Browsing Tag

Pet Shop Boys

SonicFluxx – Nomad: The Ultimate Synthscape for the New Generation of Wanderers

Blazing the same trail as Depeche Mode, The Human League and Pet Shop Boys, the independent breakthrough artist SonicFluxx exhibited his ability to craft neon-lit melodic hooks that pierce euphoria straight into the soul with his latest single and music video, Nomad.

With the 80s aesthetic incorporated into the synthscape and official video, Nomad is a retro-future odyssey of pure euphony; just one hit and you’ll be hooked on the earworm which celebrates the freedom of unchaining yourself from geographical anchors and giving into wanderlust.

By allowing his listeners to live vicariously through the eyes of a wanderer, SonicFluxx didn’t just explore the phenomenon of nomadic culture, he imbued it within every strobing synth-driven progression, attesting to the beauty of living by your own liberty.

Stream the official music video for Nomad on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SonicFluxx Interview: Cosmic Inspiration and Artistic Evolution on Florida’s East Coast

In this A&R Factory interview, we speak with SonicFluxx, an artist shaped by a childhood amid the unique cultural and natural landscapes of Florida’s East Coast. SonicFluxx shares how experiences such as witnessing shuttle launches, growing up near Disney World, and being surrounded by 80s and 90s pop icons like Depeche Mode, Madonna, and Pet Shop Boys influenced his sound and vision. He reflects on his path from DJing to full-time music production in Los Angeles, alongside the challenges of adapting to social media in the modern music world. With new music on the horizon, SonicFluxx reveals a vision dedicated to using music as a healing force, ready to connect with listeners globally.

SonicFluxx, welcome to A&R Factory! Thanks for sitting down with us to discuss your career and your future ambitions. We’d love to know how your upbringing on Florida’s East Coast, among such iconic figures, influenced your sonic signature. 

Growing up in Central Florida in the 80’s and 90’s was a special time in our American history and I feel lucky to have experienced many things that most didn’t during that era.  Growing up next to Disney World taught me that music holds messages and meaning and that music can be the language that unites all.

I watched the Space Shuttle program firsthand and watched many shuttle launches from my backyard.  I learned at a young age that there was more than this world we are on and I found love in the stars and the universe.  I questioned my existence of this planet at a pretty young age and what my role was.  I grew up living five minutes from the beach – walking through the sand and understanding the concept that a speck of sand doesn’t make much, but a whole bunch of it creates a beautiful beach.

When you grow up and live in such a magical and inspirational place, I think it tends and fuels the creative fire within and ignites the spark that so many musicians and artists before me have experienced.

What was it about Depeche Mode, Madonna, and Pet Shop Boys that inspired you to light your own creative spark? 

I found deep inspiration with these three artists particularly because through their music, I learned that songs can have a message to invoke positive change in society.  Many artists feel a duty to use their voice as a platform to invoke political, cultural and societal change in the world and this is also what I wanted out of my own music and songwriting.  Aligning with the same beliefs as an artist also made me feel connected to the artist themselves in a way and I found this connection to be very special.

How has your relationship with music changed over the years?

I was born in a Southern Baptist Church, so I grew up singing traditional hymns on Sundays. I grew up extremely sheltered from what is called secular media in the religious tone.  My introduction to pop and dance music did not occur until my rebellious teen era, in which I would spend hours in FYE at the mall and listen to CDs.  I consumed every bit of pop culture I could at this point in my life.  I connected with dance music in a spiritual way that spiritual music never gave me.

I began to study and analyze what made a great song at this age.  I would have a knack for knowing what songs on an album would be the next single before it was released.  I turned this talent into songwriting.  I was a DJ in my early 20s and began producing remixes myself with Sony Acid Music Studio on a laptop I rented from Rent-A-Center.

I am a self-proclaimed pop and dance music lover.  I took pride in sharing new tracks with people and seeing their reactions when they loved it.  After many years of no music interaction other than consumption, I quit my job, quit college and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music career full time.  I find myself enjoying creating music more than I enjoy listening to it myself.  However, don’t get me wrong, I still stan for a few artists new music!

Creatively, what came most easily to you, and what did you have to work hard to hone?

Melodies, hooks and songwriting came the easiest.  Most of my songs have been written in about three days – one song I wrote in 15 minutes.  I have a knack for hearing a beat and immediately hearing a melody in my head.  Then words come after that.  It’s a chaotic process I will admit, but it works for me.

Half of my lyrics aren’t even written down anywhere because songs are written so quickly.  ‘Nomad’, for example, was half written and I made up the rest of the lyrics in the studio on the spot.  My songs come from my life, my struggles and my heartache – it’s pretty easy to spill out currently.

What is challenging for me is creating social media content.  I am not good at picture taking, not quick to take pictures in settings and I find creating and thinking of social content does not come easy at all.  I am from the MySpace generation, so the new era of social media has definitely been the biggest challenge to overcome for me.

