Forever Synth - The Podcast

Episode 139, and well well well what a bumber edition we are bringing you this month! What with the show being less regular, the guys thought they would bring you a 3 hour (!) special (this show will last the journey from London to Hemsby by car in fair weather). In the first half the fellas speak to returning guest, the funkmeister, multi-instrumentalist that is Beckett - for a quick intro to the brand new album and touring news. Meanwhile the 'after hours' second half features an in-depth natter with the godfather of synthwave shows, Andy Last of Beyond Synth. This conversation got sweary real quick, so make sure there are no little ears around.... You will also hear top new tracks from Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Your Sister is a Werewolf, Zayaz, The Less Dead, a Manhatten remix of Micromatscenes, and Nevermann - featuring (former guest) Dana Jean Phoenix, Waveshaper, Mskra, Touch Sensitive, TheMidnight, Fractal Man, Video Age, The Subtheory, Pogo, Chromatics, Von Kaiser, Strike Eagle, and a New Order classic! Enjoy, and we'll see you again next month.

Episode 138 sees Jack Dyson (no relation) of SpaceJams fill the virtual host seat, as Rob is on his holibobs. Jack fills us in on the closing Synthwave show of 2022, Sunset Boulevard Bristol - a joint production from SpaceJams and ElectricEscape on November 19th. You'll hear tracks from some of the performing artists of Boulevard including New Arcades, Infraviolet, Duett, Marvel '83, and Thorisson. The guys also discuss the recent Le Touquet Beach Festival in France, where Joe got to witness a live performance from the (seemingly now divisive) legend that is Kavinsky. Tunes also from Knight$, and Silent Gloves. Plus the usual mediocre banter which you've grown to love from Fovever Synth over 138 episdes. The other Dyson will return for the next show next month. Enjoy!

Guess who's back by wholly neglible demand? In all seriousness, you asked and we listened! Forever Synth is resurrected from its ashes, like a never-ending slasher series - returning to Riverside Radio and "All the Casts"! (Apologies for the appalling sound on Joe's mic in the opening minutes) This run will be much more limited, and the boys will return on a more ad-hoc basis (no more weekly shows, folks). But we hope you enjoy the familiar chaos once again. In this quick one-hour return show, you will hear the likes of L'Avenue, OSC, Beckett, Morgan Willis, DX-Digital, Anna Yvette, Syst3m Glitch and Shadowrunner, Le Groupe Fantastique, Kid Francescoli, as well as more 'synth-adjacent' artists like Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, and French79. It's good to be back!

Episode 136 - surprise! The boys couldn't finish 2021 without providing a fitting final (final) end to the Forever Synth show, and here it is; the guys' 50 top tracks of the year...Oh and some amazing last-ever live guests in Coleurs, Farrington Mann (formerly 'When In Rome'), and Tyler Lyle of The Midnight (maybe you're heard of them?)! There may even be a World Wide Exclusive in there somewhere! Joe, Rob and Martin spin you through 50 of their favourite tracks of 2021, where you'll hear the likes of (spoilers) Yatte, Runners Club 95, Donor Lens, Arcade High, OSC, Light Years, Infra Violet, Blackpoole, Yota, Shadowrunner, Primo and many many more (literally 39 more). We hope you enjoy this one-off show, which genuinely ends the 3 year run of Forever Synth in a stellar compendium of synthwave and related genres. May it be the soundtrack to your new year hangovers, or cures to the return-to-work blues. All the best, and see you at live events in 2022.

Episode 135 - this is it folks, the last show ever of Forever Synth. The guys bring the curtain down in style, with a studio rammed full of talent, passion, and (by the end) beer. IVERSEN join to talk about their forthcoming 3rd long-player, 'House Plants'; Ray Garcia flies all the way over from California - to chat about his own show, 'Synthzone', and what he's been doing on his first ever trip to England; returning guest US3R joins us from Seattle so say goodbye and talk about his great new album 'Dreams and Nightmares', and (phew!) Damien Jackson - producer of 'In Search of Darkness', 'In Search of Tomorrow', and 'Rise of the Synths' also returns in-studio to turn the table on the boys - and brings gifts! As the journey finally ends after an amazing 3 years, the guys play some BIG tracks to celebrate some of their favourite artists - with the last track going to...well you'll just have to listen won't you? Don't be sad....it was beautiful while is lasted. Now go and savour in the silliness and sizzling synthwave of the very last show. I'm not crying, you're crying.

Episode 134, and for their penultimate show, the guys have a big interview with one of the legends of the scene: Mr FM-84 himself, Col Bennett. In a wide-ranging chat, Col talks about the classic status of 'Atlas' (and how it still surprises him), taking synthwave on tour, the state of the "scene" today, and - of course a tease on the long-anticipated follow-up album! We also get a proper vaporwave double-header from Patrick Fakeman, and new submissions from 70, BMX Escape, Zak Vortex, Blackpoole, Runaway Droid, Xyzzy, From Apes to Angels, and Network Nick. We know you are going to love this one. But nothing is forever, and so prepare yourselves for the last ever show next week...There may be tears.

