Kasia's Secret Diary

By Kasia

Sunday, 1st June, 2014

Timecop 1983 (featuring Dana Jean Phoenix) - Dreams



With you
I feel like I am living in a dream
Everything is possible and everything depends on me
I can do whatever I want 
Only I can set the boundaries 
And only I can break them.
All my wishes and thoughts can come true if I just want it
I feel like your beautiful sounds are giving me magical power 
And letting me finally break all the walls in my head 
I used to be trapped in my mind's limitations
But I am not anymore, and you are the reason 
We all have dreams 
And deep down we know what is best for us
Just believe in yourself and always follow your heart
Time flies..
Door's open...
Away goes the past, it's okay...
You wanna go...
There is no turning back...
The world is yours!



Monday, 24th March, 2014

Mosaik - Sky Fighter



So the fight is ON!
But you know what? 
I am not afraid.
Not at all
Because you are here with me 
And this is our shared fight 
We stand shoulder to shoulder
Me and you... 
Against the world...
Against all odds 
The more I listen to you
The more sure I am that we can win this battle
Together we can defeat the bad things
And we can find the biggest treasure
Happiness and peace.
It's worth fighting for 
Keep up the spirit and dont give up
We are the best pilots of our lives
We decide where to fly
And no matter how far away we are
We can always change direction
We are skyfighters!




Sunday, 8th December, 2013

Robert Parker - Unfinished Symphony



There is something good about unfinished things
You still have a choice 
And you still have the chance to make it the way you want it to be 
Nothing is decided yet 
The options are endless.. you just have to pick a path to follow
There are some sort of mysteries and uncertainties 
Every sound makes me feel more and more excited 
I want to know and I don't want to know how it will end at the same time 
Our story is like an unfinished symphony.
A neverending story
But has it even started yet? 
In case it has, I have to write my own ending
Maybe the stars will give us the answer...

Highway Superstar Takes His Time And Reaps The Rewards

Highway Superstar had a huge 2013, finishing it off with his incredibly rich debut album Take My Time. This album came out just after Synthetix.FM finished up for 2013 but I believe this album is something important to evolution of the 80s inspired synth scene and is well deserving of the full Synthetix.FM treatment. Having had the luxury of being able to enjoy it for nearly two months has really brought out the nuances and how this album works so well as a full package.

The dominant trend in the scene is for singles and EP releases, however the full album experience is still untapped by most producers. I can see how daunting this must be and in today's fast-forward production mentality, few seem willing to dedicate the time necessary to create an album that will be important and valuable as a creative work. This trend is slowly changing, and I hope more artists devote their time and passion to full LP’s as the format allows for so much more exploration and reward for the listener over an EP.

It’s kind of serendipitous then that Highway Superstar’s debut album is titled Take My Time. This producer has taken his time to create a record that stands out in many respects from a lot of what is happening in 80s inspired synth music, this is greatly due to one element that Highway Superstar has built his sounds on and used to his ultimate strength. That element is songwriting. Each track on the album is crafted in a traditional songwriting manner, not just the tracks with vocals either. The sounds never feel like they’re tracked and automated but instead feel written and jammed out. The emphasis Highway Superstar puts on hooks and catchy choruses is to be applauded as it’s this consistency which elevates Take My Time to wonderful new levels of aural enjoyment.

There’s a genuine 80s charm in this songwriting, a characteristic often lost amid the implementation of more modern sounding arrangements which Highway Superstar balances out with more contemporary elements that walks the perfect tightrope along an event horizon of new and vintage sounds. One finds this evident from the opening piece,  ‘Night In The City’ featuring the vocals of scene mainstay Dana Jean Phoenix. The Highway Superstar brand of 80s synth pop is taken directly from the funkier, back end of 80s pops sounds. Structures are polished and gleaming with mix of De Barge and The System woven into Highway Superstars own synthual brilliance. The vocals, the hooky chorus, the guitars, the horns; it’s all golden and makes for a hugely strong opening track that sets the scene stupendously well.

Things are taken on an instrumental cruise in ‘Boardwalk Sunset’ next and this is where Highway Superstar spreads his wings and takes off with an experience that explores so much musical territory it’s staggering. The saxophone is our guide as we’re taken on a fantastic voyage into the colours and textures of the night in a playfully delightful manner. The instruments are all separate voices given space and their own importance before harmonizing into a melodious glowing beauty.

The album deviates splendidly in the next track ‘Around The World’ as Highway Superstar teams up with the inimitable Who Ha in a vastly entertaining ode to the perils of rockstardom. Touring the world, rockin the planet each and every night doesn’t fill the void left by that someone special who’s timezones away, but still close in our hearts. Who Ha’s delivery is totally kick arse, with just enough swagger to make their teenage fans start fainting, but counterbalances this with his own sentimental honesty. Melodies dance and create a magic all their own with some of the best songwriting on the album as each verse and chorus has its rad levels kicked up the maximum. I find it hard not to visualize a live performance of this as a music video with a million dollar light show and thousands of screaming fans worshipping at the altar of this dynamic duo every time I hear it.

