy Coded in Soundwaves
Amplitude Problem isn't just another artist riding the retro wave. He’s one of the few building the wave itself — with actual lines of code, dusty hardware, and a love for the pure, crackling sounds of the past.
His discography is a neon-colored journey through different retro-futuristic worlds:
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Introducing Neals (2014): Producing a full cyberpunk-nerdcore album for YTCracker (on Guy Fawkes Day, no less — subtle hacking vibes appreciated)
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Blue Bots Dots (2015): His solo debut that made jazz and chiptune fans find common ground (and dance terribly together)
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The Frequency Modulators Orchestra, Vol. 1 (2017): Jazz hands meet synthwave dreams
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Crime of Curiosity (2019): Where hacktivism meets high-concept art
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Hold Down the Sun (2020): A deep, cinematic solo LP perfect for brooding over your cyberpunk destiny
And let's not forget his contributions to compilations like World Builder and Chip Wars, because one album at a time clearly wasn’t enough for this guy’s energy levels.
Honestly, if Amplitude Problem were an arcade game character, he’d be the guy who secretly unlocks a hidden level and writes a killer soundtrack for it.
Live Shows: More Power Cords Than You'd Believe
Seeing Amplitude Problem live is like plugging directly into the mainframe. His shows aren’t just about standing behind a laptop nodding seriously — they're full-on performances, often layered with visuals that make you feel like you've jacked into a neon VR dream.
He's shared the stage with names like:
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Mitch Murder (he’s basically synthwave royalty)
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GUNSHIP (yes, that GUNSHIP)
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MC Frontalot, the godfather of nerdcore rap
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Dual Core, delivering hardcore hacker vibes
He’s lit up events like DEF CON — the world’s most infamous hacker gathering — where he fits in perfectly, like a USB drive into a port you didn’t even know you had.
And no big deal, but pulling off a Craigslist DNS hack in 2014 to promote a rap video? Peak hacker marketing. Sure, probably made a few IT guys spill their coffee — but hey, that's just good branding.
An Influencer Before It Was Cool
Before "retro gaming" and "synthwave playlists" took over your YouTube recommendations, Amplitude Problem was living and breathing this world. His influences run deep:
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Rob Hubbard, Ben Daglish, and Martin Galway from the golden age of chiptune
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Synth legends like Kraftwerk and Jean-Michel Jarre
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Industrial innovators like Depeche Mode
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Even the raw energy of Public Enemy (because who said you can’t blend jazz hands and a raised fist?)
You can hear all of it stitched into his music — a kind of secret DNA code made of basslines, bleeps, bloops, and beats.
He's not just creating tracks; he's building time machines you can dance to.
Retro Never Looked So Good
Let’s be real: if you’re diving into the world of Amplitude Problem — hacking the planet, driving a neon-drenched DeLorean, or just vibing in your bedroom — you have to dress the part.
That’s where Newretro.Net shines like a pixelated sunrise.
Our retro-styled jackets, sneakers, watches, and sunglasses aren’t just clothes — they’re armor for your synthwave adventures. Whether you’re busting out a secret agent strut or just grabbing a coffee while looking suspiciously cool, we’ve got you covered.
(Seriously, throw on a Newretro.Net jacket, put on Amplitude Problem’s Crime of Curiosity, and watch your "main character energy" skyrocket.)
Where to Next?
With every release, every collaboration, and every mind-melting live show, Amplitude Problem keeps proving that the past and future aren’t opposite directions — they’re part of the same neon highway.
His music isn’t about escaping reality. It’s about building a cooler one.
One where 8-bit dragons fly across pixelated skies, hacker manifestos are read over pounding synth beats, and everyone’s got a leather jacket that could make even RoboCop jealous.
And lucky for us, Amplitude Problem shows no signs of slowing down. Whether he’s bending chip sounds into new shapes, dropping another concept album, or unleashing a new hacker anthem on the world, you can bet the next ride is going to be just as wild.
Now plug in, suit up, and blast the speakers. Retro-future awaits.
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