The State of Synth

Groot and Neon Fawkes were joined by Vehlinggo’s Aaron Vehling to talk about the blog’s origins, iconic interviews, and its impact on the synthwave scene. They also spun tracks from Let Em Riot plus some of Aaron’s own picks, including Electric Youth, Fawn, Foret de Vin, Kinga, Sébastien Tellier, and more.

Groot and Fawkes were joined by VHS Dreams — one of the OGs of the synthwave scene — for a trip through his retro-electronic world, from Trans Am and retro EDM roots to cover albums, aesthetics, and action-figure brainstorms. Along the way they spun fresh cuts and premieres from Evanton, Pfeffermouse & Edictum & Turbo […]

This week, Groot and Fawkes plug into the dark cybernetic world of DreamReaper — the Portland producer whose sound fuses heavy riffs, glitchy textures, and cinematic energy. They dive into his creative process, favorite tools of destruction, and how his music is shifting toward new frontiers, from collaborations to movie soundtracks. Along the way, expect […]

Groot and Fawkes were joined by Immortal Girlfriend — the Dark Knights of Synth — for a deep dive into their cinematic sound, brotherly chemistry, and their journey from Milwaukee to major syncs in Wednesday, Good Girls, and NBA 2K22. They shared creative inspirations, stories from the road, and even what fuels a 2AM tour […]

This week on The State of Synth, Groot and Neon Fawkes are joined by special guests Edictum (Austria) and Pashang (Korea) to talk about their global collaborations, upcoming releases, and the making of their concept album. Tune in for a boat load of exclusive premieres and fresh tracks from The Midnight, Droid Bishop, Futurecop!, and […]

Groot and Neon Fawkes welcome Timecop1983 tour drummer and multi-talented artist Jay, aka DRUMxWAVE, to the show. They chat about his new project, DRUMxWAVE, and his experiences working with artists such as Timecop1983, The Bad Dreamers, Arena, Chroma Cloud, and Ollie Wride.

Fawkes and Groot power up the season premiere with Neotropolis veteran and vocal powerhouse Power Rob — talking Dark Star, touring, and the secrets to ultimate Dragon Ball Z victory.

Dennis and Jules wrap up the season with an epic chat featuring OG Synthwave and French Touch legends Nightstop and Maethelvin—plus some killer tunes and a few herp-a-derps for good measure. Thanks for listening! See you in September!

Groot and Neon Fawkes chat with Toronto-based chillsynth producer Nightflyer. They dive into his music, his upcoming album, the Toronto music scene, and just how much melatonin we should really be taking. Hop aboard your favorite seagull and prepare for flight!

In this episode of The State of Synth, Groot and Neon Fawkes sit down with New Zealand-based synthwave artist Indigo for a late-night/early-afternoon chat about her music, gaming, and been going on in the land Down Under.

In this episode of The State of Synth, Groot and Neon Fawkes honor the late Starcadian with a mix of his music, personal stories, and fan tributes. Guests Rob O’Neill, James Secker, and Jared Butler join to share their memories and experiences.

This week on The State of Synth, Groot and Neon Fawkes welcome Vancouver-based artist ODDitee. We dive into his debut album Everlasting, favorite VSTs, cereal preferences, his signing with Rosso Corsa Records—and things get very meta. Plus, fresh tracks from Lukhash, L’Avenue, Midnight Fury, and more.

Swiss synthwave artist Mike Templar joins us to talk about his spiritual new album The Owl and The Moon, his love of sci-fi, and how storytelling drives his sound. Dennis learns more about his own Swiss roots—and how he may or may not be the main protagonist in Mike’s novel TROM.

In this sun-soaked episode of The State of Synth, we cruise down the neon-lit highway with Valley Lights, the LA-based retrowave artist behind Two Lane Highway. We chat about his journey into synthwave, the inspiration behind his debut album, and why he’ll never get tired of palm trees.

In this radiant new episode of The State of Synth, Groot and Neon Fawkes sit down with synth maestro Alex Lightspeed and The Most Excellent Band—featuring Siren Niphilim, The Neon Syndicate, and more—for a high-energy conversation that spans creative collaboration, retro inspirations, and the road to their upcoming album, “Lost Future” (dropping April 25th on […]

Dennis and Jules sit down for a poised yet playful chat with synthpop queen and NewRetroWave artist Jessie Frye. From songwriting secrets to the lush sonic landscapes of her new album Otherworld, this episode dives deep into the stories behind the songs. Plus—could a Jessie Frye darksynth project be on the horizon? Tune in to […]

Dennis and Neon Fawkes sit down with Seersha to talk synths, songwriting, books, food, and what she’s got planned for her upcoming set at Neotropolis. Come for the music—stay for the Eggs Benedict.

Stephen and Stephanie from Night Rider 87 join Groot and Fawkes for a fun conversation about music, synth culture, and the best ways to rack up Neo-Creds at Neotropolis. From creative scavenging to hidden hangouts, they share tips, stories, and insights from their experiences at Neotropolis—plus drop some fresh music!

Dennis and Neon Fawkes chat with Jesse / Street Cleaner about the highly anticipated Street Cleaner 3, diving into its brutal soundtrack, the game’s evolution, and the mystery of its missing sequel. They discuss the grind of indie game development, the sold-out companion magazine, and Jesse’s go-to production tricks. Plus, they talk about his upcoming […]

Dennis and Neon Fawkes chat with Neotropolis showrunner Jared about what sets the event apart from Wasteland Weekend, what first-timers can expect, and the role of LARPing, factions, and attire. They discuss the biggest challenges of running Neotropolis and tease upcoming surprises.