You mentioned a period of depression after focusing on your vocation as an astronomer; do you believe a lack of creative output is to blame for a lot of existential suffering in others?

Short answer: yes.  I believe that many people do not use the right side of their brain enough and invoke creativity in their lives.  I love that book reading and crocheting has made comebacks these days.  I think more people need to find that creative output to truly find peace.  As a child, we use this side of our brain so naturally and it’s a beautiful thing.  When we lose our sense of imagination and wonder, we can lose who we are and where we are going – Walt Disney taught me that and I still firmly believe in it.

Could you tell us more about your vision for your music going forward and any new directions you are exploring in your artistic journey?

When I started my music career full time, I said that if my music reached just one person and helped them, I’ve done my job.  Music is healing.  Music can be your remedy, as I sing in my song ‘Remedy’, which is a love letter to all my fans.  I have achieved this and now my goal is to take the same concept but go worldwide.

I am always writing new music and do have new music ready to go and am planning to release a deluxe edition of the album around February 2025.

Stream SonicFluxx on Spotify and discover more about the artist via their official website.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Oh No! – Royals’ Dylan De Bono is ‘Feeling S**t Right Now’

‘Maltese singer-songwriter’ isn’t a phrase you get to use all that often as a music reviewer, but when it comes to Dylan De Bono it’s one that we can fully expect to become much more common in 2021 and beyond. As one half of pop duo Royals, Dylan’s no stranger to musical acclaim, but with this – the first single from forthcoming solo album ‘Loose Wire’ – De Bono brings us an absolute belter of an electro-pop banger.

Dark yet humorous, edgy and sexy, with one eye on that perfect pop mix of accessibility and catchiness whilst avoiding cliché or ‘throw-away-ness’ (is that a thing?) and the other on an absolutely spot on understanding of dancefloor groove and pop-radio immediacy (aided, no doubt, by the writing and production collaboration with maestro David Vella), ‘Feeling S**t Right Now’ is a superb melting pot of clubby dance stunner and autobiographical songwriting, a mix of 70’s disco, 80’s club classic, and totally up-to-date electro-pop killer. Prince and Bowie mix with the Pet Shop Boys, Years & Years, and David Guetta here, to produce what may be one of the first ‘spot-on’ pop songs of 2021. The sound of the summertime might have just landed.

Check out the official video for ‘Feeling S**t Right Now’ on YouTube, and follow Dylan De Bono on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Gavin Murphy releases single Into Temptation

Artist Gavin Murphy has released ‘Into Temptation’, an Indie Rock piece filled with funk instrumentation and soothing vocals.

From the funky riff on the guitar, to the slow beat on the drum, creating this super laid back rhythm and keeping each element at the same slow pace.

Gavin’s adenoidal vocals are what makes this piece one to listen too, he has such a mellow tone that is both low and gentle as he keeps everything to the same volume, which is a lot lower then it would normally be in an Indie Pop piece, as well as having the high-pitch vocals that sway in and out.

Be sure to check this one out, the perfect Indie Pop for all those that are a fan of this specific genre.

Head on over to Spotify to listen to Gavin Murphy’s single Into Temptation.

Review by Karley Myall

NIGHT RIDE Release New Single LAY YOU DOWN

Trailed by a captivating overall musical performance which was further adorned with a catchy electro-pop sound that leaves one twirling and swirling to its gracious vibe, Night Ride really proved that they are still belligerent, camera-ready and more focused to reach the zenith of their music career in their sojourn thus far. This duo is the next best thing to happen to the Electro-pop music industry.

No, this is not like the usual drudge we do take in with a hard pinch of salt, It only takes 3 seconds out 4 minutes total play time of this amazing song for you to be entrapped and unfurled into a forever porch light of beautiful reverie.

So out goes the pop-electro-rock hybrid; which in its place sits a broad EDM party mix that initially manifested itself as One Republic pastiche on a subtle tale of unrequited love and emotional trauma. It’s exactly when the beam of awesomely pitched melody and amazing sexy vocals entwines with the synth-pop vibe of this song that its power of transfixion sets in.

The accentuate music group; Night Ride, is an electronic pop duo embracing synth-pop and rock, and fusing it with theatre, fashion, technology and art which creates a comfort zone that feels genuine.

Night Ride band draws their inspiration on this song from the tale of their sexual experience and couple of situation-ships which isn’t really what you would likely notice at the first listen since the vibe would rather make you pay less attention to the lyrics of the song. This also further backed up the reason why their music influencers happen to be the likes The Weeknd, CHVRCHES, Grimes, GusGus, and Paramore.

As the first track to be released from their forthcoming E.P. ‘Neon Dreams’, Lay You Down gives a good insight of what to expect from the up and coming duo and I simply hope they’d surpass my imagination just like they did in this song when I eventually get my hands on their EP album when it’s released.

A north star in a psychedelic milky way is the overriding theme of Night Ride’s “Lay You Down”. Everything was more than I expected. Simply put, It was nothing short of class and quality.

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-Lilian-Debrah.