Retromigration: The Architects of Modern Synthwave

Retromigration is an American electronic music project that masterfully blends nostalgic 80s synth sounds with contemporary production. Hailing from Los Angeles, the artist achieved a notable commercial milestone when the 2019 album "Neon Circuits" charted on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

Early career

The Retromigration project was formed in 2012 by producer and multi-instrumentalist Alex Vance. Drawing inspiration from classic film scores and vintage video game soundtracks, Vance began crafting instrumental tracks in a home studio, initially sharing them on niche online platforms. This DIY approach led to the self-released debut EP "First Contact" in 2014, which quickly garnered attention within the burgeoning synthwave community.

Breakthrough

Retromigration's breakthrough arrived in 2017 with the single "Midnight Driver," featuring vocals from indie electronic artist Kaitlyn Aurelia. The track's inclusion in a popular video game soundtrack propelled it to viral status, leading to a signing with the independent label New Retro Wave. The subsequent album "Neon Circuits" solidified this success, moving over 50,000 units and earning a certified gold sales award in several European markets.

Key tracks

Midnight Driver — This collaboration served as the breakout hit, introducing Retromigration to a massive new audience through gaming and streaming platforms.

Neon Circuits — The title track from the breakthrough album is a quintessential example of the project's polished, high-energy retro-futuristic sound.

Echoes of Tomorrow — A deeper, more atmospheric cut that showcases the cinematic scope and compositional depth behind the project's dancefloor anthems.

Accelerate — This instrumental single became a staple on streaming playlists and helped define the "driving synth" subgenre within modern electronic music.

Following the success of "Neon Circuits," Retromigration embarked on a successful international tour and contributed production work for other artists. The 2022 follow-up album "Digital Horizons" explored darker, more progressive textures while maintaining the project's core identity, debuting at number 12 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic chart. Notable collaborations have included working with legendary synth programmer Richard Devine and contributing a remix for the band The Midnight.

Fans of Retromigration's immersive synthscapes and retro-modern fusion should also explore The Midnight. This duo similarly crafts emotive narratives driven by saxophone and lush synthesizers. Timecop1983 offers a more dreamlike and melancholic take on the 80s-inspired sound. For a harder-edged, dystopian approach, the music of Perturbator provides a compelling contrast. FM-84 delivers anthemic, vocal-focused tracks that share Retromigration's sun-soaked aesthetic.

Retromigration's catalog receives regular airplay across a network of dedicated online radio streams and independent music radio stations that specialize in electronic and synthwave genres. Their driving beats and evocative melodies are a perfect fit for stations curating the best in retro-futuristic sound.

Listeners can discover the pulsating synthwave anthems of Retromigration by tuning into the electronic and specialty radio stations featured right here on onairium.com. Our platform connects you to stations that regularly program this artist's defining tracks and latest releases.