Latest Synth-pop Posts

Acre Tarn – Dawn Faces [TMN PREMIERE]

Posted by Clayton Warwick - February 24, 2015

Acre Tarn
Dawn Faces

New music Tuesday is upon us, and boy, is it something. Amidst the many tracks we’ll have going up today, this gem from Acre Tarn has us beaming. Even though we were already very familiar with their stuff after having premiered their debut song, “This Once,” we are once again caught pleasantly off guard with their intricate, layered electronic pop approach.

Anna-Louisa Etherington is bringing another glowing tune that’s sure to grab your audible attention this morning. “Dawn Faces” boasts an often frenetic soundscape, rife with fluttering synths and larger-than-life percussion. The vocal cadence adds to the cinematic qualities of the tune, swirling in a culminating spattering of soaring vocals and intense musical arrangements.

We fully expect this as one piece of an upcoming EP, so make sure you keep tabs on her by following on Soundcloud.

[EP Review] Rozzi Crane – Space EP

Posted by Brooke Ferguson - February 23, 2015

If there’s something we love in an artist, it’s creativity, passion, and heaps of talent. Sometimes we come across an artist who perfects this trifecta and soars above and beyond some of today’s leading singers/songwriters. Whenever we do find these diamonds in the rough, we know that we have just stumbled upon something incredibly rare and special.

Well ninjas, we are pretty damn sure we just found the next vocal sensation, and boy will this powerhouse make you rethink today’s contemporary definition of what it means to be ‘the next big thing’. Hailing all the way from San Francisco, Rozzi Crane and her unique vocal resonance has captured our full attention after we discovered her Space EP. The moment she opened her mouth, all was lost and we immediately became submissive to this gal’s chilling vibrato and soulful melodies. As you make your way through this 4 track EP, you will experience nothing but emotion-evoking songwriting as well as a sly cameo from Maroon 5’s, Adam Levine in their song, “Painkiller”. As much as we love this EP in its entirety, we highly suggest you pay close attention to our personal favorite, “Half The Man”, for it could easily be ranked along some of Adele’s chart-topping ballads such as “Someone Like You” or “Rolling in the Deep”. With her emotional lyricism alongside the intricate sound design, Rozzi Crane continues to blow us all away with her vocal aura. We guarantee her presence will bring solace on this rainy Monday afternoon.

[Indie-Dance/Synth Pop] Streakers – Shut Up!

Posted by Tyler Trew - February 19, 2015

Streakers
Shut up!

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Never heard of Streakers before? I wouldn’t be surprised, because this act has just come out with their first single today. You may have, however, already become familiar with the two individuals who make up the New York duo, LARCY and Taylor Wise. Each have released incredible tracks in the past that have received some blogosphere loving. In coming together, their strengths are multiplied and any weaknesses (which I don’t think they even had) are squashed out. “Shut Up!” is the first concoction, one of indie vibes mixed with some pop action. Beautiful is one word that instantly comes to mind while listening to this tune. LARCY’s powerful songwriting abilities come through, with her voice excelling like never before. Taylor produced a hell of an instrumental that contends with stuff that wins people a Grammy. Inspiring, definitely; “Shut Up!” is one of the most emotive tracks of the year so far. And you can download it for free. Woo!

[Event Preview] CRSSD Festival – San Diego 3/14-3/15

Posted by Ivan Chung - February 19, 2015

Spring is around the corner, which means that it’s almost festival season! As one of our first stops, TMN is going to the CRSSD festival in San Diego. Taken place at the Waterfront Park on March 14 and 15, CRSSD fest features some of the frontrunners and up-and-comers in today’s electronic music. Powerhouses including Empire of the Sun, Chromeo, Odesza, Flight Facilities are headlining the festival at the “Ocean View Live” stage, while deeper acts like Kaytranada, Thomas Jack, Bakermat and Bixel Boys will try to win the crowd at “The Palms” stage.

The three-stage set up will definitely give a refreshing feel to all festival-goers. Thousands will gather at Waterfront Park and dance their pants off while overseeing the beautiful city of San Diego. With its popularity rising at such a high rate, CRSSD festival is representing sunny San Diego by stepping its game up. We are very excited to be able to witness the very first debut of the festival, as there will be many more in the future.

