Browsing Tag

Alt Synth Pop

Embrace our transhumanist future with Skylnz Ablze’s electrifying synth wave single, Memory Empty

Posted on 30 October 2023

Even though synth wave is all the rage in 2023, the Chicago-hailing songwriter, producer, and engineer Skylnz Ablze, rode his synth lines into a cut above the rest with the seminally animatronic single, Memory Empty, from his sophomore LP, Born from Electricity, which was crafted to exhibit a new perspective on pop.

By taking influence from electronica pioneers The Human League, New Order and Gary Numan and synthesising the new wave pop aesthetic into one that fizzes with oscillating ingenuity, Skylnz Ablze allowed the transhumanist future that awaits us all to embrace the listener from the very first ensnaring 808 kick to the last.

Memory Empty hit the airwaves on October 13th; stream it on Spotify as part of Skylnz Ablze’s sophomore LP, Born from Electricity.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Skinny G Radio reached the pinnacle of existential humour with his alt-electro hit, Unplug Me!

Posted on 17 January 2023

Unplug Me! is just one of the eccentrically disarming alt-electronica singles found on Skinny G Radio’s funky 8-Bit album, The Heightening. The tongue-in-cheek exposition on the perils of social media in the age when fear and hate are relentlessly pushed to keep us transfixed to platforms is an all too efficacious reminder that we should consume media not the other way around.

Instead of letting the doom and gloom from the lyrical messaging control the track, the LA artist and producer utilises his on-brand sense of existential humour to give back some of the serotonin stripped by doom-scrolling. The playful polyphonic synth sequences make delving back in for repeat listens all too tempting. Can someone protect Skinny G Radio at all costs, please? He’s ingeniously precious.

Unplug Me! is now available to stream on Spotify.

Connect with Skinny G Radio on Twitter & Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

AURASHADE has made his emotionally enveloping indie synthpop debut with the single Circles

Posted on 8 July 2022

AURASHADE is the new project of singer-songwriter Timothy Hoad, who has recently moved away from his acoustic roots to embrace a more synthesised sound with grittier electric guitar tones. His debut single, Circles, more than reflects his 20 years of experience as a songwriter. You just can’t help but succumb to the evocative power as AURASHADE forces you to question your relationship with your autonomy through clever vocal effect layering over the synthy heartbeat of the single.

Clearly, on the basis of the compassionately deep lyricism, the up-and-coming artist is leading by example in terms of self-awareness. Rarely does electronica so full of soul and substance surface on the airwaves. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

AURASHADE’s debut single is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Acrid Key has ‘Nothing to Lose’ in their Lynchian synth-pop meets electronic rock single.

Posted on 23 December 2021
https://soundcloud.com/jacesfather/nothing-to-lose

“Nothing to Lose” is the latest Lynchian feat of soothing alt synth-pop from the up and coming experimental luminary Acrid Key. Once the Twin Peaks vibes in the intro are out of the way, the wavy distorted guitar tones continue to hammer and shine through in the downtempo instrumental mix in an indulgently hypnotic fashion.

The US-based artist and producer released Nothing to Lose as an entrancing showcase of his alt-indie inclination. Instead of following fads and making attempts at assimilation, Acrid Key follows his own vibe and lays them out in trippy synth-laced grooves. With that in mind, the hazy discordantly-tinted soundscape becomes all the more efficacious in aiding aural escapism.

Nothing to Lose is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Synth-pop meets pop-punk in XUINN’s resonantly sharp single, I Don’t Know Anymore.

Posted on 20 December 2021

For anyone feeling disjointed through perpetuating confusion and a lack of direction, XUINN’s pop-punk-meets-synth-pop track, Don’t Know Anymore, is powerful enough to become a lifeline.

With the weight in the resonant lyrics and the light ever-ascending melodies, it’s a perfectly balanced track. It appeals to those who have found the futility in the fight with ennui while the colourful and snappy beats impart the strength in resilience.

I Don’t Know Anymore became definitive proof that with enough humility, sincerity can be at the heart of any pop track. Since making his debut in 2017, the Floridian alt-pop artist hasn’t failed to gain traction in his career; and it’s unlikely that we have heard the best from him yet. Save space on your radar.

I Don’t Know Anymore is taken from XUINN’s debut, Hide in Silence. It is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Danny Ritz – Window: The Most Relatable Love Song You Will Ever Hear.

Posted on 2 June 2021

Alt indie artist Danny Ritz has followed on from his debut EP with his latest artfully lo-fi single, Window. If you’re irresistible to the charms of bedroom pop, you’ll quickly succumb to the enamouring tones of psych-pop, synthpop and art-rock.

