Message from NINA:

During my time developing Scala Hearts with Ricky Wilde, Radio Wolf was creating a batch of new instrumentals for himself. He wrote this track intended to be part of an EP with a Japanese / Western Theme. Think - Kill Bill, Yakuza, Tokyo Vice, Manga and your favourite cult action movie rolled into one.

After I heard it, I was obsessed, instantly! I loved the sexy wilde vibe! Radio Wolf asked me "do you want to be the narrator and do some chanting?" In a creative burst of energy, he wrote a poem in the style of a diary entry or mythical legend about a mysterious character coming to a civilization in need of rescue. The 'TOKYO COWBOY' can be anyone with a selfless and heroic spirit. The title simply came from his fascination of juxtaposing cultures; Japan meets the West. He visited Japan when he performed with a band called SOHODOLLS many moons ago, and he grew up watching Japanese cinema. He loved Japanese art!

Before I committed to becoming a singer, I wanted to be an actress, so we thought it would be cool to have a bit of fun and do something different - I would do some "acting" and do a voice-over as if I was telling the story for the audience. I conceptualized a character who is disillusioned by the violent and enraging experiences her home has endured while at the same time possibly falling in love with this mysterious 'TOKYO COWBOY'.

A big motivator for why we have decided to release this song as a Single, is that when we performed it during our European Tour with CANNONS, the audience went crazy for it and they were coming up to us asking what the title of this song was and where they could find it.

I hope it's a hit with you like it was with a live audience.

Message from Ships Have Sailed:

Storytime: when I was young, my life was chaotic, uncertain, always shifting and full of more stress than a child should have to deal with.

My dad wasn't around, my mom was dealing with five kids trying to make ends meet, there often wasn't enough food to go around...life was hard, but I had a group of friends that slowly gravitated together.

We connected about music among other things and we used to take these hikes...literally just climb up to the top of a mountain with some food, water and tents and just camp overnight...laying up and gazing at the stars. These were some of the most peaceful moments I knew growing up...allowing me to just lay there, often in silence but ever present, feeling a sense of kinship and belonging that I didn't feel in my own home and looking out into the great unknown with wonder and, most importantly, hope.

I still speak to these friends on occasion...and I probably should reach out more often - perhaps one or more of them is reading this at this very moment, wondering if I'm talking about our memories together. I am.

Not only that, but our new song "Reflections" which is now yours in two unique versions (I'm cleverly calling it a 'Double A-Side') was intended to capture the feeling I used to cling to on those mountain tops when I was younger.

Life is better now, and I'm so grateful. I've found a 'mountain top' where I can exist, belong, create, and remember all the people and events that allowed me to get here...not the least of which were the friends I mentioned.

Will

Düsseldorf-based Propaganda are one of the most influential synth-pop bands of the 1980s and enjoyed international success well into the 90s. In 2024, they are picking up on their early work with a new album, further developing their influential sound and allowing it to culminate in contemporary electronic pop music. Unlike in the past, their focus is not on international guest stars; instead, Michael Mertens and Ralf Dörper have recruited locally for their new P-Maschinerie: they have enlisted Düsseldorf-based singer Thunder Bae for the vocals on the album. With the first single "Purveyor of Pleasure", the band is now sending a first sign of life to their fanbase.

New single "Meaningless" by Jay Wires captures the essence of lost love and narcissistic discard with infectious 80s synth vibes.

Synthesist-songwriter Jay Wires dials up catchy electropop infused with human emotion - synthpop art with a human heart.

No one knows how once-meaningful moments can echo in your head quite like the brokenhearted. You can either wallow in misery or, like Jay Wires, you can put them to music in your synth cave and wallow in misery. The latter option is succinctly carried out in a deceptively up-tempo synthpop eulogy to what was.

Gaining a reputation for crafting memorable melodies and wistful soundscapes, emerging artist Jay Wires unveils his latest single, "Meaningless", set to captivate listeners with a poignant narrative of realization and disappointment following the demise of a relationship. Laden with catchy, familiar 80s synth vibes reminiscent of iconic acts like Eurythmics and Erasure, "Meaningless" is a testament to Jay Wires' ability to evoke raw emotions through his unique brand of electronic pop.

"Meaningless" delves into the universal experience of lost love as well as the haunting aftermath of a traumatic breakup with a narcissist. With its irresistible refrain and relatable lyrics, "Meaningless" is poised to resonate deeply with listeners worldwide, but even more so with those who are walking the same path of recovery from narcissistic abuse.

This popwave lament cleanly conveys the vivid picture of heartache with an uncomplicated melody, punctuated with an infectious sing-along chorus that will have you alternately sighing along to subtle, aesthetic chill-inducing strings and tapping your toes to plucky vintage keyboard hooks as you commiserate with Jay Wires, yearning for closure.

Fans of synth-pop and heartfelt songwriting alike will want to add this enchanting track to their playlists, and take a moment to escape the demands of their day to immerse themselves in the experience of the magic of Jay Wires' electropop therapy.

“Meaningless” will be released by Yes Trigger Music on May 17, 2024 and will be available on Bandcamp as well as major streaming platforms, including Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube.

Pre-save "Meaningless" by Jay Wires here now!

THE GETAWAY (album)

New for 2024, escape with award-winning synthwave synthpop power duo Eric C. Powell + Andrea Powell and drive into the dawn together with new album THE GETAWAY. A collection of 9 outstanding tracks with 2 brand new singles, these are your getaway songs. 

"In this steaming economy which belittles the creative endeavors of indie artists and demands expediency at the sacrifice of quality, we've chosen to defy expectations," say Eric and Andrea. "Spanning from 2021 to 2024, the songs on this album are some of the best we've ever written." All these tracks are available in one release in both digital and physical CD on RetroSynth Records! 

THE GETAWAY (single)

There comes a time when everyone needs a "getaway song". Once again, Eric and Andrea share writing and vocal credits for this synthwave-inspired song that encapsulates the theme of their new album THE GETAWAY.

SATURN (single)

An instrumental from Eric and Andrea, Saturn evokes the journey of a lonely satellite traversing our solar system. Beginning with a simple call of telemetry and victoriously escaping the pull of our planets to explore the vastness of the cosmos. 

Eric C. Powell + Andrea Powell are an award-winning synthpop synthwave power duo. Eric's writing and production embody captivating melodies to delight synth enthusiasts, while Andrea's enchanting vocals express the longing of our hearts while saturating the soul.

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