Hyperreal: The Architect of Cinematic Synthwave

Hyperreal is the electronic music project of Australian producer and composer Liam Kaelin, known for crafting expansive, narrative-driven synthwave and retro-futuristic soundscapes. Emerging from Melbourne's underground electronic scene, the project gained international recognition following the viral streaming success of the 2018 album Neon Coast, which charted on Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

Early career

Formed in 2014, Hyperreal began as Kaelin's solo endeavor, blending his formal training in film scoring with a passion for 1980s synthesizer sounds and analog production techniques. His self-released debut EP, Midnight Drive (2015), quickly found an audience on niche streaming platforms and led to a signing with the independent electronic label Neon Noir Records the following year.

Breakthrough

The project's major breakthrough arrived in 2018 with the critically acclaimed album Neon Coast. Released via Neon Noir Records with distribution through [PIAS], the album's lead single "Aurora" became a staple on streaming playlists, propelling the album to a peak position of number 12 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart and securing a gold certification in Australia.

Key tracks

Aurora — This breakthrough single defined the Hyperreal sound with its soaring melodies and pulsating bassline, accumulating over 100 million streams globally.

Neon Coast — The album's title track is a quintessential example of Kaelin's cinematic approach, featuring a collaboration with guitarist Tim Pierce.

Echoes in Rain — A later collaboration with vocalist FM-84, this track expanded Hyperreal's reach into the broader synth-pop audience.

The Grid — Featured in the soundtrack for the video game "CyberDrive 2087," this instrumental piece showcases the project's driving, rhythm-focused side.

Horizon Line — From the 2021 follow-up album Digital Sunsets, this song marked a shift towards warmer, more organic synthesizer textures.

The success of Neon Coast led to high-profile licensing deals for film and television trailers, as well as a remix for The Midnight's single "Days of Thunder." Hyperreal's 2021 sophomore album, Digital Sunsets, debuted at number 8 on the same Billboard chart, confirming the project's steady commercial ascent within the electronic genre.

Fans of the immersive, retro-inspired synthwave of Hyperreal should also explore the work of similar artists from the global scene. The Midnight shares a similar affinity for saxophone-laden, emotionally charged 80s nostalgia. FM-84 collaborates closely with the same pool of vocalists and excels at anthemic synth-pop hooks. Timecop1983 offers a more introspective and dreamlike take on the classic synthwave formula. Gunship pushes the genre into darker, more rock-oriented territory with heavy use of featured vocalists.

The music of Hyperreal maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly across dedicated synthwave and retro-electronic online radio streams, as well as specialty shows on independent music radio stations focusing on instrumental and electronic genres.

Listeners can discover the cinematic synthwave of Hyperreal by tuning into the radio stations featured on our website. The artist's discography is regularly played across a variety of electronic and specialty genre stations available on onairium.com.