Retrowave 13

November Retro Wave

These are the underdog tracks of 2024 that for whatever reason did not get as much attention as they deserved. This is a chance for people to again discover some unearthed gems of sonic bliss.

Gems of 2024

Contemporary Jungle 2020-2024 - 7

癒しの香りのブレンドコーヒー

The Best of Java

A tale of love and longing, a place you yearn to return to, a person you ache to see again.

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Home - Instrumental

Home feat. Eli X - Instrumental

Feel the heat of the dance floor with the brand new, fresh and groovy track "Synthscothèque"!

Full maxi-single available on Bandcamp

Synthscothèque

The track "Magnetized Lens" is an acid house instrumental mix. It starts with a lead synth and an epic hook synth for texture, both with automated fading. The synth harmonizes with the UAD Polymax synth horn and eventually transitions joined by a big room after-party electronic drum kit. The middle part of the mix features an electrifying dance beat with various TB-3 acids and synclavier sub-bass. These were all sent through bus processing before the final master bus. My intention with this composition was to journey the listener in their mind through cosmic light as if bouncing from one "Magnetized Lens" to another.

Free Download

Magnetized Lens

Artificial Intelligence

I was watching a sports game once, and the score was close as both teams competed for a victory. The crowd was riveted and completely invested in trying to will their team to win. I could see the intensity on their faces as they hoped for this more than anything. It made me wonder what would happen if we used this same type of intense focus to make the world better. Why do we seem to waste so many moments? The harbinger of Warlock awaits as we continue to embrace apathy.

Warlock

Here is my new chillsynth single which will be part of my upcoming album on Neon Retro Records I expect to release in autumn.

https://awitw.bandcamp.com/track/thinking-of-you

Music, Mix, Mastering & Artwork by AWITW
------------------------------------------------
linktr.ee/AWITW

Thinking Of You

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3LZhN8rnmVOjTebb2YhqTa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cberxRBYDmA

Pixel Waves

I began working on this beat a month ago and realized it was an opportunity to incorporate more synthwave into my collection with a touch of space rock. As I developed the beat, lyrical ideas began to emerge, along with thoughts of adding a guitar. This music could serve as a way to divert your attention from current events and transport you to a different place. It's like endless summers from the past, with stunning poolside views and well-dressed companions.

Silhouette Skyline 

Gone are the memories of the skyline and 
crashing waves 
Turning all the corners on the surf tide 
I will catch a break

Bygone eras of your life appear
like magic
paint the neon canvas all balcony tone 

Beautiful and fancy 
Balcony tone
I could still see you
Silhouette moonshine 

Beautiful and fancy 
Balcony tone
I can still see you
Silhouette moonshine 
Beautiful dressed up 
Dinner at pool side 

Soaking up wind and the sun rays 
Think of what the future might be   
Turning all the corners of the surf tide
Finally catch a break - catch a break

I can still see you dancing in the moonlight
beautiful and fancy balcony tone
tones on the skyline 
balcony tone silhouette skyline

Silhouette Skyline

I had other tracks in progress that I was planning to finish first, but when Softube released the Model 77 synthesizer plug-in, I couldn't wait to try it. I was immediately captivated by its sound and started experimenting with the 'ethereal' and 'pw echo' presets. I added another track with some 'Glowstic Bass' sub and featured 'Jumpin Joy'. I increased the reverb and added some age to a few of these while also doing some mix automation with noise. What was initially supposed to be just a few hours of playing around with the synth unexpectedly turned into a futuristic instrumental track.

I'm excited to release my other tracks soon, but this one has found its way into my heart, page, and synth playlists.

Periapsis

Music video: https://youtu.be/O4ECgPs1N9g?si=Scxsis-ARVBOKkRT

When I first started making retro music, I struggled to capture certain sounds. Despite growing up listening to a lot of it, I had to immerse myself in knowledge of how it was made and the techniques of the time. By combining modern DAW and techniques, I've developed my own unique approach. This track was inspired by those times when you lack the energy to socialize. It reflects on the circumstances, the rooms, the glances, past loves, and past life, yet not finding the energy to create something special and unique again. It's like running on fumes when the well has run dry. While creating this 80s vibe sound, instead of my usual sci-progressive direction, I found myself leaning into the 80s vibe lyrically.

