Mecha Maiko (AKA Hayley Stewart) is back with third album NOT OK, which could end up changing the entire landscape of synthwave. The Toronto-based artist has always stood out among synthwave acts for her inventive, dogma-smashing approach to the genre. Her 2018 debut, Mad But Soft, and EP Okiya, from 2019, showed an artist who could produce experimental yet catchy, complicated yet minimalist songs that evoke the delicate and often turbulent relationship between humans and machines. She continued that streak with Let’s in 2019, and loaded it with early ‘90s house and contemporary electro-pop elements that took the songs to dark dance floors splashed in neon pink. It was deeply human but inherently mechanistic.

A lot has happened in the world since then, and NOT OK reflects that — even if the foundation of some of its songs stem from that pre-pandemic, post-Let’s era. Although she started work on the album at rural escape she referred to as “Synthpop Farm,” surrounded by a cornucopia of flora and fauna, she finalized the record in 2021 in Toronto with engineer and producer Jack Marko.

NOT OK tackles the scandalous level of trials the world faces today, including “bogus conspiracy theories, racism, sexism, violence, and environmental destruction,” she says. However, she does this via a kinetic blend of dance-heavy rhythms, captivatingly melodic synths, and an array of experimental sonics that together keep listeners engaged throughout the record’s 50-minute run.

“Hopefully it can validate some of the feelings and frustrations that others have been grappling with, and to serve as a reminder that we don't have to accept things as they are,” Mecha Maiko says. “I also hope it inspires people to deepen their connections to nature, and see just how beautiful life off-screen is.”

- Aaron Vehling, Vehlinggo.com
Full Album Liner Notes Here: (www.mechamaiko.com/not-ok-liner-notes)

Sunny, Softly (I Feel Love)

The Album version of "Phenom", one of the spearhead tracks on Radiant. Enjoy!

Phenom (Album Version)

Ginger Snap5 first track release on Dependent: The wonderful clubsmasher Distant Star!

Dependence 2015

Ginger Snap5 - Distant Star

Digital Evolution

907 Rise

Music video: 
https://youtu.be/LFdHAB8wwyk

Written & produced by Lizette Lizette and Nicklas Stenemo
Mixed & mastered by Jon Bordon

Sober Up

Lizette Lizette - Sober Up

The new LP "THE BURNING DAWN" out NOVEMBER 27th, 2017

"FADE / INTO THE BURNING DAWN" premiere on DreadCentral.com November 17th, 2017

SIDE A: 
1 Set The Night Ablaze (Feat. Cody Carpenter)
2 Fade / Into The Burning Dawn (Feat. Tying Tiffany)
3 Under The Killing Sun (Feat. Cody Carpenter) 
4 Stranger In The Mirror (Feat. Tobias Bernstrup)

SIDE B: 
5 Vendetta
6 Queen Of vengeance (Feat. Trevor W. Church)
7 You Still Kill (Feat. Cody Carpenter)
8 Threshold Of Redemption 
9 Together Again

Cody Carpenter - https://ludrium.bandcamp.com
Tying Tiffany - http://tyingtiffany.com
Tobias Bernstrup - http://bernstrup.com
Trevor W. Church - https://beastmaker.bandcamp.com

Cover art by BRANCA STUDIO - http://brancastudio.com

The Burning Dawn

SET THE NIGHT ABLAZE (feat. Cody Carpenter)

The second track of the upcoming FLA soundtrack album "AirMech"

Carbon Games has signed Front Line Assembly to create an original album for AirMech. "For AirMech, the first thing I thought of was trying to get music that sounded like Front Line Assembly, so then I figured I should at least try and contact the band on the off chance they would be interested in talking with us," says James Green, Game Director at Carbon Games. "I was thrilled when the news came back that they would be interested in working on a game project again."

Front Line Assembly is one of the pioneering bands in the electronic industrial world and continues to be guided by founder Bill Leeb. The AirMech album has been under development since late 2011 in parallel with the progression of the game. Selections of the music will be deconstructed for use as dynamic music, which reacts to conditions during battle. The trademark structure of FLA's music made this collaboration an exciting opportunity for both teams. This album is entirely instrumental, and stands as a compelling FLA album on its own.

Tracklisting:
01. AirMech / 02. Arise / 03. Pulse Charge / 04. Prep for Combat / 05. System Anomaly / 06. Mech Killer / 07. Everything That Was Before / 08. Lose / 09. Burning Skyline / 10. Stealth Mech / 11. Death Level / 12. Prime Empiricism

The album is to be released as limited edition in Europe on November 16 via Dependent.

More info about the CD album: http://www.dependent.de
More info about the game: http://carbongames.com
Pre-order the compact disc: http://www.dependent.de/shop/Album/Front-Line-Assembly---AirMech--Limited-Edition-.html 


Front Line Assembly - 02 - Arise - unmastered preview

The tenth track of the upcoming FLA soundtrack album "AirMech"

Carbon Games has signed Front Line Assembly to create an original album for AirMech. "For AirMech, the first thing I thought of was trying to get music that sounded like Front Line Assembly, so then I figured I should at least try and contact the band on the off chance they would be interested in talking with us," says James Green, Game Director at Carbon Games. "I was thrilled when the news came back that they would be interested in working on a game project again."

Front Line Assembly is one of the pioneering bands in the electronic industrial world and continues to be guided by founder Bill Leeb. The AirMech album has been under development since late 2011 in parallel with the progression of the game. Selections of the music will be deconstructed for use as dynamic music, which reacts to conditions during battle. The trademark structure of FLA's music made this collaboration an exciting opportunity for both teams. This album is entirely instrumental, and stands as a compelling FLA album on its own.

Tracklisting:
01. AirMech / 02. Arise / 03. Pulse Charge / 04. Prep for Combat / 05. System Anomaly / 06. Mech Killer / 07. Everything That Was Before / 08. Lose / 09. Burning Skyline / 10. Stealth Mech / 11. Death Level / 12. Prime Empiricism

The album is to be released as limited edition in Europe on November 16 via Dependent.

More info about the CD album: http://www.dependent.de
More info about the game: http://carbongames.com
Pre-order the compact disc: http://www.dependent.de/shop/Album/Front-Line-Assembly---AirMech--Limited-Edition-.htm

Front Line Assembly - 10 - Stealth Mech - preview

Dependent