Plastic heart (Ilya Santana instr. version)

Expertly curated by Master Ilya Santana (SXDNS072), Astrolead Recordings is one of those labels whose main mission in the independent music industry is to keep the retro-futuristic aura of Synthwave and its subgenres alive. Its vast and virtually impeccable catalogue, featuring gems made with love not only by established artists but also talented newcomers, has put the imprint amid the best in the game for quite some time now. Just don’t think in dusty and outmoded cuts – you’ll be disappointed for being so far from reality. The main characteristic of the releases on Astrolead is: heavy doses of retro-infused vibes, yes, undoubtedly, but with a fresh and modernistic gait. Mission: Accomplished, we dare to say.

For its forthcoming brick on the wall, “Astro” welcomes once again DeadKiber, a competent and young producer based in Krasnodar, Russia. His “The Words Are Killing” is a delicious and soothing 100-BPM single with a sort of melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere, mainly provided by the melodic synth layer and the gusli-like riffs, which paired perfectly with the throbbing bassline and groovy percussive elements. 

You can find (and buy) this and other music pearls on the Beatport page of the label: https://www.beatport.com/label/astrolead-recordings/65181

Follow @deadkiber-official and @astroleadrecordings, peeps!

PREMIERE462 // DeadKiber - The Words Are Killing (Original Mix)

Bandcamp: https://spaindisco.bandcamp.com
Junodownload: www.junodownload.com/labels/Boite+Music/
Traxsource: www.traxsource.com/label/53933/boite-music
Beatport: www.beatport.com/label/boite-music/89982
Facebook: www.facebook.com/boitemusicrecords/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/boite_music_records/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/spaindiscorecordsfrandeeper
Mastering: master79music@gmail.com

[BM061] CELESTINO - Promise Me (Original Mix)

VA The Sky Sampler

Pumuki - Space Penis

Jason Core_Made Of Space Dust

From Beyond_On The Groove

Some labels have their names carved in marble when it comes to their importance to the origins of the modern Indie Dance/Nu Disco scene. Before such denominations even existed, Emerald & Doreen had already put out dozens of releases featuring such genres. And the German imprint simply cannot get enough of it by keeping a solid string of deliveries and maintaining its position among the most vital outlets of the game.

One of its freshest episodes is coming super hot, by the way: “Odyssey-10” is the new endeavour by the London-based duo Beyond The Struttosphere (SXDNS263), who invited Miss Zagato to collaborate in one of the tracks and none other than Vongold (SXDNS236), Ivan Fabra (SXDNS107), and Badknife for the remix duties.

With appearances on Disc-o-lypso, Gouranga, Mélopée, Astrolead, and IDWT, the Struttosphere lads are addicted to handing out high-quality cosmic-embedded gems, always featuring a lofty standard production technique allied with intense and fierce creativity – little wonder they have conquered so many hearts since their debut in 2019. 

Ivan Fabra, the mastermind behind the remix we were solicited to review/premiere, needs no introduction but let’s say a few words about him for those still not familiar with his career: The acclaimed Spanish virtuoso is one of those boogie heads who managed to keep the fire burning in nowadays’ times by delivering not only stunning Disco edits but also spot-on retro-soaked originals. The result can be seen on Boite Music, Spa In Disco, Sprechen, Nang, Paradiso, Love Attack, Internasjonal, N I G H T N O I S E, and E&D itself, just to name a few.

For his take on “Satellite Cities”, Master Fabra went nuts with the progressiveness and deepness. A leftfield aura comes forward and pairs perfectly with the soft guitar-like riffs and frolic laser FXs. The magnificent vocals by Miss Zagato cannot go unmentioned. They undoubtedly bring the theme to another level. 

You can find (and buy) this and other music pearls on the Beatport page of the label: https://www.beatport.com/label/emerald-doreen-records/25352

Follow @beyond-the-struttosphere, @misszagato, @ivanfabra and @emerald-and-doreen-rec, peeps!