Fantasy Glance

Gliding through the end of hemisphere
Didn’t you know you were on my mind 

Forever reaching for the unattainable
If I find you there will help me stay 

Running on fumes and I’m feeling so lonely 
How often I roam this city
looking for you

The lamp shade mirror in the room where you
used to be 
Seductive glances 
stuck in my memory 

Roads crossed and the merchant village fair 
Amid the fantasy nostalgia waves

Running on fumes and I’m feeling so lonely 
How often I roam this city
looking for you

I’m running on (running on)
I’m running running on fumes
I’m running running on 
running on empty

Fantasy Glance

A common term related to investing can also apply to various aspects of life. The fear of missing out, driven by others' participation, can lead to negative outcomes. This track was started about a month ago using Model 84 and 77 Softube synthesizers, along with a Juno emulation. I incorporated guitars similar to those used in "Endless Summer Daze" and "Unrealized Future," and it features a synth bass Arturia preset called "Pet Shop Boys."

FOMO 

They all wait in line for the money machine 
Caught in an avalanche of emotion 
Don’t wanna rain on your parade

Fear of missing out
Now you’ve jumped into the
shark tank
You thought you’d join in too late 
Now the bank has taken it all away 
 
So you found what your hoping to emulate 
Everyone’s winning and you wanna 
partake in it

Fear of missing out
Now you’ve jumped into the
shark tank
You thought you’d join in too late 
Now the bank has taken it all away

FOMO

I discover Mark with his track "Silhouette Skyline". I completely found myself in his post-punk style. Mark is a music producer and songwriter based in Las Vegas. He is the lyricist and the singer of our first collaboration "Dream Unwind". This track is the result of mixing my crazy, noisy little style with Mark's authenticity.

Mark's Soundcloud profile : https://soundcloud.com/markantares
A very good track of Mark, Silhouette Skyline : https://soundcloud.com/markantares/silhouette-skyline
A very cool video of Mark, making a live jam version on Merry Go Round (Neon City) : https://youtu.be/t3rEhZZu7As?si=WuW6IE3KF34viTR6

Dream Unwind (Feat. Mark Antares)

I completed this track last May. Although I hadn’t felt like sharing it, I thought it was important to include it in the tracks I’ve finished this year. It’s an unusual track to me because it evokes a sense of hiding from the spotlight. It mentions superheroes battling villains and captures a unique intensity. I’m not sure how this peculiar track will be received, but it does seem to have a strong emotional impact, even if it’s not as upbeat as some of my more recent tracks. I also created a music video for it with some interesting imagery which briefly shared and again now:

https://youtu.be/qRz3-hKlZbo

Hiding out from the Spotlight 
Go from street to street  
Corner to corner 
Aisle to aisle all before the escape 
Scurry down the hillside 
trailing meadow disguise my cape
One time I found my bearings 
Won’t be long until the return 

Oh yeah yeah yeah 
Where is the spotlight
Find my way over 
Oh yeah yeah yeah 
Why are the answers
Always 
in front of me 

One can bring one can try 

Gliding out with super powers
Now this ancient city trusts me 
Battle to battle 
Counting the hours
Waiting to save the day 
All the villians running for cover
They all fail to make their run
They all never had no fun and 
can’t take ours away
If I can’t make this journey
What will be left to return 

Oh yeah yeah yeah 
Where is the spotlight
Find my way over 
Oh yeah yeah yeah 
Why are the answers
Always 
in front of me 


Hiding out - from the spotlight beams 
See them silhouette the dark sky
through the mountains they make pathways
Looking for one they’ll just have to wait 
until the return  
Hiding out - battling villains with steel
Save the city from being burned

Spotlight

This track was one of the last holdouts from April that I hadn't shared yet. Originally titled "Acid Rain (the Good Kind)," the music has always resonated with me, though the title never quite fit. I even uploaded a live studio jam of it, combining the track with Arturia and a Roland MC-101:

https://youtu.be/cE6TVjUCZ9w?si=y3Nuc4hlwBe55T6u

At that time, I was deeply exploring Arturia Acid V emulations, but I feel this piece leans more toward electro-funk dance than acid. It certainly had the potential to be on my "Pantheon Escape" album, but for some reason, it didn't make the final cut. I attribute that to being in the midst of a move and taking a critical look at my life and musical journey. Hence the new title, "Salient Reflections."

When I listen back to the creation of this jam, its best traits are the production, bass melody, and the rocking solo at the end, similar to the one found in "Sea vs Sky."

Salient Reflections

Jungle Zen

Punisher

Southside

Blue Tooth

Ambivalence

Bandcamp

01 HProject - Polar

Producer of space rock, experimental lo-fi, House, EDM, vaporwave and synth-wave.