Make sure to check out this playlist we put together in advance to the festival. If you’re a fan of electronic dance music, and want to have a good time with laid back vibes all around, go to CRSSD festival and we promise you will not be disappointed!

’Slow Magic – Still Life’

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’Something New (Amtrac Remix)’

Soundcloud

’Drive Me Crazy (featuring Vic Mensa)’

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’ODESZA – White Lies (feat. Jenni Potts)’

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’Bakermat – Teach Me (Original Mix)’

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’Gabriel Rios – Gold (Thomas Jack Remix)’

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’All You’re Waiting For (Feat. Nancy Whang)’

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’Theophilus London Feat. Jesse Boykins III – Tribe (Bixel Boys Remix)’

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’FoFo’

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’Flight Facilities – Two Bodies feat. Emma Louise (Lido Remix)’

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’George Maple – Talk Talk’

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’Goldroom – Embrace’

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[Electro-Pop] Bad Wave – Lookout

Posted by Matthew Bloss - February 19, 2015

Bad Wave
Look Out

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It’s quite the known fact here at TMN that we cover a multitude of music genres. As a result, we try to make things a little easier for our readers by marking our posts with a genre tag. Sometimes though, it just doesn’t feel right pigeon-holing a tune into a specific niche when it could easily be listed under four or more. Such was the case when we came across the duo of Tucker Tota and Patrick Hart, or simply: Bad Wave. “Look Out” is the debut single from the L.A. based pair, and with its slick and rambunctious synth arrangements immediately has us conjuring up comparisons to the gritty dance and synth pop from DFA Records staples Holy Ghost! to vocal work paying ode to Phoenix’s Thomas Mars. Not a bad connection to draw for a first single at all. Furthermore, this one caught the attention of one of our favorite rising labels, Ghost Beach’s Crazy Heart Records (now also home to Karl Kling & Dart Party), which has only stoked our flame for Bad Wave’s eclectic take on pop. Let this one steer your disposition towards the sunnier side.

[Fresh] Jack Garratt – Chemical

Posted by Mitch Marzuola - February 18, 2015

Jack Garratt
Chemical

Soundcloud

Jack Garratt finally broke a short silence since his buttery smooth tune, “The Love You’re Given,” and graced our ears with a big shift in sound on “Chemical.” His unrelenting and powerful vocals shine through in the intro, supplemented only by claps and short risers until the grating synths bust in for a surprising and upbeat switch up. This tune showcases even more of Garratt’s flawless falsetto and his production potential within just three and a half minutes, and every second of it resounds clean and clear.

“Chemical” is an intriguing medium between MNEK and Chet Faker, while creating an aura all its own with ease. Jack Garratt breaks the mold by being a multi-faceted threat and excelling at it, as evident by his past two tunes. “Chemical” is no different and the change of pace finds Garratt catching his stride early and quickly. London won’t be short on amazing artists anytime soon with acts like Jack Garratt crafting material like this. Shake up your routine with something truly stimulating and stream “Chemical” above!

[Dance-Pop] Great Good Fine Ok – Too Much To Handle (Penguin Prison Remix)

Posted by Matthew Bloss - February 18, 2015

Great Good Fine Ok
Too Much To Handle (Penguin Prison Remix)

Soundcloud

It’s been a little over a week since Brooklyn’s fastest rising synth-pop sons Great Good Fine OK released their latest single “Too Much To Handle”, along with the news of a coinciding EP, cleverly compressed down to be named 2M2H. And, while we’ve simultaneously been tracking the rumblings out of the Penguin Prison studio, it was quite serendipitous that GGFO’s first installment in what will no doubt be a long line of remix attempts comes from Chris Glover’s dancefloor marked pop project. While a large chunk of the Penguin Prison sound has been forged behind hammer-sized 80’s synth-pop progressions, his latest offering is shot directly out of the club cannon. Featuring the kind of rolling drums which have permeated the UK ‘club-house’ scene for the last few years, and Jon Sandler’s lush falsetto; Penguin Prison offers us an alternately more brooding, less inspiriting lens through which to consume GGFO’s sterling original tune. And what a sultry lens that is. Be on the lookout for more official remixes on this one, as well as Great Good Fine OK’s 2M2H EP due out March 16^thvia Sony Music. Until then, stream Penguin Prison’s “Too Much To Handle” remix above.