Artist: PowderPaint (@powderpaint), which is Shonalika (@shonalika, they/them) and Hazel (@hazel, they/she)
Why? Have you ever wondered what would happen if time-traveling goth queers went back to the 80s to start a synth-pop band? Powderpaint is all this and more, and are perfect for navigating the cyberpunk dystopia we all live in.
Where to start?
Their most recent single is an absolute banger and hits me in the trans feels hard. Also, in the music video, it's a hoot seeing Shonalika switch out their usual black clothes for white and Hazel's bright aesthetics for black and red. 😁
“Hoping for the best but expecting the worst; are you gonna drop the bomb or not?” … is there a lyric that sums up the #GenX experience more than this?
Heard #MusicWomenWednesday is a thing now, and the first band that came to mind for me is Ladytron. I've loved them since I first heard their first album '604' when it came out in 2001. 'Playgirl' is so catchy and infectious, it INSTANTLY hooked me. And their cool voices!
Ladytron has had so many amazing songs since, too, like 'Seventeen', and 'Deadzone' (a warning for this one, I didn't link the video here, it is VERY strange and dark, just search for it if you wanna see, kinda like how their video for another of their newer songs 'The Island' is also weird, they've gone a wild direction lately that I dig, but I'm sure it's not for everyone).
These two of their videos are rad and totally TAME, though - and worth a watch, because they are GREAT:
Pardon me while I brag on @hilljam for a moment but HAVE YOU HEARD the synth programming on this recording of The Boys of Summer??
Besides the incredibly fastidious reproduction of the gorgeous synths, Jamie — somewhat magically — also managed to re-create the guitar parts that are all over the original recording WITH SYNTHESIZERS.
I had the enormous honour of being interviewed by one of my all-time music heroes, #MartynWare and now you can listen to us both chunter on for yourselves:
Okay, I'll tell you, but stop begging - it's embarrassing for both of us and everyone who's watching.
I've obtained a Limited Manufacture Licence for some iconic music tracks to be released as an album of #synthwave and #synthpop cover versions on #vinyl#cassette and #minidisc
Now I just need to find some interested artists to join me in this ridiculous endeavour.