Browsing Tag

New Wave Synth Pop

Blue Violence. Became the Definitive Sad Boi of Synth Pop with ‘My Feet Are Sad on the Dancefloor’

https://open.spotify.com/track/0TFavegYtUIfjcFL8beElV?si=yjm-f3AfS5KJBRhLAGgsWQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A6DjrPzefQ2uRTHYoD9A5cc

Blue Violence. turned the emotional weight of disconnection into a dancefloor confession with ‘My Feet Are Sad on the Dancefloor’, the keystone single from his 3-track EP, ‘Ugh…’. With synths set to shimmer and sardonic melancholy laced through the beat, this melancholic indietronica lament spins the disco ball on its axis to reflect a darker spectrum of inner turmoil.

Through anthropomorphised sorrow, Daniel Fischetti—writing and producing as Blue Violence.—exposes the paradox of internal desolation amidst external euphoria. While glitter rains and basslines throb in euphoric unison, his feet remain heavy with the weight of unshakable emotional inertia. There’s funk in the Depeche Mode-esque rhythm and pain in the lyricism, stitched together with the same magnetic gloom found in the works of John Grant.

Hailing from Southern California, Fischetti started Blue Violence in 2019 during a collaboration with producer and engineer Chris Caccamise of CJE Productions. Their work on the debut album Modern Love cemented Blue Violence. as a name worth noting in the shadowy corners of synth pop. Since then, Fischetti has remained self-contained in his sonic pursuits, refining his signature style without sanding away the raw emotional contours.

‘My Feet Are Sad on the Dancefloor’ doesn’t fake the catharsis—it coils around it, examining every nuance of numbness through neon-soaked textures and darkly sweet tones. Blue Violence delivered the funked-up synth pop hit we never knew we needed. He’s the definitive sad boi of synth pop.

‘My Feet Are Sad on the Dancefloor’ is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Latin Pop Luminary Diego Molina Defined Romantic Sincerity in ‘What’s That Light In Your Eyes’

Diego Molina

Diego Molina’s latest single, ‘What’s That Light in Your Eyes’, subversively opens with an intimate glimpse into relationship bliss, almost like overhearing a candid conversation through an accidental pocket dial, setting a refreshingly personal context for the heartfelt fervency of the Latin pop serenade that follows, gently redefining romantic sincerity beyond physical admiration.

Hailing from Nashville, Molina wrote, produced, and mixed the track himself, drawing charismatic sentimentality from early-2000s inspirations such as U2’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind and Enrique Iglesias’ Escape. His approach carries an individuality shaped by his first visit to his Colombian roots, channelling the vibrant rhythms and spirited streets of Bogotá.

Sonically, Molina balances Latin pop traditions with synth-driven, new wave innovation. Angular guitar lines delicately ascend through the arrangement, soaring beyond the quickening heartbeat echoed by rhythmic beats. Retro-futurist synth textures amplify the emotional intensity, enveloping listeners in an atmosphere of ardent nostalgia. Molina’s diaphanous vocals, effortlessly slipping into vibrato, further amplify the authenticity and emotional depth of the love letter to sincerity and intimacy, which illuminates a romantic narrative with sophisticated yet accessible charm.

‘What’s That Light in Your Eyes’ is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Paradise Drive’s ‘The Phenomenon’: Alt-Rock’s Interstellar Ride into Sonic Rapture

Paradise Drive

Paradise Drive is an alt-rock powerhouse delivering orbital euphoria through razor-sharp songwriting chops, interstellar production stylings, and a seamless transcendence beyond simply presenting as a talented act. Throughout their latest album, The Phenomenon, you won’t merely marvel at the evident virtuosity; instead, you’ll become locked into every emotional nuance as it ebbs and flows through kaleidoscopically alchemic progressions.

The opening track pulls you into a riff-raw reverie reminiscent of 00s indie rock—yet propelled further by spacey pedal-to-the-metal momentum, allowing oscillations to move effortlessly via sonic osmosis from airwaves into emotion. Bridging anthemic resonance with introspective quiescence, Paradise Drive taps uncharted intersections within alt-rock, confidently steering innovation towards one of the most dynamic albums of 2025.

From 80s new-wave synth-pop ballads like the standout single, ‘Girl on the Plane’, which fans of The Midnight will undoubtedly devour, to the cathartic rancour of ‘Let’s Be Clear’, The Phenomenon exceeds the promise implied by its title, leaving nothing to be viscerally or evocatively desired.