The most ambitious song on Take My Time would have to be the title track as Highway Superstar enlists two vocalists to realise a driving pop anthem that is absolutely rockin to the max. Dana Jean Phoenix and Chris Page trade emotional blows against a high speed back drop of a world in chaos. Their voices create their own universe, where only the importance of two people exists. The lyrics are pop perfection as they verbalize their passions strongly before realizing they both want and need the same thing. The music creates turmoil when needed and emotive epiphany at just the right points. This reminds me greatly of the 80s pop gem ‘Twist Of Fate’ by Olivia Newton John, and I mean this in the most complementary manner as the passionate, dramatic fervor and wonderful intensity in ‘Take My Time’ is a rarity in the 80s inspired synth scene.

One would think that following this epic pop anthem wouldn’t be easy but it’s a testament to the quality of this album that the next track is one of my favourites, not only on this record, but for the entirety of 2013. ‘Dialtones’ is a spectacular instrumental that hangs on a monstrously infectious hook and then evolves this concept into a synthscapade of ravishing beauty. The atmosphere and tone are perfection, telling a deep narrative with each melodic sequence. It’s a hugely uplifting experience, something that embodies everything I love about this music into a vividly colourful six minute symphony.

It’s about this point in the album I find that one is prepared for anything. The amount of musical territory covered in the first half of the record can leave you breathless and right when you’re expecting a nice interlude to join some ideas together is going to happen the exact opposite occurs and Highway Superstar bundles you into his super car of choice and takes off into the night doing ’10-80’ in nanoseconds. The OutRun flavour of this piece is thrilling and exhilarating with racing melodies being deftly maneuvered in and out of traffic at a blistering pace. Spending most of it’s duration in the danger zone I find myself screaming out the window in ecstatic jubilation as the Highway Superstar explained his monicker in the most dramatic fashion possible.

There’s barely time to take a breath as ‘Them Or Us’ becomes a question of survival with pumping rhythms instilling some darker aspects into the milieu. Highway Superstar shows he’s just as comfortable exploring darker and dangerous ideas as he is with bright warm ones. The bouncing melodies transition in and out of ominous surroundings where a very real threat can be felt. In one of the oddities on this album, I found this piece ended a tad prematurely for my liking, but what is explored is done so with great presence of mind and artistry.

‘Camaro 86’ rolls up into view with a suave, devil may care coolness about it before casually setting the night ablaze in another OutRun themed adventure. The atmosphere, though exciting and fast paced, feels much more effortless this time around. Melodies illustrate fascinating details while the structure of the piece evolves into a spectacular new form. This contains some absolutely marvelous passages that come out of nowhere and blow your mind before continuing into new, electrifying dimensions. Breathtaking, from beginning to end.

The final original piece on Take My Time is the leisurely paced ‘Syndicate’. Espousing a much more contemplative air this piece is again a wonderful adventure into new and inventive sound structures with a jazzy flow that moves along like a live jam in concert. So many details are lovingly layered into the ambiance that by it’s end one feels a genuine contentment and a boisterous round of applause feels like the logical thing to do.

To finish off the album we have a bonus remix of the title track by the ever glorious Tommy. His remix is a very different take on ‘Take My Time’ as things are slowed down and examined with a more distant approach. It contains a deep longing, so consistent with Tommy’s work, and completes the album experience beautifully as a final refrain.

‘Take My Time’ is a truly epic album. After tens of listens I still find myself hearing new things and experiencing different aspects to pieces that I feel I know intimately. As mentioned numerous times throughout my musings the songwriting on this record is incredibly well realised as each element feels like it naturally and perfectly fills the space it’s been afforded. So much of this album feels like an effortless stream of consciousness, when I know that wasn’t the case, that it just adds that extra layer of magic to the listening experience.

Highway Superstar’s Take My Time is presented by Rosso Corsa Records on their Bandcamp here and is most assuredly a Synthetix Reference Experience. This is album is a shining example of why I love the 80s inspired genres so very much. Highway Superstar’s talent is undeniable, as his grasp on what makes the 80s rock so hard. I encourage all fans of 80s inspired synths sounds to pick up this album as soon as possible and if you already own it, please give it another listen on my behalf cause records of this quality don’t come around often at all, but we can always revisit them and feel that magic all brand new, all over again.

Synthetix Weekend Update

It's time to rock your weekend with a brand new Weekend Update full of sumptuous synth temptations and intimate promises of dreams yet to be realised.

Let's get rockin with the killer new tune from Gina Calabrese. Moods are kept subdued and passions restrained in this slow motion synthscape. This track combines an excellent ambient quality in the melodies with crisply punctuated percussion making for a hypnotising contrast that haunts as much as it grooves.

New Arcades have just recently shared a rockin new instrumental track titled 'Reflections'. This harkens back to very 2010 sounding experience with those glorious 80s synth passages melded with modern drums. The melodies are uplifting and the modern elements give even more vibrance to the the experience. This track is currently available for FREE through the link in the player.




