MODERNS ARE QUICKLY BECOMING THE ONES TO WATCH – NRW EXCLUSIVE!

NewRetroWave — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:37:00 +0000

You may have heard Tripped or Over Again—two really rad tracks by
MODERNS featured here on NRW’s enormous YouTube channel. I’m looking to hear
more voices from artists in this scene, providing more definition and clarity
as synthwave discovers itself and what it’s capable of as it goes along.

I got a chance to talk a bit with Alan Oakes and Christopher Fudurich, the duo
that is, MODERNS…

–——————————————————————————————————————

Thanks for doing this Q+A! As a lover of the synthwave community, I believe
hearing from artists is a huge part of shaping the genre and scene as it
matures.

ALAN: Thank you for the opportunity

CHRISTOPHER: You’re welcome. Hello!

Why MODERNS? Any background to the name?

ALAN: The MODERNS name goes with
the “Future Modernism” idea which was a recurring theme during the
80’s in synth music and the cyberpunk world. The music is heavily influenced by
those genres, so it seemed fitting.

CHRISTOPHER: Yes, which works out nice since I equate the
music with that of a clean, linear mid-century architecture style. I like architecture.

How do you guys view or position yourselves in the synth scene? Or
do you consider yourself electro-pop?

ALAN: The music is primarily
synth-based while the songs do have some pop structures. We could generalize
MODERNS as a Synthwave, Synthpop, or an Electro act, but I like the idea of
keeping the lines blurred. It keeps things interesting.

CHRISTOPHER: Blurred Lines? I’m happy with making music and sounds and
hopefully whoever likes it, likes it regardless of scene or whatever labels it
gets stuck with. Honestly, I like so
many different types of music from all over the place, I think our music is just
going to kinda go with whatever we are feeling or inspired by at the time.

Knowing you both have background with bands and music, why such a
strong draw to synthwave?

Are you both pulled to that nostalgic 80’s/90’s zone that many of
us millennial RetroWave fans are?

ALAN: It’s partly nostalgic, I must
admit. The music and bands from that era are the reason I wanted to become a
musician in the first place. But I must say I’m also inspired by today’s
Synthwave artists. Some of the more progressive artists are doing really
exciting things with their music.

CHRISTOPHER: Totally nostalgic. And synthesizers are cool. I really, really like synthesizers as
well. Yeah… I want to grab all that
80s stuff up and wrap it around me like a warm blanket. I’m on the last season of Miami Vice on
Netflix.

How did you get started with this five-track EP?

ALAN: I don’t really consider
it an EP at the moment. We’ve been
adding songs to our catalogue track by track over the last few months. We’re
working on a proper release.

CHRISTOPHER: It’s more of a collection of songs that
started with a track I had laying around and Alan had a vocal melody from a
tune he wrote. His track was used for
something else and so we put the orphaned melody on to this track idea and really
liked the result. So we decided to see
what else was floating around and finished writing a few more tracks. We have too many ideas we like and just keep
writing and finishing them off. I def
think putting a proper “album” together is close.

I just heard your new track, Atlantic Sudden. MODERNS are
producing sounds more pop than electronic. An opportunity area of synth that’s
perhaps ripe and untried. Do you guys see yourselves as aligned with the
aesthetic of someone like Trevor Something? Or anyone?

ALAN: I’m a big fan of the retro
scene. Each artist adds their own touch to the genre which is one of the
reasons why I’m such a big fan. We all have that main sound in common which is
where our similarities end. Whichever direction we take that sound is up to us.
I think it’s exciting.

CHRISTOPHER: I’m waiting to get into dark gothic
minimalist. Not really. (Kinda).
We’ve added this singer Rosie into the mix and she is on Atlantic Sudden
a bit. The next track we’re putting
together, she sings herself. I can’t
align us to anything else, really, but I’m sure there will be similarities to
others here and there. We’re creating
whatever we find pleasing and enjoyable to us, so some might be pop oriented
and some will be instrumental. All will be
electronic. No horn sections in our
future.

You guys have a great sort of 80s synthpop wave sound. I’m always
pondering the notion of synth artists playing more live shows. Any plans?

ALAN: Yes, definitely! I would love
to see more Synthwave artists take their music to the stage. I had the honor of
performing with Arcade High and ‪Bourgeoisie earlier this year. It was an
amazing show! We need more of that!

CHRISTOPHER:
OH man… I’m really into the live thing.
I’ve been out touring doing FOH and really want to put together a great
sounding and looking show. That idea
makes me happy. Any electronic visual
artists out there want to do something?

Thanks for talking with me! Looking forward to new releases from
you guys. Any final words?

Alan: Thank you. We’re excited to
share more music with you.

Christopher: Thanks!
I am happy and humbled people are interested in what we are creating.

