God, I love retrowave (also known as synthwave). There’s something about the way it completely steals me away, making me nostalgic for an era I never lived in. Retrowave is based in the sounds of the 1980s, particularly the distinctive sounds of the movie soundtracks and video games. The music swirls with synthesizers and whimsical lyrics that long for lost loves, lost days, or the vibrancy of a sunset. If I were to describe retrowave as a scene, well, let me set it for you. It is South Beach at sunset; The neon lights from the art deco buildings are lighting up around you. The convertible top is down, and the rumble of ocean waves breaking and caressing the shore is in the distance. The smells of salt and sand and Cuban food is wafting into your nose, and the ocean breeze is tousling your hair in the dwindling heat of the day.
But that’s me. Your experience and accompanying imagery may differ, especially since the world of synthwave and synthpop are changing with every artist who enters into the increasingly-popular scene, artists like Jessie Frye.