While most lyricists do their best to maintain a pretence of sanity in their songs, Danny Ritz threw his sanity by the wayside to channel organically manic, relatable emotions into Window. Any fans of John Grant, Spector and the Lathums will want to experience it for themselves.

With the macabrely inventive lyrical lines such as ‘you left my heart circumcised’, you can’t help but engage with the single. The intrigue is all too intense as you listen to Window unfold through the playfully polyphonic, unapologetically authentic progressions.

Window is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Escape reality and jet set through the 5th dimension with Praise & Warships’ synthy sweet single ‘Contact’

Posted on 19 December 2020

Global traversing may have been made difficult this year, but that’s not to say you can’t partake in jet setting through the 5th dimension with a little help from sonically entrancing tracks such as the latest release from Alt Electronica artist Praise & Warships.

In their latest futuristically danceable single, Contact, you’ll find catchy synth hooks, lashings of funk and overwhelmingly resonant lyrics. The repetition of ‘I just need contact’ brings a powerful relatable element to the otherwise playful and eccentric single. Hit play and you might almost forget that you’ve been starved of contact this year.

You can check out Contact for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

A synth-wave experience like no other: Arcadnis reaches for the stars on ‘Jupiter’

Posted on 18 November 2020

With a synth-wave style that is sweetly sprinkled into a sumptuously beautiful mesh of wonderfully created music, Arcadnis is an artist who is so uniquely brilliant. This is a special song that truly is a guiding light, in a dark year for the world. She returns with her latest single called ‘Jupiter‘ and this is an addictive track that shows the growth of a musician, who has conquered her own fears.

Joanna Krystyniecka aka Arcadnis is a supremely gifted singer-songwriter that seems to float on the air when she sings as everything is so effortless. Her voice takes you into a different galaxy, each note is pure like sipping gently from a fresh waterfall, you feel clean and ready for life after listening to this.

A mysterious performer who is so refreshingly honest on her social media about being on stage, this is a track that will inspire your soul so much. This is hauntingly beautiful, full of hopes and dreams that makes this is an exhilarating 6 minute experience that is almost cinematic.

‘Jupiter‘ from Arcadnis is a song for anyone that is feeling anxious right now and who needs a push of confidence into those sleepy veins. You can do practically anything you set your mind to and the support of those close to you is so key. Backing yourself however, is the first step.

Hear this spectacular new track on Spotify and find out more on Facebook.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Melbourne’s Mechanical Pterodactyl show us the music world in ‘Stars In Our Eyes’

Posted on 11 October 2020

Melbourne’s Mechanical Pterodactyl show us the real music world in the dreamy-pop indie wonderland ‘Stars In Our Eyes‘.

This is the creation of multi-instrumentalist and producer Yen Nguyen, Mechanical Pterodactyl build Dreamy-pop creative compositions that place lasting lyrical melodies over a richly woven blend of captivating acoustic, electric and electronic instruments. There is so much skill here, the musicianship is of top quality.

After working in such varied genres such as Jazz, Hip Hop and Rock, you can feel the multi-skilled passion of this excellent artist. This is different music and the video is so true. Sometimes we go for a dream without fully mapping it all about like a master-plan. Things can go wrong real quick with reality strikes.

Melbourne’s Mechanical Pterodactyl are quite epic on the new single ‘Stars In Our Eyes‘. This has dreamy-pop lathered up and stuck all deep in our ears, the song is radiant and fresh. They join the lists of Australian bands that are joined together with goodness, the golden age of bands in the marvellous music-crazy country.

Click here for the YouTube page.

Head through for the Facebook link.

If you like Bandcamp then head through and support them.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

SESPOOL – lost waves crash: Tenderly Inviting Indie Synth Pop

Posted on 2 October 2020

Whether I was feeling aurally sensitive when I hit play on SESPOOL’s latest single or he packed a potent dose of bruising alchemy into it, I can’t be all too sure, but even the melancholically playful synth notes seemed to sting in the authentically enrapturing release.

The San Francisco artist, songwriter and producer has had plenty of success within Rock acts such as Rin Tin Tiger, but discernibly, he has plenty to offer while going solo. In lost waves crash, his tenderly inviting vocals perfectly complement the purposeful beats and synthlines which orchestrate a dreamy compelling soundscape.

We’re officially stoked to hear their upcoming album.

You can check out Lost Wave Crash on SoundCloud.

For more info, head over to SESPOOL’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast