Community Spotlight: CyberChip
- Team Commodore
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
A special Starlight video lightshow, courtesy of LukHash!
You know it. We know it. Commodore is the community. The community is Commodore. And over the last 40 plus years, the community has done some truly amazing work. We're here to keep sharing it.
Today's spotlight is on LukHash, creator of CyberChip (2021).
LukHash is a musician known for his distinctive blend of retro sounds and contemporary styles. Combining chiptune and synthwave with cyberpunk aesthetics and the energy of modern electronic music, he creates tracks that feel both nostalgic and innovative.
Fun fact: When our CEO and Chief Joystick Waggler, Peri Fractic, was shaping the look of the Starlight Edition of the Commodore 64 Ultimate, LukHash was very much part of the inspiration. It has been a joy for us all at Commodore, seeing that idea come to life organically, from imagining LukHash’s music playing alongside the Starlight’s music-reactive LEDs, to later spotting those moments actually appear naturally on social media. Talk about manifestation.
So as you can imagine, we are so excited to bundle LukHash's music with every new Commodore 64 Ultimate and we're grateful he took some time to share his experience with us. Enjoy!
What makes CyberChip special for you?
What makes CyberChip special for me is how personal it became at every level. I decided to use some of my favourite SID chips from my own collection, and each track was written specifically for a selected chip (which is why the SID model and date code are featured in each track title). There are subtle differences between the chips, particularly within the 6581s, and I wanted to make it clear how each track was intended to sound.
Another huge part of it is the artwork. I've been a lifelong fan of Sensible Software, so getting to work with Stuart "Stoo" Cambridge felt unreal. My idea was to create small, Sensible-style robots working inside the Commodore 64, and Stoo absolutely nailed it. If you'd told me as a kid that I'd one day have him creating artwork for my album, I would never have believed it. Having an opportunity to work with my childhood hero was a dream come true.
Where did the idea for CyberChip come from?
I've been working with Commodore machines for many years, but mostly as part of a wider setup, driving them via MIDI and integrating SID sounds into modern electronic and dance tracks using contemporary hardware and software. At some point, it felt like the right time to do something purely SID based.
The idea behind CyberChip was to go back to the roots and create something that could be played on a stock machine, keeping things raw and authentic while still futuristic in spirit. I decided to take a selection of tracks from my existing discography and rearrange them specifically for the Commodore 64, focusing entirely on what the SID chip can do. I also wanted to use the album as a way to bring some of my listeners, especially those who had never used a C64 before, closer to the machine and its unique sound.
I also have a younger generation of listeners in my fanbase, mainly through rhythm games like Geometry Dash and osu!, and I felt this could be a great way to introduce them to pure SID chip music. I started by posting a short video showing the making of Perpetual Motion on TikTok, and it unexpectedly blew up. That reaction convinced me this should become a full ten track album, and that appreciation for C64 music is not limited to those of us who grew up with it in the 80s.
What's your personal connection and history with the Commodore 64?
My personal history with the Commodore 64 goes back to the early 90s, just after the post-communist era in Poland, when technology became more widely available. This is also when I got my first computer. One of my core memories is going with my dad and uncle to a computer store in Wroclaw to pick up a C64. I'm really glad this was my first machine, because it made me fall in love with chiptune music.
As a kid, I enjoyed all kinds of games, but I was equally fascinated by cracktros. At that time in Poland, before copyright law properly came into force in 1994, most cassettes were mixtapes with cracked games. Apart from some Polish releases from LK Avalon, I don't remember seeing a single original C64 tape back then. Thanks to the scene, I was exposed to a lot of great music. I often stopped at the cracktros just to enjoy the sound and visuals, and much of the music I still love today I found from those intros rather than games!
My biggest inspirations come from classic chiptune and SID composers. The main theme from Battleships by Mark Cooksey is what truly made me fall in love with 8-bit music. Technically it uses just three simple channels, yet it tells a complete musical story. I still remember my dad sitting me down and saying, "Listen to this."
I later moved on to the Amiga (which also shaped my musical taste), PlayStation, and eventually PC, but classic SID music stayed with me the most. In the mid-2000s, I bought another C64 for next to nothing, as people were giving them away at the time. From there, I began blending SID sounds into my electronic and rock productions, sharing live gear jams, doing remixes, and gradually building a creative language that combined modern production with 8-bit sound.
Over the years, the C64 became more than nostalgia. It became a core instrument and inspiration in my work, and projects like CyberChip are a natural continuation of that journey.
