Riding Out The Whitecaps in The Synthwaves
- brittdigsvinyl
- Sep 7, 2023
- 3 min read
As the genre continues to evolve, it refuses to be confined to a specific era or style...
We've all been there...flipping through the playlists to see what sounds good to aligns with our current mood...and after a brief couple of minutes (of what seems like eternity...) we become frustrated....because everything we're scrolling past doesn't seem to fit our needs or mental phase.
Favorably for us-with all the new synthwave that's starting to hit the market...we're about to start seeing better days.
A while back, I wrote about going to see Dayseeker-in Grand Rapids...which was an amazingly stellar show I will remember until the end of time. As some of you know it leans more towards the "emo" crowd....but after listening to "Bleach" by Hurtwave...I realized I had heard that voice somewhere before. It was Rory Rodriguez!
This was the first time...within the first few months of discovering a band that I heard another release put out by the same vocalist in an adjacent band! My brain was doing cartwheels...my legs became jello...and I loved that this new band "Hurtwave" leaned more into the Synthwave side-giving his vocals an even better spotlight to shine in.
The song "Black and Blue" trips me completely out, after just coming from seeing them live...touring an emo release..released just this year....I was thinking to myself "Are you kidding me?! This was made two years ago..?!" Or the song "Fever Dream" is beautiful on a completely higher level than I thought "Crying While You're Dancing" ever could be...
Pretty wacky and batty how only hindsight helps shed light on something we thought we were really picking up on. It's so great to know artists still continue experimenting under auxiliary pseudonyms...and Hurtwave has become a fast and favored play on most cruises...and usually entices us to take the road less traveled...down unfamiliar territories that are considered withdrawn.
When it comes to the genre overall….it’s not even just about the music; it's an entire sensory experience. The album artwork, music videos, and live performances all play a crucial role in crafting this mesmerizing atmosphere.
While some tracks may transport you to a state of euphoria, others might evoke a sense of melancholy or introspection. It's this emotional depth that makes Synthwave more than just a throwback to the '80s.
Jessie Frye is another grand gift that's gracing the airwaves...hailing from Arlington, TX. Her album "Kiss Me in the Rain" I only just discovered through my friend Gilbert on Instagram.
If you haven't already...definitely give him a follow @madmaxvinyl and connect on everything from Synthwave's best undiscovered artists to some of pop's finest. I loved the entire album from the moment I saw his post, and wanted to own it immediately.
It wasn't long before I put in an order for myself....and have been streaming steadily on repeat. The saxophones used, the keys and instruments used in some of the riffs dazzles my heart...making me feel like true enlightenment can be reached and obtained.
Her vocals are stunning, and there's no doubt she's on my list of upcoming artists on the rise, and female artists to be on-the-lookout for.
I can't get enough of her "No Sleep" music video-encompassing everything I love about the genre. Grainy video detail bringing out the catharsis in all of us....neon lights...and wildly unique style. It's a perfect tribute to an old Cindi Lauper clip or something Yaz would've put out.
Hearing all the nuances in their music, and everyone who inspired their sound-knowing the Synth and New-wave are making their well-deserved comebacks after all this time....is all any 80's fan from now and from back then...should be talking about.
Comments