Led by guitarist and vocalist Hugo De Bernardo, Paradise Drive creates meteoric, immersive experiences, fusing the soulful ambition of Coldplay, U2’s ethereal expansiveness, and the contemporary zest of The Band Camino. Their songs, anchored by themes of love, heartbreak, and personal evolution, resonate affectingly through soaring melodies and lush, electronic-tinged rock landscapes, proving their powerhouse reputation is well-deserved.

The Phenomenon is now available to stream on all major platforms. Discover your preferred way to listen via the artist’s website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Timothy and the Apocalypse channelled serenity into electronic emotion with ‘Say Something’

Timothy and the Apocalypse has built a reputation for composing cinematic electronica infused with intimate depth. With Say Something, now available on all major platforms after its launch on January 24th, the Sydney-based producer transcends his already impressive esteem. Crafted in the serene, off-grid hinterlands of New South Wales, the single pulls the tranquillity from the studio’s surroundings into the exposition of the raw complexities of love, vulnerability, and human connection.

The track spares all semblance of complacency as it unravels as a progressive revelation. After a sequence of trip-hop-tinged downtempo beats and subtle new wave synth-pop textures that shimmer with a syncopated vibrancy, much like the lineage of a relationship, the single evolves, taking unexpected turns to introduce everything from rock riffs to minor-key piano lines ache with quiet introspection to Sci-fi nuances which hover at the edges, amplifying the song’s otherworldly warmth and emotional resonance.

Each layer serves a purpose, building towards a heartfelt plea for connection, delivered without the weight of excessive demands. Poulton’s ability to balance tension and tranquillity creates a sonic panorama that won’t fail to inspire reflection and extend sonic solace.

With Say Something, Timothy and the Apocalypse reminds us that even within the intricacies of modern electronica, there’s space for tenderness and humanity.

Stream Say Something on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Duane Harden conquered the pop scene with Blind (Pop Life Mix)

After carving a legacy in the confines of the house music scene, Duane Harden has proven his mettle as a pop icon in the making with ‘Blind (Pop Life Remix)’.

Euphoria pulses through the intro, carried by shimmering new wave synths that ignite a rush of sonic exhilaration. As the melodies gain momentum, Harden’s mastery of interwoven complexity becomes unmistakable. This is not the work of an artist content with formulaic hits; instead, Harden layers raw emotion, kinetic energy, and rich textures into his production, crafting an anthem that resonates with bittersweet authenticity.

The track pulls listeners into a trap-tinged world of naïve desire, where the longing to escape emotional vulnerability is laid bare against the Latino guitars and disco-pinched grooves. With each progression, Harden’s hooks tighten their grip, drawing you deeper into the duality of aching euphoria and scarred sentimentality.

By refusing to paint within the lines, Blind (Pop Life Mix) cements Harden’s place as a multifaceted artist capable of shifting seamlessly between genres while delivering emotive, high-energy productions. For his 81k monthly listeners and beyond, this track is an invitation to revel in the alchemy of pop at its most sincere and unflinching.

Be a part of the hype by hitting play on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JC Call lit up the airwaves with the neon RnB synthpop grooves in his single, confident

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDw64m_Wp28

San Diego’s own JC Call is defining his space in the pop landscape with his fusions of synth-pop and RnB. At 19, the self-taught artist is already a force in music production, having immersed himself in EQs since he was just 12, making his latest track, all the more of an impressive feat.

‘confident’ is as much a manifesto of personal resilience as it is a musical innovation. With strobing neon synths and kinetic grooves, the track demands physical and emotional movement, tapping directly into the listener’s rhythmic pulses. His vivid blend of modernised synth-pop and soul-stirring R&B is both canvas and narrative, painting a vivid tableau of introspective vulnerability.

His voice, an instrument wielded with the precision of a seasoned storyteller, navigates through the emotional core of the track which reflects the desire for emotional safety, resonating with universal truth and echoing the sentiments of anyone who has faced turmoil in this tumultuous world while seeking sanctuary within an external soul.