What are your top 3 Commodore 64 titles and why?
This is a tricky one! I'll need to break it down a bit.
Top 3 games:
1. The Great Giana Sisters
This was the second game I ever loaded and an absolutely mind-blowing experience. I'll never forget running it on my home TV. The music by Chris Huelsbeck is amazing and a core part of that memory.
2. Arkanoid
I spent countless hours on this one. The music by Martin is fantastic, and it's a great example of early digi techniques on the C64.
3. Donald Duck's Playground
Another game I spent loads of hours on, and I even introduced it to my kids. I still love going back to it today, haha!
Any tips for others creating with and/or for the Commodore 64?
I get this question quite often via email, so I'm happy to share it with a wider audience. I can't recommend SID Wizard (by Hermit) enough. At the time of writing, version 1.94 is the one to get. In my experience, it is very flexible for sound design, tracker features, and MIDI integration, and it ticks pretty much all the boxes for me. Once you get familiar with it, it becomes a great all-round tool for making music on the actual C64. I really enjoy writing on real hardware, so if you also prefer that approach over working on a PC, you can't go wrong with this software.
If you want something simpler, especially for playing via a MIDI instrument, I would recommend CynthCart. Mssiah64 is another option if you prefer real-time synth or modern sequencer-style editing, though it is slower and a bit clunky.I hope Commodore release something themselves to cater to this growing demand too. [Note-d. Never say never, LukHash! That would be key. –Peri]
On the hardware side TeensyROM is a must-have for my C64s and C64 Ultimate. It allows you to input MIDI via USB-C and works seamlessly with SID Wizard and Cynthcart, and it is also compatible with Plogue Chipsynth 64 VSTi, so you can control SID parameters directly from your DAW. It also works with DeepSID, Sid Factory II and SidPlay. It is a fantastic modern piece of kit for music making on your C64.
What are you currently working on?
I've been working on new music consistently and have several releases lined up, which I hope will naturally lead into another album in the near future. I also hope to share my love for chiptune and inspire a wider, especially younger, audience to discover SID music. Some of my recent releases have even reached commercial milestones, including entries on the UK Official Album Download Chart, which I never imagined for chiptune music, but I want to keep pushing further with this.
I've also been doing some sync work for video games, which I can't talk about just yet [neither can we 😉 -Peri], but I'm very excited to share when the time comes. Hopefully all of these projects will see the light of day, and I can continue bringing chiptune and SID sounds to even more listeners.
Where do you hope Commodore goes in the future?
I hope Commodore becomes a widely known again, not only for people of my generation but also for younger audiences like my kids. I would love to see it continue producing innovative, family-friendly technology while staying true to its roots. There might have been other attempts at brand revival, but this is the right way to do it, involving people who love the platform and letting them be part of it. I hope this approach continues and is celebrated in whatever new ideas and technology come next.
Anyone you'd like to publicly thank?
There are so many people I've met along my music journey that it's impossible to thank them all, but I'd like to thank everyone I've ever crossed paths with. I'm grateful to anyone who has shared my work, supported me, or helped me get involved in projects along the way.
Which Ultimate is your ultimate Ultimate?
Starlight
Listening to Lukash is just the beginning. Ready to make your own SID tunes? Get your C64 Ultimate today.
Official Bio
LukHash is a musician known for his distinctive blend of retro sounds and contemporary styles. Combining chiptune and synthwave with cyberpunk aesthetics and the energy of modern electronic music, he creates tracks that feel both nostalgic and innovative.
Hailing from Wroclaw, Poland, LukHash is a classically trained guitarist who transitioned to electronic music in the mid-2000s. By integrating custom-modified retro hardware such as the Commodore 64, Amiga, NES, and Game Boy into his modern production setup, he crafts a unique retro-futuristic sound that captures the essence of the past while embracing the future.
In 2021, New Retro Wave recognised 'We Are Stardust' as the top synthwave album of the year. The album's entry into the UK's Top 40 Charts further emphasized its prominent position within the genre. LukHash went on to achieve more chart success with Virtual Burnout (2023) and Home Arcade (2025), which reached positions 36 and 16 respectively on the UK Official Album Downloads Chart -- notable achievements for chiptune music within recognised industry rankings.
Active in the retro computer scene, LukHash also produces authentic 8-bit music on original hardware using tracker software, as showcased in his album CyberChip.
Find LukHash
Music: https://music.lukhash.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lukhashdotcom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukhashdotcom
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