Alterade: The Electrifying Force in Modern Synthwave
Alterade is the dynamic electronic music project of producer and multi-instrumentalist Alex Rade, emerging from the vibrant synthwave scene of Los Angeles, California. The artist's 2018 debut album, Neon Dreams, captured the zeitgeist of the genre's revival, achieving notable streaming numbers and securing a featured placement on several influential electronic music playlists.
Early career
Formed in 2015, Alterade began as a solo studio endeavor by Alex Rade, who blended his background in rock guitar with a deep affinity for 1980s film scores and video game soundtracks. Early self-released singles on platforms like Bandcamp garnered a cult following, leading to a signing with the independent retro-electronic label FiXT Neon in 2016.
Breakthrough
The project's major breakthrough arrived in 2018 with the release of the full-length album Neon Dreams on FiXT Neon. The lead single, Midnight Run, became a staple on synthwave radio streams and YouTube channels, propelling the album to the top 10 of Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart in its first week.
Key tracks
Midnight Run — This driving single defined the Alterade sound and became the project's first track to surpass 10 million streams across platforms.
Neon Skies (featuring Dana Jean Phoenix) — A key collaboration that showcased Alterade's ability to blend melodic vocals with pulsating retro-production.
Circuit Breaker — An instrumental track that gained widespread use in gaming and automotive video content, expanding the artist's reach.
Echoes in the Rain — Featured on the compilation Retro Future Vol. 3, this song highlighted a more cinematic and atmospheric side of the project.
Digital Horizon — The lead single from the 2021 follow-up album Analog Heart, marking a progression into heavier, guitar-infused synthwave.
The success of Neon Dreams led to high-profile remix work for artists like The Midnight and FM-84, further cementing Alterade's status within the scene. The 2021 sophomore album, Analog Heart, explored a fusion of synthwave with elements of industrial and hard rock, demonstrating Rade's evolving production style.
Fans of Alterade's brand of cinematic, high-energy synthwave also frequently enjoy the work of The Midnight, who similarly merge saxophone melodies with nostalgic 80s aesthetics. Gunship shares Alterade's penchant for dramatic, vocal-driven synthwave anthems and visually striking music videos. The instrumental prowess and rock influence found in Alterade's later work echoes that of Perturbator, a leading force in the darker darksynth subgenre.
Alterade's music maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly across dedicated synthwave and retro-electronic online radio stations, as well as on broader alternative electronic music streams. The project's anthemic tracks are regularly featured in the rotations of independent music radio stations specializing in underground electronic genres.
Listeners can discover the pulsating discography of Alterade by tuning into the synthwave and electronic rock stations featured on onairium.com. The artist's evolving sound, from pure retro-futurism to guitar-charged electronica, is well-represented across the platform's curated radio stations.
