Episode 398 - Rob Kovacs

Rob Kovacs is a multi-award-winning video game composer, pianist, songwriter, and Twitch streamer who bridges the worlds of gaming and music. He’s known online as 88bit, and performs at major gaming events like PAX, MAGFest, and TwitchCon. Rob made history in 2005 when he was a senior in college when he became the first person to perform Steve Reich’s Piano Phase solo on two pianos at once…one piano for each hand…the piece is designed to be performed by two pianists so four hands and two brains…with Reich on hand to watch the performance.He’s been streaming on Twitch since around 2020 - mixing video game music, pop, rock, classical, and his own originals—while also teaching composition and songwriting at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio and performing with the contemporary classical group No Exit. SONG 1: “Optimistic” by Radiohead from their album Kid A released in 2000.https://youtu.be/1On-ZHfTWOo?si=0OxDu5NwHDB8InhkSONG 2: “Air Man’s Theme” from (the video game) Mega Man 2 - the soundtrack was composed by Takashi Tateishi with Manami Matsumae (Mega Man composer) for providing the foundation and co-composing a minor part of the melody for Air Man's stage. https://youtu.be/IhK4D3ytYMc?si=zU5x4131zZY8O3_CSONG 3: “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell (written by Jimmy Webb) from his 1968 album of the same name. Its B-side on the single was Fate of Man. https://youtu.be/Q8P_xTBpAcY?si=3K0GMwaMLWVaDArl

What this episode covers

Rob Kovacs is a multi-award-winning video game composer, pianist, songwriter, and Twitch streamer who bridges the worlds of gaming and music. He’s known online as 88bit, and performs at major gaming events like PAX, MAGFest, and TwitchCon. Rob made history in 2005 when he was a senior in college when he became the first person to perform Steve Reich’s Piano Phase solo on two pianos at once…one piano for each hand…the piece is designed to be performed by two pianists so four hands and two brains…with Reich on hand to watch the performance. He’s been streaming on Twitch since around 2020 - mixing video game music, pop, rock, classical, and his own originals—while also teaching composition and songwriting at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio and performing with the contemporary classical group No Exit. SONG 1: “Optimistic” by Radiohead from their album Kid A released in 2000. https://youtu.be/1On-ZHfTWOo?si=0OxDu5NwHDB8Inhk SONG 2: “Air Man’s Theme” from (the video game) Mega Man 2 - the soundtrack was composed by Takashi Tateishi with Manami Matsumae (Mega Man composer) for providing the foundation and co-composing a minor part of the melody for Air Man's stage. https://youtu.be/IhK4D3ytYMc?si=zU5x4131zZY8O3_C SONG 3: “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell (written by Jimmy Webb) from his 1968 album of the same name. Its B-side on the single was Fate of Man. https://youtu.be/Q8P_xTBpAcY?si=3K0GMwaMLWVaDArl

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This episode was published on October 20, 2025.

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