{{Short description|Russian comedy-rock band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Chalkeaters | image = frameless|class=skin-invert | caption = | origin = Saint Petersburg, Russia | genre = Comedy rock, chip-hop, swing | years_active = 2019–present | label = Independent | website = {{URL|https://thechalkeaters.com/}} | current_members = * Alexander Serebro * Tim Maslov * Ergy }}
'''The Chalkeaters''' is a Russian comedy rock and multimedia project based in Saint Petersburg. Founded in early 2019 by '''Alexander Serebro''', '''Tim Maslov''' and '''Ergy''', the group is primarily known for producing satirical songs and animated music videos based on popular video games and in some cases the gaming industry. Their work often features collaborations with notable voice actors and internet personalities, such as Ellen McLain, The Stupendium, MatPat, and Gabe Newell.<ref name="ForbesRussia">{{Cite web |last=Lisin |first=Artem |date=2021-06-15 |title=How a group of musicians from St. Petersburg conquered the gaming world |url=https://www.forbes.ru/svoi-biznes/431245-kak-gruppa-muzykantov-iz-peterburga-pokorila-igrovoy-mir |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Forbes Russia |language=ru}}</ref>
== History == The Chalkeaters was formed by Alexander Serebro, Tim Maslov, and Ergy as an alternative multimedia project designed to explore the collision of gaming communities and digital environment through music.<ref name="IndieWavves">{{Cite web |title=Introducing The Chalkeaters |url=https://indiewavves.com/musicblog/introducing-the-chalkeaters |website=IndieWavves |date=2025-09-30 |access-date=2026-01-30}}</ref> The group gained international attention in 2020 for "Doom Crossing: Eternal Horizons," a track celebrating the simultaneous release of ''Animal Crossing: New Horizons'' and ''Doom Eternal'', which was praised for capturing the community-driven crossover phenomenon.<ref name="TheGamerDoom">{{Cite web |last=Whitlock |first=Ryan |date=2020-04-09 |title=Animal Crossing & Doom Eternal Just Got The Best Music Video |url=https://www.thegamer.com/animal-crossing-doom-eternal-music-video/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=TheGamer}}</ref>
In 2021, the band released "Count to Three," a song satirizing Valve Corporation's perceived inability to release a third installment in their major franchises. The track featured a cameo appearance by Valve founder Gabe Newell and vocals by Ellen McLain, the voice of GLaDOS from the ''Portal'' series.<ref name="PCGamerCount">{{Cite web |last=Livingston |first=Christopher |date=2021-03-29 |title=Gabe Newell makes a cameo in a comedy song about Valve's inability to count to three |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gabe-newell-makes-a-cameo-in-a-comedy-song-about-valves-inability-to-count-to-three/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref><ref name="GameRantCount">{{Cite web |last=Sledge |first=Ben |date=2021-03-29 |title=Valve Parody Song Features GLaDOS and Gabe Newell |url=https://gamerant.com/valve-count-to-3-parody-song-glados-gabe-newell/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Game Rant}}</ref> The project's work is frequently cited for its high-quality animation and commentary on the business practices of major gaming companies like Nintendo and Bethesda Softworks.<ref name="Kotaku">{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Ian |date=2022-04-12 |title=Musical Parody Skewers Nintendo's War On Fan Games |url=https://kotaku.com/nintendo-fan-games-lawsuit-chalkeaters-music-video-1848784323 |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Kotaku}}</ref>
== Discography == {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !! Featured Artist(s) !! Notes |- | 2019 || "It Just Works" || Kyle Wright || Parody of Todd Howard and Bethesda. |- | 2019 || "Breathtaking" || Natalia Natchan || ''Cyberpunk 2077'' tribute |- | 2020 || "Doom Crossing: Eternal Horizons" || Natalia Natchan || ''Animal Crossing: New Horizons & Doom: Eternal'' parody<ref name="TheGamerDoom"/> |- | 2020 || "Lock Me Up (Quarantine Song)" || Idrise || |- | 2020 || "It's a Gamer's Christmas" || Natalia Natchan || |- | 2021 || "Count to Three" || The Stupendium, Ellen McLain, Gabe Newell || <ref name="PCGamerCount"/> |- | 2022 || "Crushing Thirties" || Johnny Gioeli || ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' tribute <ref name="TheGamerSonic">{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=George |date=2022-06-23 |title=Sonic Fans Celebrate The Series' 31st Birthday With "Crushing Thirties" Music Video |url=https://www.thegamer.com/sonic-crushing-thirties-music-video/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=TheGamer}}</ref> |- | 2022 || "Rise Guys" || Dennis DeMille || ''Fall Guys'' tribute |- | 2022 || "A Songus Amongus" || Black Gryph0n || ''Among Us'' tribute<ref name="PCGamerAmong">{{Cite web |last=Livingston |first=Christopher |date=2021-11-23 |title=Everyone is sus in this cute, paranoia-inducing Among Us song |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/everyone-is-sus-in-this-cute-paranoia-inducing-among-us-song/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> |- | 2022 || "Furrýmon: Gotta Smash 'Em All!" || Black Gryph0n, PiNKII || ''Pokėmon'' parody |- | 2023 || "Bowsette" || Meret Giddy, Nekro G || Community collaboration video<ref name="SVG">{{Cite web |last=Sno |first=J. |date=2023-04-18 |title=Dozens Of Mario Fans Collaborated On An Epic Music Video |url=https://www.svg.com/1259426/dozens-mario-fans-collaborated-epic-music-video/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=SVG}}</ref> |- | 2023 || "Must Have Been the Wind" || Black Gryph0n || ''Skyrim'' tribute |- | 2023 || "One More Pull" || Black Gryph0n, Rustage || ''Genshin Impact'' parody |- | 2024 || "Roll out the Fallout!" || Black Gryph0n, Benny Benack III || ''Fallout'' tribute |- | 2024 || "FNAF KIDS" || Black Gryph0n, The Stupendium, MatPat || ''Five Nights at Freddy's'' tribute<ref name="NME">{{Cite web |last=Mullins |first=Jules |date=2024-05-15 |title=The Chalkeaters release star-studded FNAF tribute with MatPat |url=https://www.nme.com/news/gaming/the-chalkeaters-release-star-studded-fnaf-tribute-3756201 |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=NME}}</ref> |- | 2024 || "Cheeki Breeki" || Lenich & Kirya || ''S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'' tribute |- | 2024 || "Shadow Wick: Murderholics" || Caleb Hyles || John Wick / Shadow the Hedgehog parody |- | 2025 || "Trash Can Song" || Elsie Lovelock, Michael Kovach || ''Honkai: Star Rail'' tribute featured on the HoYoFair program |- | 2025 || "Marketable Plush" || Black Gryph0n || |- | 2025 || "Ready Player Two" || Chi-Chi, Alex Walker Smith || |}
== See also == * The Living Tombstone, a similar Israeli American rock duo/band that also produces video game music on YouTube
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/@TheChalkeaters The Chalkeaters] on YouTube * [https://thechalkeaters.bandcamp.com/ The Chalkeaters] on Bandcamp Category:Music YouTubers Category:Musical groups established in 2019 Category:Geek rock groups Category:Internet memes introduced in 2020 Category:Newgrounds people Category:Video game musicians Category:YouTube channels launched in 2018