Photøgraph: The Architect of Cinematic Synthwave

Photøgraph is the stage name of Canadian electronic music producer and composer Simon Lavoie, known for crafting expansive, nostalgia-driven synthwave soundscapes. Hailing from Montreal, Lavoie achieved a significant milestone when his 2018 album, Horizon, charted on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart, cementing his status beyond the niche synthwave community.

Early career

Simon Lavoie began his musical journey in the late 2000s, experimenting with production software while studying sound design. He officially launched the Photøgraph project around 2014, initially releasing tracks on free streaming platforms and connecting with the online retrowave community. His early work, characterized by pulsing arpeggios and cinematic textures, quickly garnered attention on niche music blogs and led to his first official EP releases with emerging electronic labels.

Breakthrough

The breakthrough for Photøgraph arrived in 2017 with the single Night Drive. The track's infectious melody and polished production became a staple on streaming playlists dedicated to synthwave and outrun, amassing tens of millions of streams. This success directly fueled the launch of his debut full-length album, Horizon, in 2018 on the independent label FiXT Neon, which specializes in electronic and synthwave artists.

Key tracks

Night Drive — This 2017 single is the track that defined his signature sound for a global audience and remains his most streamed song.

Horizon — The title track from his 2018 album showcases his skill for building epic, emotionally resonant instrumental narratives.

Echoes — A collaboration with vocalist Josh Dally, this song demonstrated Photøgraph's ability to successfully integrate vocals into his synthwave framework.

Aeterna — Featured on his 2021 follow-up album Discovery, this track highlights his evolution towards more complex, layered production and orchestral elements.

Following the success of Horizon, Photøgraph continued to refine his sound, releasing the album Discovery in 2021. He has engaged in notable collaborations within the electronic scene, including working with fellow producers like Scandroid and Fury Weekend. His music has also found a home in media, with tracks licensed for video games and online video content, further expanding his reach.

Fans of Photøgraph's brand of cinematic, driving synthwave often also enjoy the work of artists like The Midnight, who similarly blend nostalgic 80s sounds with modern production. Timecop1983 offers a comparable focus on lush, dreamy synth-pop atmospheres. For a harder-edged take on the genre, listeners explore Perturbator and his dark synth compositions. The anthemic, rock-influenced synthwave of Gunship also shares a common audience with Photøgraph's work.

The immersive sound of Photøgraph is a perfect fit for rotation on dedicated synthwave and retrowave online radio streams, as well as broader electronic music stations. His driving beats and melodic hooks make his tracks ideal for programming on independent music radio stations that specialize in curated electronic genres, from chillwave to more energetic outrun styles.

Listeners can explore the evocative synthwave catalog of Photøgraph through the radio stations featured on our website. Tune in to discover his music playing on various electronic and independent music stations available on onairium.com.