Pacific Deep are an duo kicking some major arse with their 80s synth pop sounds. Made up of NZ producer Raymond Hayter and Carl Grace (Some Desperate Glory) these rockers have just released 'Take Me Away' is a dreamy reflection on better times and a yearning to relive them. The song is written and arranged to pop perfection and the chorus will be in your mind and imagination long after the song finishes.




Sunglasses Kid is definitely proving himself as one of the hardest working talents in the 80s inspired synth scene. He is currently working with a tonne of musicians and vocalist from all over the planet in his quest to create his ultimate vision of 80s synth pop. With his latest collaboration with Dana Jean Phoenix we find Sunglasses Kid really rockin hard and presenting a neon rainbow pastiche of 80s elements presented in a bright and positive manner that totally kills. This song is currently available for FREE download and be sure to check out the preview for his upcoming EP release here too. This is going to be great!




Time for some new Evanton! These rockers keep on pumping out their own vision of golden electro italo and 'Theme From The Gold Digger' finds them taking their style into new colours and visions. The classic Evanton bassline is as rockin as ever and the new synth layers elevate the experience to all new levels of radness. A great build and a stellar final act complete this track beautifully.




Foreign Blade is taking a trip into the realms of sweet italo synth with his latest track 'Disco Robot'. The beautifully realised narrative in this track is superb as the music tells its story and weaves a magic robotic spell over the listener. This track's pace is slightly slower than what I would've imagined but it works perfectly with the poignant synth melodies. Grab this FREE download while you can!




Taking a trip into more atmospheric realms of synth entertainment we have the new epic track from Jugement Dernier entitled 'Risky Business'. Over nearly seven and a half minutes of beautifully ambiant  and eloquently detailled synth magic is presented and explored with an overriding narrative that holds everything together. This is one of the first of Jugement Dernier's experiments in the fields of 80s inspired synth and I hope there are many more to come. Be sure to get this track for FREE download while you can.




A new rocker to Synthetix.FM is Cobra Copter and I'm very proud to share is totally kick arse new track 'Chrome City'. This piece walks many 80s themed lines and ties them together with a massively infectious lead melody. The minimalist presentation allows for a very intimate experience and keeps the space it occupies clean and crisp in the cool night air. Many thanks to Halyein for enlightening me to this rockin producer.




There's something about heavily contrasting elements that I love about 80s synth music (and 80s design/clothing/everything for that matter). RF Extreme has totally nailed this in his latest track '12 Cylinder'. Behind gossamer-like, wistfully arranged synth melodies there is pumping and brash rhythm section allowing for a divergent contrast in synthscapes that still exist in perfect symbiosis. The end result is truly magical.




Rutger Megahertz has a new gem of authentic italo gold on offer this week with his hot new track 'Celestial'. Combining just a smidgen of 70s disco with colourful and vibrant italo synth has made for a super charged experience that is as authentic as it is fresh. The lead melody is so authentic it could almost be a direct Koto sample. Marvellous! And also currently available for FREE download!




I'd have to say that the combination of Denovomutans and Dana Jean Phoenix on paper had me scratching my head but once 'Omni Lethal Weapon' began I realised this is collaboration is true stroke of genius. Combining Dana's 80s pop vocal sensibilities with Denovomutans twisted visions of a neo apocalyptic synthscapes has resulted in a dramatic song that would be at home in the introduction or montage sequence of any 80s dark sci fi home video release. Totally rockin from beginning to end.




Magic Sword had been a tad quiet of late. With nine months between slashes I'd actually wondered if they were still kicking but thankfully they are, and they're back now kicking harder than ever! 'Sword of Truth' marks the triumphant return of Magic Sword with dramatic and powerfully introductory passages leading into a point of purely triumphant exhilaration. I hope these rockers are back for good now and will be producing and sharing more gems like this with us soon.




NFD Music came in swinging hard with a superbly written exploration of sweet synth romance this week with the track 'She's My Dream'. Melodies are sugary and bright with luminescent melodies going into crush overload as the music builds to final electrified kiss. Currently available for FREE download, so make sure this is the soundtrack to your weekend romances.




Electric Dissection keeps on upping his game with each new track and 'Surreal' finds this composer exploring the unreal and fantastical sides of his creativity. Music is minimalist in presentation but the melodies and arrangements are full of epic chord progressions and imaginative details. A flight of fancy into the dreams and possibilities of our subconscious minds.




One of the most creative and intriguing producers I know is Amazing Police. Throughout 2013 this artist has made some of the most groundbreaking and individualised synth experiences. His music is full of magical combinations of sounds and arrangements that I've never heard before and in his track 'Exotic Information' he's done it yet again. The structure of this piece makes me hold my breath in anticipation and each passage adds even more intriguing elements. I can't get enough of this track, it's absolutely k-rad to the max.



That does us for another Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM. I hope you've enjoyed this cream of the crop from the 80s inspired synth scene as much as I have and I look forward to experiencing more with you next week.

'Til then, stay 80s and keep on rockin.