Out now across all streaming platforms, Cascades is the first single from the forthcoming album, Inherent — Available 13 June 2025 on vinyl, CD and digital through n5MD.

https://ffm.to/inherent

Written and produced by Jason van Wyk
Mastered by Ian Hawgood, Mokoshi Mastering
Cover photography by Gean Burrell

Cascades

Stream

Glass neo monarchy

Acidulé - Musique (Mr. Nycto Remix)

Another back-to-back Sunday session for you...

Funky Disco Set by DJ Riccoo b2b JK | Feel Good Phonic 07.09.2025

After two #1 singles on the German Alternative Chart (DAC) with "House of Cards" and "Endless Night", Howlett has pushed into darker terrain with Eggshell. Melodically, it has an anthemic, haunting quality, while the beats give it an almost industrial edge. Daniel Myer (Liebknecht, Architect, Covenant etc.) has also left an audible footprint with his production and mixing. 

"Eggshell can be seen as a companion-piece to Empathy Test's Demons", says Howlett, "and inhabits a similar realm, atmospherically. Penned around the same time, it's one of the few songs I've written that's told from someone else's perspective - it's the response of the silent partner in Demons."

If that's not enough to capture the imagination of Empathy Test's legion of loyal fans, the fact that this is perhaps the closest Howlett has come compositionally to Empathy Test, will no doubt cement Howlett's solo work as a viable alternative in the absence of anything new from the aforementioned duo.

Eggshell already has some buzz around it, having been performed live several times by Howlett at his solo shows earlier in 2025, but this September to December he is also performing it, along with the follow-up Ghosts of the Tsunami (releasing on Halloween, 31st October) with Empathy Test on their biggest European tour to date.

At a lengthy, but not unwarranted run-time, of 5+ minutes, the release includes a more concise "radio edit" to appeal to those with shorter attention spans. However, to appreciate the full scale of this epic track, the original version is recommended.


Eggshell (Radio Edit)

Echo Error

Future Landscapes

Touch is an emotional synth journey from Datasuck  — a glowing fusion of pulsing basslines, dreamy pads, and cinematic atmosphere. Equal parts nostalgic and futuristic, it captures that fleeting feeling of connection in a digital world — where every beat feels alive and every melody reaches out through the static.

With lush production and heartfelt energy, Touch sits perfectly between night drive introspection and dancefloor euphoria. This is synthwave at its most human.

Datasuck - Touch [Girlfriend Records]

I’ll Make It All Worthwhile

This track, "Back in My Day", originally started as a freestyle instrumental. It was inspired by the kind of open beats I saw all over YouTube that people could rap over freely. I wanted to create something similar: a beat that anyone could vibe with.

As I listened to the instrumental, the concept hit me. I started thinking about concerts I've been to where people were too busy filming with their phones instead of living the moment. It always bothered me. People paying money to see an artist, then watching the whole thing through a screen instead of experiencing it live. That frustration sparked a few rhymes in my head instantly.

With that in mind, I went on Fiverr to find someone to collaborate with. I found Mike, an artist who totally shared the same mindset. He came through with a ton of bars right away and we just flowed with it. Huge shoutout to his friend, Shanice Monroe, who blessed the track with those beautiful old-school chorus vocals.

We had a great time putting this together and I want to share it with the world. I fully own the rights to this track and I’m releasing it under a Creative Commons license. That means you can use it completely for free in your videos, freestyles, remixes, or whatever. Just make sure to give credit or a name drop wherever you use it. That’s all I ask.


Back In My Day (ft Mike & Shanice Monroe)

I know what you’re doing
Despite you still hiding
I know what you love
Attention

I tried to be you friend
You came like an old enemy
Who can’t walk alone

I know what you like
I know about you kind

You raging eyes
Won’t stare at me
No more

I don’t need you fake smile
I’ve got joy in my heart
I know what you crave
Distortion
Look up to the light
Instead of crawling in the dark
Tied up to your own desires

Tell me what it’s like
To feel real bad inside

You raging eyes
Won’t stare at me
No more
Your double face
Won’t fool me
No more

It’s kind of windy
Too much for Wendy
Watch your skirt lady
I know what you like
I know about your kind

Tell me what it’s like
To feel real bad inside

You raging eyes
Won’t stare at me
No more
Your double face
Won’t fool me
No more
Your bloody mouth
Won’t lie on me
Anymore

Fear no more
Fear no more

NO MORE
NO MORE
NO MORE

Fear No More

Isaac Howlett is a British-born musician now living in Linz, Austria. He's best known as the singer / songwriter behind the internationally renowned synth-pop band, Empathy Test, as well as for his collaborations with Aesthetic Perfection ("Save Myself") and Bop x Subwave ("Storm in a Teacup").

Working with US producer Walter Kazmier, Isaac self-released his debut solo single, a synthwave-tinged, dance floor-ready track called "House of Cards", on 28th of February, 2024. It reached #1 on the German Alternative Chart (DAC) and #2 in the bestselling synthpop tracks on Bandcamp.

Isaac Howlett's second solo single, "Endless Night" arrived on 13th December 2024. It debuted at #2 on the DAC and #3 on the Klangwald Radio Chart. Synthpop Fanatic included it in their "10 best synthpop songs of December 2024", praising its "...beautiful vocals and heartfelt lyrics", while Blitzed Magazine described it as "an ethereal gem". 

For his third solo single, Eggshell, Isaac headed in a darker, punchier direction, mixing synthpop with elements of Industrial co-producing alongside Daniel Myer (Haujobb, Liebknecht, Architect, Covenant, Devision Redux). The third single debuted at #1 on the German Aternative Chart (DAC) and #2 on the Klangwald Radio Chart. It also peaked at #13 (Germany), #15 (Sweden) and #31 on the iTunes Alternative chart.

A fourth solo single, also co-produced and mixed by Daniel Myer, will be released on 31st October, 2025.

"crystal pure hypnotic vocals" NewRetroWave

"dreamy synths and buzzing bass” Obscure Sound

“upbeat and invigorating” - At Cost Magazine

"Stunning" - Synth City