Rob Kovacs, known by his stage name 88bit, is a professor of composition and songwriting at the 黑料老司机 Conservatory of Performing Arts, where he mentors the next generation of musicians. He is also a multi-award-winning video game composer, concert pianist, synthwave producer, singer-songwriter and partnered Twitch streamer. He made history as the first person to perform a solo version of Steve Reich's "Piano Phase," playing both piano parts on two pianos simultaneously.
Kovacs composed the acclaimed soundtrack for the award-winning virtual reality game STRAYLIGHT, which earned multiple accolades and was nominated for a 2024 Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) Award for Best Video Game Soundtrack Album.
In collaboration with producer Save Point, Kovacs released "Video Game LoFi: Super Mario 64," a collection of lo-fi, jazz-inspired arrangements of music from Super Mario 64. Their track "Dire Dire Docks" won the 2023 G.A.N.G. Award for Best Game Music Cover.
Through his 88bit project, Kovacs brings iconic video game music to life with intricate and innovative piano arrangements, often focusing on the 8-bit era. His arrangements include tracks from Marble Madness, Final Fantasy, Castlevania, R.C. Pro-Am, The Adventures of Lolo, and more. Kovacs has performed at renowned gaming events like PAX West, PAX East, GDC, Super MAGFest, TwitchCon and the G.A.N.G. Awards. He's had the honor of performing for legendary video game composers such as David Wise (Donkey Kong Country) and Takashi Tateishi (Mega Man 2).
Kovacs has collaborated with renowned artists such as Mark Mothersbaugh, Mega Ran, Insaneintherainmusic, Triforce Quartet and even Twitch CEO Dan Clancy. He has also performed with prestigious orchestras, including Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy and A New World: intimate music from Final Fantasy, as well as in national touring Broadway productions, including "Mamma Mia!," "MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical," "White Christmas" and "Wicked."
In addition to his video game music career, Kovacs has a rich history in the indie rock scene. He fronted two bands — Math + Logic and Return of Simple — whose album "Saffron" received airplay on Sirius XM and college radio. His 2021 solo album "Let Go" garnered regional airplay and national press, with features in American Songwriter, Glide Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, and podcasts such as "Music Production Podcast" and "Level With Emily."
As a partnered Twitch streamer, Kovacs entertains and connects with his audience through live performances that span a wide range of genres, including video game music, pop, rock, jazz, classical, musicals and his own original compositions.
Kovacs is also a performing member of the No Exit New Music Ensemble, a contemporary classical group that commissions and presents new works.
