Damokles is known for his extremely authentic style – having been creating synth music since back in the 80’s. This EP takes an interesting spin on that uniquely authentic Damokles sound, showcasing his groovy range.

“Hyperwave” swings from heavy backing beats injected with high-octane sci-fi synth with ‘Many Lightyears Away’ to the romantic and lachrymose ‘Empty Streets’ tracks with ease – all the while still retaining that beautifully crafted funk.

Several of the tracks also contain vocals – but realizing many in the synth community aren’t fans of vocals – each EP download also comes with instrumental versions of the tracks.

Check it out here now!

While every country has been impacted in some capacity, there’s no denying that some have been or currently are being hit harder than others. “In my country it has had a great impact,” says Lleida, Spain based artist Nightcrawler. “It isn’t very productive musically because I can not go to the studio, but I am enjoying being with my son and my wife all day long in my house”. 

In addition to studio time being hindered, some artists, like Barcelona, Spain based SUNESIS, have felt the impact on live performances.”My last Live show was on 7th March, right before quarantine was imposed in Barcelona. I had another proposal for a live show for mid April /early May that had to be postponed,” she says. Adding that “Spain’s economy is suffering tremendously and my salary has been reduced. Social media was crowded with opinions and recommendations on how to experience confinement but I honestly feel this depends on the person.”Despite the hardship, she adds “I am feeling peaceful, hopeful, and introspective.”

Fellow Spanish artist Electric Runner echoes the sentiment of optimism in this trying time, stating that despite the “obvious and awful impact to the music scene with all the shows and tours canceled”, that they are trying to stay positive, noting that “this is the first time in a couple of years when I have all this time to work on my music, some days are better than others but I’m trying to get the most of this situation, I know it’s not easy for everyone and I don’t say that you are in an obligation to be productive but if you ever wanted to start something artistic this is the perfect time.”

The idea of making the best of a terrible situation isn’t an uncommon one in this time, and really that shouldn’t be a surprise coming from a scene with a fetishistic obsession of lost neon futures. Connecticut, USA-based STRAPLOCKED has a similar positive attitude, saying “So far, it’s given me a bit more time to work on my music. I spend less money going out, spend less time driving, and that has yielded stronger relationships with my fiance and our children, [as well as] more time for music and more time to work on projects around the house.” STRAPLOCKED also brings up a point I haven’t seen discussed much. Where you are at in your life is going to impact how easy or hard lockdown is for you. “I think if I was about 10 years younger, having to stay home would REALLY affect me negatively but at this point in my life the last 2 months have felt almost like a vacation. I can imagine that’s a wildly unpopular opinion but, it’s how I feel nonetheless.”

There’s a bittersweet undercurrent in the minds of some artists as well. For Iowa, USA’s SHIKIMO, the added time for productivity comes at a social cost. “I was able to finish up my new EP in the extra time I’ve had that I’m not spending with friends.” SHIKIMO, like many, are trying to stay positive by focusing on whatever the most recent positive news they have is, which for him has been appearing on Spotify’s official Retrowave/Outrun playlist. 

Despite the optimism, it’s important not to forget that the artists who we often interact with as neon avatars online are real people with real jobs and lives that have been impacted, all the more reason to lend them your support today. 

Artists who make their living from music and gigs are impacted as much as artists who are now working more than ever at day jobs to make ends meet. Miami, Florida’s INTEGRA-85 tells one such story. “I haven’t been able to play shows and the lockdown has dampened my ability to focus on writing music. I’ve had to focus almost on work just to make ends meet in a house where all my roommates just lost all their jobs.” This is unfortunately a common reality for many, including Russian-based CYBERTHING!. 

What’s perhaps most difficult for me as a member of the scene who has admittedly a minute impact on the scene or sales is that I really want to implore readers and listeners of NRW who have the means during this time to support as many of the artists listed below as they can. All of these artists deserve your attention, your streams, your album purchases.

I have a tremendous amount of gratitude to the artists in this scene and consider myself very lucky to write about their music. 

Friday afternoons mean one thing – the NRW Weekly Selection. We’re striving to bring you the best of the best. From outrun to darksynth, we have your weekend covered!
Check out who hit our top spots this week:

Swedish sensation Damokles, a.k.a. Anders Ekström,  is blasting back from the past with his newest EP, “Bring Out The Funk.” This collection of tracks looms like a groovy sword – waiting to grace your ears and overturn your ideas of what synthwave can be.

“Bring Out The Funk” is an inspired mix of synth, pop and funk which manages to stay fresh and original in a soundscape of synth music too often overburdened by repetitive tropes and robotic quantization. This should come as no surprise as Damokles has been mixing and producing music since the golden ages of the 70’s and 80’s. 

That native sound is what makes this EP feel different – Damokles offers up an authentic take on retrofunk, blending the new age technology of DAWs with lived-in retro experience. In short, “Bring Out The Funk” manages to seamlessly blend synthwave, funk and disco into a smooth and sexy package of informed nostalgia ready for enjoyment.

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The disco influences on this EP are often shown in the choice of major chord progressions which are often interrupted by bright, wobbly funk stabs and flowing, unquantized synth leads. Some of the tracks feature heavily vocoded Kraftwork style vocals, adding to the air of authenticity instead of sapping it, as many retro vocals so often seem to do. 

Most of the tracks on “Bring Out The Funk” are pure retro fuego, but for me the best parts of this EP are singular elements of songs which are executed perfectly – the piano solo in “Gettin’ Me Some Attention,” the groovy synth guitar lead in “Diamonds Are Forever,” and finally the slightly hip, very hoppin record scratching in “Electric Boogie.” 

While the retrofunk sound might not be your choice genre, Damokles certainly has breathed some funky life back into the genre. This album has a particularly authentic sound which makes it easily lovable. Out now on Future 80’s Records, “Bring Out The Funk” is a smash which should not be missed – go grab a listen at bandcamp now.