5 Years Of My Favourite #Synthfam Artists - Part One

by Karl Magi

Introduction

This is a showcase of some of my favourite artists from the #synthfam across five years of reviewing synthesizer-based music. This was a labour of love for me, as well as a great challenge to decide on. There are so many tremendous artists out there in the scene that it was very difficult for me to choose the people to feature in this article. I thought long and hard about who would and wouldn’t make the list. If you’re not here, know that it has nothing to do with the quality or relevance of your music. This was simply a subjective and purely emotive list to put together. This is part one, so please stay tuned for part two!

NeverMann

I can’t get enough of NeverMann’s emotionally evocative vocals, his ability to reference the ’80s in a fresh and engaging way and the quality of his melodic and production choices. He also writes lyrics that perfectly capture the vibes created by the rest of the music.

I find his ability to pour out emotion compelling. He has an earnest and heartfelt delivery and an ability to capture the lyrics with his strong, unique voice. He’s especially good at creating a sense of affection in his performances.

The way in which he remains powerfully ’80s-influenced without crossing into cliché is something I enjoy. He doesn’t just emulate the sound of that era; he captures it and makes it fresh again. I also enjoy the jazzy, groove-based elements in his music.

His melodic writing is another strong draw for me. He writes melodies that are high-quality and full of expression as they move between brightness and wistful emotion. I also enjoy the way his melodies complement his vocal style.

I’ve always been drawn to his sharp, clear production. He manages to blend all the different parts together while allowing each to remain defined and individual. The end result is deep and layered.

Dana Jean Phoenix

Dana Jean Phoenix is one of the first synthwave performers I ever heard, and she has had a profound influence on my tastes and enjoyment of the genre. I’ve always been drawn to her powerful vocal abilities, entertaining songwriting and the retro aesthetic that permeates all of her music.

Her intense vocal performances move me. Her voice can soar and exude deep feeling or jump for joy. She brings real guts to her singing and the backing music foregrounds her vocal ability to great effect and makes me pay attention to what’s being sung.

The blend of pure ’80s pop vibes and high quality production is another reason I enjoy her work. While I can’t deny the nostalgic feelings her music stirs up, she manages to keep things fresh and modern in terms of production values. The blend is intensely ear-pleasing.

I also admire how she explores escape, love and emotional complexity in her well-written pop songs. She touches on a complex variety of feelings while keeping things fun and listenable. There’s an earnestness and warmth in her music that I find compelling.

L'Avenue

Ever since I first discovered L'Avenue, I was struck by the tranquility, hope and vivid sonic imagery within his music. I enjoy the way in which it’s tied together by flowing, layered elements and his ability to create musical depth.

I've always been struck by the mixture of hopeful feelings and serenity that fills L'Avenue's music. He uses water and tropical elements to create a sense of delicately lapping blue waters and sun-drenched beaches.

The layered lusciousness and depth of L'Avenue’s music is another compelling aspect that draws me in. He smoothly interlaces a wide variety of synthesizer sounds to conjure different moods and atmospheres.

I enjoy the way in which L'Avenue uses instrumental elements like guitar, percussion and trumpet to deepen the atmospheric and evocative nature of his sounds. I like the auditory explorations on which he takes me as his albums and singles unfold.

Another aspect of L'Avenue’s music that attracts me is the auditory aesthetic he goes for. There's a cool, 1980s retro feel that conjures up images of white suits, pastel walls and palm trees at the poolside. I find that the artist paints strong images for me with his music and immerses me in the sensations he wants to elicit.

Chelsea Owen

From the moment I discovered her, I’ve been impressed by Chelsea Owen’s artistry—her moving voice, her skills as a songwriter and her talent for creating vivid sonic and emotional experiences. Her music is not only well-crafted but also deeply affecting.

Chelsea Owen’s voice was the first thing that captivated me. It’s powerful and gripping, effectively conveying feeling, passion and depth. I also admire the soundscapes in her music. Collaborating with skilled producers, she creates varied synth textures that focus on contrasts, such as the interplay of low-end drive and high-end luminosity. The backing music serves to enhance her vocal performances more fully.