As JC Call prepares to unveil his debut album by the year’s end, ‘confident’ stands as a bold prelude to his journey.

confident was officially released on November 13; check out the single on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spirits of Saturn – Transfigured: A Synth-Pop Remedy for Souls Unbounded by Earth’s Orbit

Spirits of Saturn, a band that emerged like a comet in the musical cosmos, has graced our auditory senses with their latest single, Transfigured. The synth-pop odyssey that transcends the mundane unravels as a vibrant fusion of synth and strings, weaving a star-roving tapestry of influence from Kraftwerk, Todd Rundgren, and Daft Punk to submerge synth-pop fans in a constellation of future-perfect disco-pop sonics and vocals that can croon your soul out of kilter.

The beat-bolstered synth-pop ballad explores the mental labyrinth navigated during post-relationship dissolution; It’s a narrative of emotional metamorphosis, where even the most visceral feelings disintegrate through transmutation. The song’s structure, with its stabbing synth lines and euphoric beats, creates an atmosphere that will bring you down to earth and beyond its atmospheric remit. As Transfigured plays, you can’t help but feel unshackled from earthly constraints while simultaneously being in tune with the ache only humankind will know through our romantically masochistic tendencies.

If any outfit has what it takes to dominate the synth-pop scene in 2024, we’d put our money on Spirits of Saturn. They’ve already graced some of the most renowned venues in the UK with their decadently transcendent tones and proven their neon songwriting stripes.

Transfigured will land in Earth’s orbit on March 1st; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embrace the retro-future with The Exotic Ices Project’s seminal track, Disciple

Stepping out from the shadows of their former band, Ruby Jones and Patrick Spillane of The Exotic Ices Project ignited a fuse on a synth-pop explosion with their seminal single Disciples. The standout from their debut album, Sunshine Desserts, is a vibrant testament to their musical evolution and a bold statement in the world of new wave synth-pop.

Opening with a cascade of twinkling synths, reminiscent of stardust spanning the entire colour spectrum, the auditory spectacle sets the stage for a journey through a soundscape that is both familiar and refreshingly, chaotically, novel.

After capturing the essence of the 80s and propelling it into the modern era, the track takes an unexpected turn as choppy, staccato guitars enter, bolstering the composition with a raw, electrifying energy. This shift creates a synthscape driven by the tumultuousness of unchained emotion.

While Disciples may not align with everyone’s musical palette, it is a treasure for those who revel in the brighter, more intense shades of retro synth-pop. The track encapsulates the fervid dedication of its namesake, transcending into a realm of electro-rock fervour. It’s a daring composition, one that challenges the listener while remaining undeniably captivating.

With their bold colours and explorative sonic universes, Ruby and Patrick are not just riding the wave of synth-pop; they are redefining it.

The official music video for Disciple is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Good Time Locomotive dialled up the beguile in their synthpop sophomore single, Medusa

As one of the memorable synthpop outfits we’ve had the pleasure of putting on our radar in 2023, Good Time Locomotive is proving to be tough competition to their contemporaries. Especially after the release of the latest single, Medusa, which hauntingly demonstrates that lustful beguile is one of the most powerful forces known to man and mythology. The superlative single contests the adage that all is fair in love and war with the mind games that have become a frustrative cornerstone of seduction.

With their sophomore single, the London-hailing powerhouse moved away from their archetypal synthwave synthetics and started to forge their own sonic signature in their distinctively rhythmic guitar lines, jazzy time signatures and anthemic builds, which borrow a few sticky-sweet propensities from pop-punk anthems.

In the words of singer Hugo Leite;

‘It’s a song all about the power of infatuation and those who know how to wield it over us. The story of Medusa seemed like a fitting metaphor for that as she is, quite possibly, the most misunderstood character of all time. Beautiful? Yep, but deadly when fallen from grace!’ 🧟

Medusa was officially released on June 17th. Hear it on Spotify or watch the official music video via YouTube. For more info, head over to the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Conner Eko has made his unmissable indie synth-pop debut with SINK

‘SINK’ is the debut indie synth-pop track from the Californian singer-songwriter Conner Eko who takes inspiration from a vast repertoire of artists to achieve his authentically affectionate sound that we’re hoping will become signature in subsequent releases. If Trent Reznor produced for Boy George, the sonic result wouldn’t be all too different from the danceably dark, ethereal textures in SINK, and we are here for it.

2021 has been rough on everyone, but Conner Eko had more to overcome than most. In March 2021, he suffered a traumatic brain injury that forced him away from this work and towards music, resulting in the release of SINK that precedes the release of his debut album, due for release in early 2022.

SINK was released on August 3rd; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast