In this Virtual Sessions episode, Tim and Tyler of The Midnight join host Darran Bruce to discuss their new album Syndicate, the evolution of their sound, and the balance of creativity and touring. The duo reveal how the project was inspired by the 1993 video game of the same name, pulling aesthetic cues from cyberpunk and neo-noir worlds while shaping it into a 17-track journey that meditates on loss, growth, and the future.

They reflect on their bi-coastal workflow, with Tim in the Pacific Northwest and Tyler in Atlanta, often collaborating online and then meeting in studios for focused bursts of creativity. The conversation explores how The Midnight blend synth-driven production with classic American songwriting, which they describe as “rock and roll with synthesizers.” They emphasize that gear matters less than workflow, encouraging artists to find tools that keep them inspired.

The discussion dives into their songwriting philosophy, with Tyler describing music as a deeply human behavior comparable to gardening or cave painting. Both note that persistence, curiosity, and joy in the process are more valuable than chasing trends. They share quirky stories, from roller skating in malls to hearing their music in unexpected places like construction sites.

The Midnight also touch on live performance, touring challenges, and stage production dreams. From jokes about “Predator on Betamax” in their riders to aspirations of scoring films like Heat or Miami Vice, they balance humor with honesty about the pressures of delivering night after night. With Syndicate set for release and a European tour ahead, The Midnight continue to fuse nostalgia, storytelling, and forward-thinking creativity.

0:06 - Introductions and shoutouts from Twitch stream

2:39 - New album Syndicate and its inspirations

3:56 - Origins of the Syndicate concept from a 1993 video game

5:13 - Exploring future themes and cyberpunk influences

6:27 - Mall culture, roller skating, and arcade memories

7:30 - Bi-coastal collaboration between Portland and Atlanta

8:35 - Defining their sound as rock and roll with synthesizers

9:55 - Gear philosophy and finding creative workflows

12:12 - Songwriting advice and confidence in expression

15:18 - Early motivations and persistence through rejection

18:24 - Producing what you love instead of chasing trends

19:09 - Hearing their music in unusual places

21:00 - Thoughts on Stranger Things and Atlanta as a filming hub

23:55 - Favorite tracks and creative breakthroughs

26:37 - Fan expectations and the role of saxophone in their sound

28:56 - Health, fitness, and balancing touring life

34:01 - Technology wishes for live remixing and stage innovation

37:31 - Film scoring opportunities with directors like Joseph Kaczynski

42:28 - Upcoming European tour and excitement for new dates

48:32 - Unique tour rider requests like Predator on Betamax

51:06 - Stage production, lighting, and dream setups

53:40 - Video games, VR, and future collaborations

55:19 - Personal hobbies including gardening and interior design

57:18 - Thoughts on rescores and Tron discussions

58:41 - Album release, streaming, and Twitch announcements

Follow The Midnight at themidnightofficial.com for music, tour updates, and news. Connect with them on Instagram @themidnightofficial. Stream their upcoming album Syndicate on all major platforms and catch their live shows across Europe this fall.

About The Midnight -

Some songs have the strength to turn every human into a hero, with lyrics so bright-eyed and melodies so universal they lift a crowd of sweaty clubbers into a stadium’s worth of energy. 

These are songs about togetherness and trials won by love, and these are the kind of songs The Midnight delivers on its fourth studio album Heroes; the final chapter in a trilogy of human life that started with 2018’s Kids and culminates in an international tour that sees the duo transformed into an electrifying five-piece band.

From its synth-heavy beginnings to arena rock chords and infectious pop hooks, The Midnight’s musical journey is one fueled by insatiable curiosity. The duo lives at the intersection of varying paths, driven by the frictional spark that fires when Southern-born singer-songwriter Tyler Lyle melts his all-American dreamer tales with Danish-bred drummer and producer Tim McEwan’s cinematic soundscapes.

Together, they form something deeper than just house, vibier than pop, and altogether more exciting than the sum of its parts. 

Through the years, the band’s sound and presentation continues to evolve, as influenced by the live performance and connection with the audience as by the internal need to grow.

After nearly a decade of work, the duo will hit new heights on stage, growing from 500-capacity clubs in 2019 to selling out London’s 5,300-person Eventim Apollo and similar venues in 2023, plus major festivals like Outside Lands in San Francisco, CA, Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN, Austin City Limits in Austin, TX and Music Midtown in Atlanta, GA. To fill all that space, The Midnight expands its lineup with three live musicians; Lelia Broussard on bass, Royce Whittaker on guitar, and Justin Klunk on saxophone and synth.

The band’s vivid sound is well-suited to full rock instrumentation, and the five-piece is more than ready to unleash the exalted tracks of the new album for crowds of fans around the world, performing them with all the participatory spirit for which they was written—because in the end, the real Heroes are and always have been you. 

Their upcoming record on Ultra Records, “Syndicate” is out October 3, 2025.

Website and socials: 

Website: themidnightofficial.com

YouTube: found.ee/TheMidnight-Youtube

Instagram: instagram.com/themidnightofficial

TikTok: tiktok.com/@themidnightofficial

Facebook: facebook.com/TheMidnightOfficial

Twitter: https://x.com/TheMidnightLA

About The DJ Sessions -

“The DJ Sessions” is a Twitch/Mixcloud "Featured Partner” live streaming/podcast series featuring electronic music DJ’s/Producers via live mixes/interviews and streamed/distributed to a global audience. TheDJSessions.com

The series constantly places in the “Top Ten” on Twitch Music and the “Top Five” in the “Electronic Music", “DJ", "Dance Music" categories. TDJS is rated in the Top 0.11% of live streaming shows on Twitch out of millions of live streamers.

"The DJ Sessions" is listed in the Feedspot directory as one of the Top 60 EDM Podcasts.

It has also been recognized by Apple twice as a "New and Noteworthy” podcast and featured three times in the Apple Music Store video podcast section. UStream and Livestream have also listed the series as a "Featured" stream on their platforms since its inception.

The series is also streamed live to multiple other platforms and hosted on several podcast sites. It has a combined live streaming/podcast audience is over 125,000 viewers per week.

With over 2,700 episodes produced over the last 16 years "The DJ Sessions" has featured international artists such as: Matt Staffanina, BT, Plastik Funk, Redman, Youngr, Dr. Fresch, Ferry Corsten, Robert Owens, Darude, Herbert Holler, Meecah, YORK, Martin Jensen, Sevenn, Amber D, Joey Riot, Drove, Martin Trevy, Thomas Datt, <a href="https://www.thedjsessions.com/podcast/siryuz-and-