The way in which Chelsea Owen infuses her performances and lyrics with feeling and passion also captures me. She fills her songs with deeply personal themes of heartache, longing and self-expression. The way in which she harnesses those themes with her voice elevates the emotional weight of her songs as they unfold.

As a whole, Chelsea Owen is one of those artists who has a cohesive and rounded approach to music. She is able to explore all of the varied emotions that make us human and connect with them fully through her voice and words.

Cat Temper

I appreciate Cat Temper’s creative and playful approach to music, his mastery of layered synth sounds and his ability to create immersive, emotionally rich and replayable auditory experiences. He stands out as one of the freshest and most unique artists in the scene today.

Cat Temper’s playfulness and inventiveness shine through in his music. I enjoy how he has fun with the creative process, making music that is clearly engaging for him to produce. His eclectic approach allows him to experiment with a wide array of tones and textures that create fascinating sounds.

I’m also a fan of the melodies he writes. They stay with me and evoke various moods and emotions. Each track is a journey, and his compositions are always fresh and unique.

The immersive quality of Cat Temper’s music is another highlight. He takes full advantage of synthesized music’s dynamic and emotional range, creating tracks that feel like self-contained worlds.

Finally, his charming and witty touches add to the appeal. He isn’t afraid to bring joy or humor into his work and his pun-based titles, often featuring cat-themed wordplay, are some of the best in the business.

Bunny X

Since I first reviewed their music, I've had deep respect for Bunny X’s artistic approach In which emotion, nostalgia, collaboration and detailed soundscapes come together to create compelling synth-driven music. The '80s retro aesthetics are always close by but they never overwhelm the music’s quality and artistry.

Bunny X’s music centres around their emotive and touching voices. The vocals capture affection, longing and hope with sensitivity and energy. Their voices reach out and take hold of the listener, pulling them in. I've always found their vocal performances especially enjoyable as they connect with me deeply.

Bunny X also stands out for their melodic writing which is warm, uplifting, yearning and bittersweet. Those melodies help carry the themes of emotion, connection and escapism then fill their song writing. Both elements reinforce one another and make their music especially rich and powerful as a listening experience for me.

I also enjoy Bunny X’s ability to work with other musicians in the synth music scene. Their collaborations are well done and skillfully mingle their own sound with those of other artists to create refreshing sonic combinations. Their ability allows them to enhance the music's depth and character.

Color Theory

The emotional intensity, vocal expressiveness and dynamic musical textures that define Color Theory’s ( Brian Hazard) work have always drawn me in. I enjoy his ethereal voice and distinctive sound that captures emotional depth. The way in which his lyrics explore human experience is compelling and I enjoy the journeys on which he takes me through his songwriting.

In terms of his musical approach, I am drawn to the way in which he dynamically contrasts sounds that move between brightness and darkness, weight and delicacy. He also has an ear for synth and bass interactions and often incorporates luminous, serene sounds that add to the touching nature of his work. His use of some fascinating tones, textures and timbres gives his music added complexity.

Color Theory has a sound that touches on 1980’s New Wave but retains a unique quality of its own. He is able to make music that intrigues my ears with its interlocking layers well adding a voice that feels classic and both of a time and beyond it. I've always been a fan of his fearless exploration of challenging feelings and ideas in his songs.

Star Madman

Since I first heard it, I found Star Madman’s music to be deeply atmospheric and emotionally rich with a strong narrative voice and sonic landscapes that are complex yet accessible. I'm always enamoured of her singing abilities and focus on high quality songwriting.

Warm, caressing and expressive are all words I used to describe Star Madman’s vocal performances. She has a strong ability to reach out with her voice and surround the listener with it. She uses her talents to deliver her well written lyrics to full effect.

I am also drawn to her music by the themes explored in her lyrics. She can write songs that are encouraging and empowering, creating sensations of uplift and positive progress. She can also delve deeply into more complicated and challenging emotions in her songs. No matter what topic she writes on, her words always get right to the heart of the matter.

Her approach to music making is lusciously layered and full of contrast between light and shadow. There's also a frequent focus on mystical imagery that adds to the intensity of the vocals and lyrics in her music. The fact that she makes all of her own music also deepens its meaning.