Episode 133, and this week saw returning guests Adam from New Arcades, and Vince and Jay from Timeslave Recordings / My Pet Flamingo. It's fair to say that this one gets loud and raucus as old friends reunite, and the silliness returns to the show as the inevitable countdown to The End increases. Patrick Fakeman provides the vapor, whilst Rob joins from home after falling down the stairs and breaking a toe! New submissions from Starletta, Terror Syndrome, Brian Sangmeister & Star Madman, Hyperdrive 1985, Ben Dring, Aspect Zero, Vertical Summer, Panoramic Duo, and ROM88.

Episode 132, and just a mere three shows left before the boys wrap this baby up, and what a wonderfully chilled guest in the form of Sweden's own smooth synthpop R&B maestro Nevermann. The guys chat about the two last albums and their influences, collabing, and coming from the same town as Roxette! Patrick Fakeman also brings his weekly 'Tapedeck' of vapor and future funk. New submissions from Lina and the Lions, Blue Nagoon, Synthestellar, RoccoDestro, Bunny X, and Young Empress. Enjoy it while you can, friends.

Episode 131, and another in-studio stormer with Daily Express music and culture journalist Callum Crumlish joining Rob, Joe and Patrick Fakeman in the reals. Not only that but the guys had a fantastic chinwag with NYC's own Diamond Field - covering everything from advice to newcomers, Diamond's native New Zealand, working with your heroes, and collabing with John Carpenter's son Cody. Plus plays of your great new submissions, including Infra Violet, Man Without Country, Xyzzy, Louvers, Vertical Summer, Lazermortis, Aerowolf, ELYXIR & Neilio and Dark Smoke Signal & Jnny Cobra. We know you're gonna dig this, dawg.

Episode 130, and the guys are reunited post Joe getting the 'rona. And what a belter of a show, as the "sweethearts of Synthwave" join the boys live in the studio; Dana Jean Phoenix, and Al Jenkins of Taurus 1984! We love guests IRL and these two couldn't have been more fun, friendly and game for a laugh. The team chats collabs, travel, get some bad impressions in, and more than one world 'sclusive is revealed in the two hour show! Brand new subs too from The Digital Man, DJ Keltech, mobtek, Mahl, Michael Kross, Sandor Gavin, World Complete, Anniee and Midnight Hi-Fi, and Second Solstice. Believe us when we say, this is an absolute delight of a show. Enjoy while you can :)

Episode 129, and what a gaggle of guests the guys bring you! Taking full advantage of the end of UK's lockdown, the team invite not one, not two, but three synthwave superstars into the studio: L'avenue, Polychrome, and Thorrison - the latter all the way from Iceland no less. The ensuing chaos is channelled into Joe's Quiz With No Name, as well as hearing about the track our artists chose to play, and what the heck they are all up to these days. We also played a World Wide 'Sclusive from Parallels, from the upcoming new album! You've also got new slot, Patrick Fakeman's Tapedeck of vaporwave and futurefunk. You won't have this much fun with your clothes on this side of Covid. Now 'ear this!

Episode 128, and the trio return - Ward, Dyson and Fakeman - and so returns 'Fakeman's Tapedeck' - our new vaporwave and futurefunk slot. And if this wasn't enough, the guys are joined by Shaun of LeBrock! The HairWave heroes recently released new album, Fuse. You'll hear about that, UK city facts, and how Shaun united the living rooms of the synthwave nation every Friday during the pandemic. As well as LeBrock, the fellas spin a brand new World 'sclusive from Yatte, and hits from Bunny X and Don Delpiero, Dreamshore, Jacket.,Welcome Citizen, MicroMatscenes, Louvers, Simulakrum Lab and LordNikon. We know you're gonna dig this.

It's here at last, Episode 127, and in this show two becomes three! The guys introduce a brand new presenter into the Forever Synth fold, in the form of Patrick Fakeman! You may know Fakeman from his city pop and vaporwave 'Tapedeck Sesssions' on YouTube, as well as his popular 80s culture blog and interviews. And what a guest joining the new tribe of three - in the return of Primo The Alien! The intervew (for hopefully well hidden technical reasons) sees all three hosts seperately grilling our intrepid alien, but hopefully you'll enjoy the madness! You'll also hear new submissions from Beckett (world exclusive!), NINA, Desperate Youth, The Golden Hour, Laura Dre, Mirrorvoid, Octal Drive, and The Future Kids. We think you're gonna dig this!

