My Favourite Game Niamh Houston

The chiptune artist on Game Boy wizardry, perfectionist tendencies and the game that expanded her world.

Niamh Houston is a Northern Irish musician recording under the name Chipzel. After releasing a string of EPs and albums, she began to soundtrack videogames including Super Hexagon, Spectra, Interstellaria and Crypt Of The NecroDancer. Here, she talks about the joys of making music with Game Boy, how Cities: Skylines brings out her perfectionist streak and the pain of losing a 400-hour save.

What’s your earliest gaming memory?

My first memory of games was my older sister playing Super Mario on the Super Nintendo, and me never being allowed to play because if I took a turn on a level then I would just mess it up. We had all the classics: Street Fighter II Turbo, Super Mario, Kirby. I remember being obsessed with the music and sound, how different it was. And then when I got some money for my First Communion – that’s a big point in your life in the Irish community, where you’re able to buy something for yourself for the first time – I got a Game Boy Color. I got Pokémon Blue, and I played it to death. I’d play with headphones in. I was just taken away by the sound. I loved how raw it was.

When did you first start thinking about making music with a Game Boy?