PREMIERE526 // Beyond The Struttosphere Feat. Miss Zagato - Satellite Cities (Ivan Fabra Remix)

https://soundcloud.com/calystarrmusic
https://www.instagram.com/calystarrmusic/
https://www.facebook.com/Calystarrmusic

MIX 015:  CALYSTARR

Since 2014, Silas Schletterer has been part of the Bordello A Parigi family. Under his Machinegewehr guise, the Rotterdam artist released three show-stopping synth centred records. 2023 sees him put out his fourth, Life. Burbling arpeggios, a signature of his sound, are present for “Sans.” Clever inviting melodies, another feature of Schletterer’s style, mix beautifully with clean percussion and samples for a definite dancefloor favourite. The title work follows. Measured and meditative, “Life” employs a familiar sound palette with very different outcomes. The pulsations, the throb, of Machinegewehr is there, but there is a considered melancholy that brins a bittersweet balance to the piece. Steady kicks and vocal snippets introduce “Pills.” Shifting melodies, piano stabs, driving rhythms and spoken word come together to create a heady brew of sheer pleasure. Vocals are central in the closer. “Neurons” narrates a fantastical story of subdued sci-fi sorrows and wistful yearning, all to a silken synth-pop soundtrack. A welcome return from a multifaceted musician.

PREMIERE: Machinegewehr - Neurons [BORDELLO]

Yeah, we are definitely having a week of collaborations in our premiere section: This one is for the lovers of emotive and heartwarming Synthwave cuts out there. Coming soon on the beautiful Astrolead Recordings, master Ilya Santana (SXDNS072), the label boss himself, joined forces once again with Spanish vocalist Sandry Sanz to deliver another mesmerising episode of their fruitful partnership. Tagging along this time, Argentinian musician, singer, and guitarist Tony David with his characteristic crying and melodic riffs.

Having a busy 2023 so far, Ilya has been devoting his most recent endeavours almost exclusively to his very own platform, breaking the string with only a few appearances on other vital imprints such as Spa In Disco, Boite Music, and Rare Wiri. For his “return” on Astrolead, he gathered not only a skilled duo of collaborators but also a label favourite for the remix duty: Seville-based producer Jason Core.

“Shattered Memories” is an extremely well-constructed retro-infused anthem with stunning synth leads and a dynamic bassline that paired perfectly with Sandry’s impressive vocals and Tony’s far-out guitar intervention.

You can find (and buy) this and other music pearls on the Bandcamp page of the label: https://astroleadrecordings.bandcamp.com/

Follow @ilya-santana and @astroleadrecordings, peeps!

PREMIERE541 // Ilya Santana & Sandry Sanz Feat. Tony David - Shattered Memories (Vocal Mix)

“Jumpin’ Into the Future” is a raw, hypnotic loop of fear and courage — a mantra for diving headfirst into the unknown even when you’re not ready. The repetition mirrors the cycle of hesitation and bravery, like standing at the edge of life’s deep end, unsure but still leaping. Simple, bold, and symbolic — it’s an anthem for the uncertain

future

Bookings, remixes, re-works: 
ilyasantana@gmail.com

All media access via: 
https://linktr.ee/Ilyasantana

Biography:

Ilya Santana is a name that echoes through the shimmering corridors of electronic music, particularly in the realms of space disco and cosmic funk. Born and raised in the Canary Islands, a place where the Atlantic meets the dust of Africa, Santana found himself drawn to the edges of sound early on—edges where melody could float, and rhythm didn’t have to march. He came up through the analog warmth of the ‘70s and the cold seduction of the ‘80s, and somehow fused both into his own kind of future nostalgia.

His career took root in the early 2000s, not through grand gestures but through consistency—a steady stream of releases that wound their way through labels like Balearic stalwarts Eskimo Recordings and Nang. Each track, a kind of ode to neon dreams and late-night drives, became a testament to Santana’s gift for atmosphere: his music doesn’t just play, it inhabits. There’s a cinematic quality to his work, like he’s scoring the movie of a life that’s never quite real but always feels familiar.

Ilya’s sound is less about chart-topping bravado and more about evocation. It lingers. It hums beneath the surface of memory. Through remix work, original compositions, and DJ sets that feel like journeys, Santana has shaped a career that’s both low-key and influential—an underground luminary lighting the way for those who understand that some of the best music doesn’t demand attention, it earns it.

Ilya is running his own record label "Astrolead recordings" specialized on the most underground side of Disco, Space/Cosmic disco, Retro and Synthwave.
Also started duties as a sound designer crafting sample/loops packages for "Loopmasters"

Jason Core_Made Of Space Dust

Ilya Santana (Official)

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