An Ipswich computing genius has told of his plans to restart his music career, which was ended by a bolt of lightning 12 years ago. 

Matthew Applegate, 46, is known to many in Ipswich as the founder of the Creative Computing Club, which teaches technology skills to young people.  

However, he has surprised his students recently by revealing that in the mid-2000s, he had a flourishing career as a musician, producing songs under the name of Pixelh8. 

Ipswich Star: Pixelh8 at Assembly Finland 2008, playing to millions of fans on live TV across Europe . Image: Emma MorduePixelh8 at Assembly Finland 2008, playing to millions of fans on live TV across Europe . Image: Emma Mordue (Image: Emma Mordue)Ipswich Star: Pixelh8 at Maida Vale in December 2008. Image: Emma MorduePixelh8 at Maida Vale in December 2008. Image: Emma Mordue (Image: Emma Mordue)

Ipswich Star: In the intervening years, Matthew built up a computing school in Ipswich, and has spoken out about his fitness journey. Image: Matthew ApplegateIn the intervening years, Matthew built up a computing school in Ipswich, and has spoken out about his fitness journey. Image: Matthew Applegate (Image: Matthew Applegate)

Matthew soon made a name for himself around Ipswich as a ‘chip tune artist’, making music from the electronic sounds made by computer chips, after discovering as a child that he could make musical notes when trying to repair his broken Nintendo games system. 

His music career went from strength to strength. He created sounds for artists such as Imogen Heap, V V Brown, and Damon Albarn from the Gorillaz.  

He also made headlines, creating music for a project called ‘Obsolete’ using the code-breaking Colossus computer at Bletchley Park. 

Ipswich Star: Pixelh8 at The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park, in 2009. Image: Emma MorduePixelh8 at The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park, in 2009. Image: Emma Mordue (Image: Emma Mordue)

Ipswich Star: Pixelh8 playing in Finland in 2008. Image: Emma MorduePixelh8 playing in Finland in 2008. Image: Emma Mordue (Image: Emma Mordue)

Then, in 2011, disaster struck. 

“When I was working on my fourth CD album, lightning hit nearby to where I live, and it fried my computer and my hard drive, killing my album,” Matthew explained. “I took that as a sign not to release the album then, and to focus on building the school.” 

Now, 12 years on and having become well-versed in fixing computers, Matthew came across his old hard drive – and was able to mend it. 

“Everything was there, all my demos, my fourth album,” he said. “It brought me to tears, hearing some of the songs again.” 

Matthew is determined to complete the album, 'Hard Reset', and hopes to do so next spring. 

“I think it’s going to be a fun process,” he said. “It’s like teaming up with your older self, who is perhaps slightly more knowledgeable, and also teaming up your younger self, who is a bit more immature, to make it more fun.”