When it comes to be the core sound and image of synthwave culture, Lightsource seems to nail it for me. I discovered this artist last month via RetroSynth Records and as I listen today I’m wondering where I’ve been. Their sound is the movie Drive personified.

There’s not a whole lot of information about LightSource out there on the interwebs. This artist seems content to let the music speak for itself, calling it an 80’s movie soundtrack for the 21st century in their bio. While all synthwave music is meant to get lost in, Lightsource’s compositions have an extra ethereal quality to them. However, generally speaking it feels pretty accessible to a synthwave novice. It doesn’t have that background music to fall asleep to vibe that a lot of vaporwave music has. This for night drives and for a modern twist on an 80s fitness VHS. Maybe Lightsource can spearhead the return of American Gladiator as the official composer!

We got to sit down with the UK-based artist – take a read and then take a listen!

Tuned Up: What resonates with you about the synthwave/retrowave culture? What first drew you in?

LightSource: I grew up in the 80s and 90s listening to Artists like the pet shop boys, OMD, Duran Duran and the human league so electronic music has always been part of my life, I love the aesthetic of synthwave and the Retro feeling that it represents.

Is there a core memory from your childhood that you can directly tie to your creative process today?

For me I think 80s music and also 80s movies and tv programs, Miami vice, Tron and Blade Runner just resonated with me and stuck and have helped to mould me as an artist

Is there a core memory that you can tie directly to your love outrun/synthwave culture?

I think this would have to be Tron and of course Blade Runner, the music in both of these films was just mesmerising and the neon filled visuals in Tron and Tron Legacy are incredible and such an inspiration for me musically

What drink best pairs with listening to your latest release?

Something high octane so perhaps Redbull although I don’t touch the stuff personally.

 If the sky’s the limit – what would be involved in production of your live show?

Lots and lots and lots of lasers, smoke machines and a massive LED screen with neon visuals including a huge spinning LightSource Logo.

What creative influencer (artist, producer, or someone else) needs more recognition?

Timecop1983

What excites you about the future of synthwave culture and its adjacent genres?

I think Synthwave is a very accessible genre and has so many branch off niche genres that there is something for everyone, I think it will continue to grow in popularity

What synthwave cover of a popular song needs to exist, that doesn’t yet?

Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill

What is there to be excited about in your creative world, at the moment?

I have been collaborating with a few artists recently including The Bad Dreamers. Also, I have now started to do a few remixes for different artists within the genre and recently this year joined RetroSynth Records.

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Follow LightSource on Instagram.

Follow RetroSynth Records on Instagram.