Episode 126, and this a fun(k) packed edition! The guys welcomed retrowave's funkmaster himself, Washington DC's jam-meister Jay Diggs! Jay shares some fantastic stories, and spills the beans on the upcoming album - and - the gent - he gives the guys a world (world) wide (wide) 'Scusive 'Sclusive 'Sclusive! You'll also hear the first Forever Synth debate, as Patrick Fakeman and Thorisson go head to head, pitching "singles v albums". There are TWO more world 'sclusives, in the form of Yatte, and Droid Bishop! And to top it off there are loads of your brand new submissions, including Decisive Koala & Star Madman, Morphoice and Syst3m Glitch, Q T Interval, Mordente, Mad Maverick, CXNTRAST, Man Without Country, and The Digital Man. This is a rolicking good show you don't want to miss!

Episode 125, and this week's guest is the prolific and revered producer, The New Division AKA John Kunkel. The guys have a great chat about John's 10 years of producing cross-genre with some big artists, how he found synthwave (but isn't bound to it), and why he will always prefer remixing. As well as some of John's tracks, you'll hear new music from The Last Arcade, Electron Odyssey, Bitapart, Splash '96, Alien Private Eye, Chase Midnight, Covered in Snow, Montse Torres, PlayHz, and Q T Interval. Take a dive into The New Division's career, and some great submissions from you guys. You'll love ep 125.

Episode 124, and this week the guys bring a fresh interview with ether-swimming, soundscape-creator, New York based producer Brothertiger. John Lagos (for it is he)talks about why being a lone tiger in a sea of synthwave has its benefits, artistry in the family, his fortnightly livestreams where he creates music on the fly, and what's coming next (hint, there's a new album, and 'Fundamentals Vol 3' incoming). He also spins a rare Scritti Politti track! New music also from Strike Eagle (a world exclusive!), The Affirmation, AUW, Diamondcat, Michael Oakley, Matt Mancid & Color Theory, new Aztec signing Coastal, Aftermour, Matt Hodges and Agent Johnny Red, Calico Sky, Frisky Monkey, TZA, and Blackpoole. We think you'll dig this.

Episode 123, and not only were the guys back in the studio together again, but there was a heck of a couple of guests in The Motion Epic. Pat and Nick (approximately 2/3rds of the band) chatted Bowie, Springsteen and how they began their journey in their particularly nostalgic, soundtrack-ready, AOR brand of synthwave. And they even gave the lads TWO world wide 'scluves! The loves. Submissions from Fortis Flight, Natalie Gray, Dark Smoke Signal, Young Empress, and Sight Telma Club, as well as new tracks from John Dunder, Black Smoke Signal, and classics from FM-84 and Ollie Wride, Nina, and Chase Yesterday. Wrap your ears around us!

Episode 122, and did you think the Forever Synth guys would miss out on all the Michael Oakley press around the great new album, Odyssey? Of course not! So here's the FS interview with man of the moment, Glasgow's finest and Toronto residing, Mr Oakley himself. The boys chat to their old pal about not selling out your values and vision, touring potential, what he looks for in a collaboration - and plenty of silliness too. It's a long old chat, but you'll also hear music also from Mike Templar, Morphoice, Oblique, LA Nights, Glowline, Anniee, GeoVoc, Andrew Benon, Syntronix feat. Chris KD, Tenebran, and Miles Matrix. If you like Michael Oakley (and who wouldn't?) add this to your must-listen list.

Episode 121, and after a long 14 months seperated by Covid regulations, the boys were back together - reunited in one studio! And to celebrate there isn't one but two interviews on the show; first the guys speak to the new international synthwave collective Polyphonic Underground, and then have a good old silly chinwag with old pal Josh Dally. Don't say we don't (occasionally) spoil you on Forever Synth! Bags of music too from the likes of exandroid, Max Cruise and The Motion Epic, Thorisson and Sharlee, Runaway Droid, Mike Templar, A Days Wait, Glowline, Mac Callister, Moonrunner83, The Night Hour, and Timecop1983. If you don't like this episode, do you even synthwave, fam?

Episode 120, and the guys chat to the lovely chaps of Palm Lakes - a British brother duo, Ian and Tim Hardwick, who reside in South Taiwan no less! Palm Lakes have had a string of strong, nostalgic, melodic synthwave tracks and are signed to UK's TW1 Records. So the question on our intrepid hosts' lips was when can we expect the album? All that and more are answered in the interview, which spans Taiwan living to growing up in a musical household, and why they have found their home in synthwave. The Hardwick bros spin some of their favourite tracks, and we also hear brand new music from the likes of Betamaxx, Mitch Murder, Turbo Knight & WEVPON & Dimi Kaye, Super Drift, Mayah Camara & Michael Kross, goldcobra, Fortis Flight, The Subtheory, Orkla Drive, neon radiation, Dylan Beight and Starlight83. Enjoy!