Pablo Johnson interview by Andy Chandler
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Questions –

Hi Pablo! Aka
Joey Mercedes. As you know, I love your music and the new track is a welcome
addition to NewRetroWave.
Let’s start with the name. Why Pablo Johnson?

Thanks for
listening! Pablo Johnson has been a nickname that was given to me years ago
from my best friends, it stuck and pretty much became an alter ego. From now on
though, I‘ll be writing tunes as Joey
Mercedes, my real name. I just feel like it’s
time for some change, and that it actually sounds much better, what do you
think?

They both remind me of dope 80s names somewhow….
I find that your music often evokes images and vibes of warm 80s beaches…I
know you’re a
big Miami Vice fan as well. Anything behind this?

Miami
Vice definitely has a part in it but, I just love good vibes, I want my music
to evoke that, and for listeners to feel that. The beach has always been the
epitome of good vibes, so I feel that it’s only right for those images to come to mind.

Some
artists are hesitant to pigeonhole their music to a single label or style. Do
you place yourself in the synthwave genre? Where do you see this scene going in
the future?

I do
think that my music is within the synthwave genre, just more on an experimental
approach. I love synthesizers and the sounds of yesteryear. It’s all very nostalgic for me, and brings me home.
As far as the future? The future is now, I’ve seen commercials with synthwave tracks, tv
shows, and movies with synthwave tracks. It’s everywhere. I think that this scene will be
bigger than what it is at the moment,

Along the same lines–some artists don’t have the same versatility as you, replicating
nearly the same sound every track or using a ‘signature sound’. Would you say you have a signature sound or
are you happy exploring?

Thank you for noticing. I think that replicating the same sound for
every track, can be a bit boring and limiting. I definitely have go-to sounds
and synths, but I think it’s how
you use those sounds that really make them stand out. I’m happy with exploring because I’m still learning more and more daily, constantly
researching different synths, production techniques, as well as producers and
their techniques. I am basically just trying to figure out, what’s going to make my music stand out.

Has
your design of tracks or approach to music changed at all since the early days
of creating tracks?

Definitely. When I first started creating, I really wasn’t putting much thought into it, I wasn’t as passionate, so I fell in and out of it. I
also started working in the IT field, and feel that it has given me a different
thought process on everything, not just music. I think that it has given me
some structure, especially with time management. I also listen to music while
working, so with that, I am able to dissect different tunes and try to figure
out which synths or effects were used, it’s fun for me. I take the inspiration with me,
and try to apply it to my music.

When
you make music do you draw from 80s nostalgia or does the nostalgia draw from
you? (Sort of rhetorical, no right answer here)

Good Question! I would say it’s a mixture if both really. I’ll usually have a movie on while I’m writing or experimenting, so I’ll try to put my spin on what I think a
particular scene sounds like. Life experiences also help, or just remembering
Saturday morning cartoons, and watching VHS’s as a kid.

What’s on
for 2015?