_________________________________

Stay connected with MODERNS

https://moderns.bandcamp.com/album/moderns

http://moderns.la/

– Andy Chandler

THIS WEEKS FREE DOWNLOAD IS…

NewRetroWave — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 19:22:00 +0000

NONE OTHER THAN

LAZERPUNK!

WITH HIM DEBUT ALBUM

“GAME OVER”

LISTEN UP!
164. LAZERPUNK! – Game over by Werkstatt Recordings

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS OVER-PRODUCING IN THE RETRO SCENE?

NewRetroWave — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:29:00 +0000

OK, OK, OK

BASICALLY……..WE HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY OF THE LOYAL RETRO FANS OF THIS UNDERGROUND 80S REVIVAL SCENE FEEL THAT SOME REVIVAL ARTISTS MAKE TOO MANY SONGS AND ALBUMS……. AND RELEASE THEM TO CLOSE TOGETHER!

THIS COULD BE DAMAGING TO THE SCENE IF QUALITY CONTROL IS NOT ENFORCED!!! OVERPRODUCTION WILL HURT THIS SCENE PEEPS!

EXAMPLE

IGNORE THE SILLY GIRL ON THE LEFT FOLKS……..FOCUS …….ALTHOUGH THE HIGHLIGHTED GUY ON THE LOWER RIGHT IS BEING DISRESPECTFUL TO THE ARTIST, WHICH NRW DOES NOT STAND FOR, REALIZE THAT WHAT THIS DUDE IS SAYING IS A SEMI VALID POINT. WE LOVE SELLOREKT AND THIS IS NO STAB AT HIS MUSIC OR WORK ETHIC. HE IS A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT! BUT IS IT NECESSARY TO RELEASE AN ALBUM SO OFTEN???……..EVERY MONTH?? THIS GOES FOR ANY ARTIST IN THIS FIELD.

(WE ARE NOT PICKING ON SELLOREKT, JUST AN EXAMPLE)

IT SURELY IS QUALITY OVER QUANTITY…..RIGHT?

WHAT CAN AN ARTISTS GAIN FROM RELEASING ALBUMS IN SHORT TIME SPANS?! A QUICK BUCK…OR A CHANCE TO GROW A REAL LOYAL FANBASE?

FOR THIS SCENE TO LAST AND PROSPER, ALBUMS NEED TO BE SEEN AS GOLDEN TICKETS!!! GEMS IF YOU LIKE. THE MORE OF A WAIT A FAN CAN GET UNTIL THE NEXT ALBUM …….. THE GREATER THE SALES WILL BE FOR THE NEXT ALBUM.

AN ALBUM A YEAR IS JUST FINE MY PEOPLE!!!! LOL

AN ALBUM EVERY MONTH/ 2 MONTHS/ 3 MONTHS IS STRAIGHT OVER KILL!!!! THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS.

(NOT COUNTING EP’S, MIXTAPES, COMPILATIONS…ETC)

EVEN ARCADE HIGH AGREES MANY ARTISTS ARE DOING THIS

WE KNOW THAT ONCE A PRODUCER IS IN THE ZONE, HE/ SHE WANTS TO PUT OUT HIS WORK AND SHARE THEM. BUT THIS SCENE ISN’T A PRODUCER FOR THE PRODUCER SCENE. KEEP THAT BEHIND THE SCENES.

SHARING SONGS WITH FANS WORLDWIDE AND GETTING RECOGNITION IS THE MAIN GOAL HERE……RIGHT?!

REAL LISTENING FANS WHO WANT TO HEAR QUALITY TRACKS MATTER SOOOOO MUCH! THEY GET YOUR SOUND ABOUT VIA WORD OF MOUTH! HOW CAN YOU NEGLECT THEM?!

FOCUS ON QUALITY…..

AND DJ’S WHO WANT TO SPIN TRACKS TO INCREASE RETRO BUZZ SHOULD NEVER BE IGNORED.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS PEOPLE?

NEWRETROWAVE MAKES IT PAST THE 1 MILLION VIEW MARK!!!!

NewRetroWave — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:39:00 +0000

IT TOOK ONE YEAR EXACTLY…BUT WE DID IT THANKS TO YOU GUYS!!!

THANKS GUYS….WE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU THE BEST (AND SOMETIMES WORST) IN 80s RETROWAVE MUSIC!!

STAY RETRO!

😉

OVER – NewRetroWave – Stay Retro! | Live The 80's Dream!

MODERNS ARE QUICKLY BECOMING THE ONES TO WATCH – NRW EXCLUSIVE!

THIS WEEKS FREE DOWNLOAD IS…

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS OVER-PRODUCING IN THE RETRO SCENE?

NEWRETROWAVE MAKES IT PAST THE 1 MILLION VIEW MARK!!!!