DARKROOM DATA

EDITORS’ PICK | The Lo-Fi Electro Duo Releases New Abstract Synthpop Single

Hipnotic arpeggios, emotive vocal hooks, sentimental lyricism and an artfully abstract approach to composition, DARKROOM DATA’s latest self-released single proves to be a product of the creators’ sheer, effortless ingenuity. The new track bravely discards the typical paradigms of synthpop genre songwriting, yet brilliantly delivers an endearing, soulful, catchy, and wonderfully textural pop number. And it is an ear-worm. With trip hop-inspired beats grounding slow-burning bass grooves and cascading bright arpeggios, vocalist Gillian Nova’s enigmatic performance is highlighted with a backdrop of carefully placed lo-fi sound glitches that mimic computers gleefully going haywire in dance. The result is a significant refresh towards new attitudes in tasteful genre-bending songwriting and clever musicianship, clearly articulating two intelligent artists having fun.

Darkroom Data is the retro synthpop science project of Irish vocalist Gillian NoVa and Brazilian composer Márcio Paz. The duo have been writing and recording together for two years, developing a synth heavy sound that is lofi, synthpop at the core.

For more info on the duo, visit www.darkroomdatamusic.com

STRANGE EYES | “Close”

STRANGE EYES Music Video for “Close” Hones In On Violent Love

London-based American synth pop artist and multi-instrumentalist STRANGE EYES keeps her eyes hidden but leaves herself bare with ‘Close’ the third single.

A deep, twisted dance groove and catchy bass line underpin her evocative vocals reminiscent of retro icons such as Kate Bush and Nancy Wilson. The single narrates the story of love escalating into violence, imbued in sheer poignance yet veiled under shimmering disco lights.

The accompanying music video delves into the world between a couple on the brink of love and madness, in one continuous shot the video follows their violent story.

Released on May Day, the single is taken from her heartbreaking debut EP ‘Love Story’ due to be released later this summer. 

Keep up with Strange Eyes and visit www.iamstrangeeyes.com

RUNAWAY DROID | LIGHTYEARS

Runaway Droid Releases Epic Outerspace-Themed LP “LIGHTYEARS”

Helsinki, Finland has a growing synthwave scene that has been making waves in the global synth community for some time, centering around a main hub known as The Helsinki Synth City. One of their premiere artists is Finnish metal guitarist, artist and producer RUNAWAY DROID (a.k.a. ANA). The prolific yet enigmatically stylish artist has released his 4th full-length record, LIGHTYEARS, inspired by themes of outerspace exploration in the future. The record seamlessly blends a multitude of electronic genres spanning synthwave, retrowave, cyberpunk, future funk, post-punk, to pop, rap, rock and metal to create a cinematic atmosphere while carrying some serious bangers with iconic references. The album features several vocal collaborations from fellow global synth artists: C Z A R I N A (New York City) on the post-punk Michael Jackson homage “Moonwalker,” Mark Cooper (Detroit) on “Trek Wars” and “On the Line,” Colin Cayvz (Las Vegas) on “Thunder in Your Eyes,” Levinsky (Helsinki) on “Rocket Machine,” Millennium Falck (Helsinki) on the Bon Jovi cover “It’s My Life,” and R0kyu (Helsinki) on “Hellbound.”

For more on Runaway Droid, visit runawaydroid.bandcamp.com

VH x RR | “Persistence of Memory”

VH x RR’s Debut EP "Persistence of Memory”

Cold wave electronic duo VH x RR ‘s much awaited debut EP has dropped through Lakeshore Records. The sublime 5-track offering gives nod to new wave nostalgia, but modernized and stylized with artfully crafted atmospheric dynamics, bright, shimmery arpeggiated synths over heavy, undulating bass grooves reminiscent of early Depeche Mode and New Order. Vocalist Rob Rowe delivers a new brand of irresistible smoky romance through nonchalant lyricism and moody vibe that would make listeners stop dead at their tracks and dance along.

VH x RR was founded in 2016 by Kent “Von” Hertzog and Rob Rowe. Hertzog reached out to Rowe on Twitter and essentially cold-called him to see if they could work together. They got along well, realizing that their lives had a lot of parallels—both were working for themselves in the ad world and both had in-home studios that allowed them to quickly sketch ideas and share them over the Internet. As we could see, the two could create magic.

For more info on VH x RR, visit vhxrr.bandcamp.com