Russell Nash

I enjoy many elements in Russell Nash’s music including its dynamic motion, luminous imagery and emotional depth. It creates a strong interplay between synths, bass and percussion that evokes a wide range of emotional states and sensations in the music. I find myself transported by his layered synthscapes.

One of the consistent elements of Russell Nash's music is the way in which it creates uplifting emotion through sounds that have warmth and hopeful qualities. Many of his melodies also have an encouraging and positive feeling to them which I find engaging.

Another part of Russell Nash's music that compels me are the light and lustre he creates in his tracks. I enjoy the diamond illumination of the synths he uses to paint his sonic landscapes as they interact with other auditory elements. He evokes flow and motion in the music he writes, weaving an auditory tapestry.

I also find the way in which he creates musical energy and drive quite exciting. His music is full of good energy and driving motion that permeates every layer of the tracks. I continually find an irresistible sense of liveliness and irrepressible motion within his writing which is deeply enjoyable.

The Lightning Kids’ Emma Ballantine

From the first time I heard The Lightning Kids, I was captivated by Emma Ballantine’s passionate vocal performances. She blends emotional vulnerability, dynamic storytelling and layered soundscapes to create a deeply resonant experience. They explore escape, desire and connection, underscored by textured instrumentation.

I’m attracted to a recurring theme that The Lightning Kids explore: breaking free from conformity and embracing youthful freedom with a sense of risk and abandon. Their songs express a longing for release and self-discovery. Desire and intimacy are central with passion infused into both lyrics and delivery. Emma Ballantine’s tender, emotive voice is uplifting, effortlessly carrying the narrative weight.

I've always been strongly pulled in by the way in which The Lightning Kids’ gliding synth textures, glowing guitar and crying saxophone solos create layers of sonic beauty. I find that the interplay of vocals and instruments creates an atmosphere that is simultaneously nostalgic and forward-looking, capturing moments of reflection and possibility.

I am drawn to the way that The Lightning Kids’ music weaves a tapestry of emotional storytelling, that blends hope, passion and melancholy. Emma Ballantine’s ability to balance heartfelt vocals with the band’s layered soundscapes is captivating, connecting and inspiring.

Aeronexus

Aeronexus’ music explores cosmic adventure, emotional depth and the intricate interplay of dynamic musical textures, all tied together by strong visual and narrative qualities. I find his ability to create a synthesized journey quite attractive. A sense of urgency and tension often fills the music as it unfolds. The way in which Aeronexus generates emotion in his music draws me in as he evokes feelings that run between soaring triumph and pained tragedy.

I'm also drawn to the tones, textures and timbres of the synth sounds with which Aeronexus paints his music. I’m impressed by his beautifully woven synth palette and his use of unique instrument sounds that range from panpipes and chimes to Theremin. He also has a strong grasp of drum and bass dynamics that add more weight and shape to his music.

Aeronexus’ music is often filled with imagery that explores vast, velvet blackness and conjures images of nebulae and constellations. I also enjoy his skill at using music to weave strong imagery in my mind.

I appreciate Aeronexus’ layered and evolving compositions as he combines textures and sensations with melody to further deepen this music’s emotional qualities. I also enjoy his approach to creating musical contrast and balance across his albums.

I Am Boleyn

From the moment I discovered her, I was drawn to I Am Boleyn’s ability to convey loss, longing and liberation in her voice. She weaves stories that are emotionally resonant and vividly atmospheric. She takes me on journeys are both literal and emotional, marked by determination and the desire to move forward.

I Am Boleyn’s voice radiates clarity and heartfelt emotion in a way that pulls me into her music. Her voice is clear and fresh-sounding as she delivers each song’s lyrics. She is able to press feelings home through her airy and delicate singing, adding more depth and breadth to her music.

I am enamoured of the way in which I Am Boleyn’s music uses strong imagery to evoke a cinematic quality, heightening the emotional stakes and adding texture to the music's storytelling. Ideas of chemistry and connection interweave with moments of empowerment and agency in her work.

I Am Boleyn’s vocals work well with shimmering, glimmering and pulsing synths to paint layered soundscapes that mirror the emotional intensity of her vocals. Dynamic basslines and driving rhythms propel the energy, while flickering synths and broad, trembling tones add depth and resonance.