Synthaulos: The Architect of Cinematic Synthwave

Synthaulos is the electronic music project of American producer and composer Alex Vance, crafting immersive synthwave and retro-futuristic soundscapes. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, the artist achieved a notable underground breakthrough with the 2018 album Neon Dusk, which charted on Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart and solidified a dedicated international following.

Early career

Alex Vance formed Synthaulos in 2014, initially releasing music through online platforms like Bandcamp. His early work, including the 2015 EP Circuit Ghost, was characterized by a raw, DIY approach that paid homage to 1980s film scores and video game soundtracks, quickly resonating within the burgeoning online synthwave community.

Breakthrough

The project's major breakthrough arrived in 2018 with the release of the debut full-length album Neon Dusk on the independent label Rosso Corsa Records. The album's lead single gained significant traction on streaming platforms, propelling the album to a number 22 debut on Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart and moving over 10,000 units in its first year.

Key tracks

Neon Dusk — The title track from the breakthrough album defined the artist's signature blend of melancholic melodies and driving bass sequences.

Midway Fugitive — This 2020 single featured a collaboration with vocalist Dana Jean Phoenix, marking a successful move into more vocal-driven synth-pop territory.

Axiom — An instrumental showcase from the 2022 album Horizon Signal, praised for its complex, progressive structure and cinematic scope.

Echoes in the Grid — A later career track that exemplifies the artist's evolution into darker, more atmospheric production styles.

Following the success of Neon Dusk, Synthaulos signed with the larger electronic-focused label FiXT Neon in 2021. The subsequent album, Horizon Signal, expanded his sonic palette, incorporating elements of industrial and drum & bass while maintaining the core retro-futuristic aesthetic. This period also saw high-profile collaborations, including production work for the video game Cyber Drive and a remix for fellow electronic artist The Midnight.

Fans of Synthaulos should also explore the work of similar artists in the synthwave and retro-electronic scene. The Midnight shares a similar affinity for saxophone-laden, emotionally charged 80s nostalgia. Timecop1983 crafts comparable dreamy and atmospheric synthwave soundscapes from the Netherlands. Perturbator explores a darker, more aggressive side of the genre that influences Synthaulos's later work. Gunship also masterfully blends cinematic synthwave with modern alternative rock and guest vocals.

The driving retro-futuristic sounds of Synthaulos are a staple on dedicated synthwave and electronic online radio streams. His tracks frequently feature in the rotations of independent music radio stations that specialize in underground electronic genres, from ambient synth programs to high-energy retro playlists.

Listeners can discover the expansive cinematic synthwave catalog of Synthaulos by tuning into the radio stations featured on our website. The artist's music, from early EPs to latest releases, is regularly played on various electronic and specialty genre stations available on onairium.com.