The State of Synth

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 Pacific Northwest-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.