Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece [Twenty Thousand Hertz]

<p><i>This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz originally ran in August 2025.</i></p><p>Kirk's <a href="https://strongsongspodcast.com/blogs/episodes/world-1-1-from-super-mario-bros?_pos=2&_sid=1b71eaaf8&_ss=r">2020 episode of Strong Songs</a> about the music of Super Mario</p><p><strong>TWENTY THOUSAND HERTZ SHOW NOTES:</strong></p><p><i>This episode was written & produced by </i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyemmerling/" target="_blank"><i>Casey Emmerling</i></a><i>.</i></p><p>From the springy jump sound to the iconic Overworld Theme, the sound of Super Mario Bros. is instantly recognizable. With just five lo-fi audio channels and 40 kilobytes of space, composer Koji Kondo created a soundscape full of unforgettable melodies. In this episode, we explore how Kondo’s playful instincts, rhythmic trickery, and love of jazz fusion defined the sound of Mario. Featuring Kirk Hamilton of <a href="https://strongsongspodcast.com/">Strong Songs</a> and Thomas of <a href="https://www.yout...