Week 17 - June 21, 2024
EPISODE 17 of Z-GR! Radio
Z-GR! Radio overview right from your Host:
- My name is Scot Apathy – I’m the lead singer for Zero-G Racetrack, and I curate the ‘Floating Around the Racetrack’ Spotify/YouTube playlist. It’s not a pay for play list; I personally choose what’s on it based on what I hear. True story.
- For Z-GR! Radio, I pull from tracks/artists on the playlist (current and archived) and include newer finds that might not be on the list yet (but likely will be).
- The artists included come from myriad genres, geographical locations and stage of growth. I stay away from mainstream established artists, but I will play artists that I’ve followed as they grow. I love it when emerging artists gain traction, and I like to celebrate it.
- I include a cover song each week, and highly recommend checking out MetroVeteran’s (Ruel Smith) ‘Synthwave Covers’ Spotify playlist. There are 900+ great tracks on that list.
- I post a page like this each week to help you find out more about the artists you heard on this week’s show and to make it easy to do so.
- I’m working with NEWHD on a Featured Artist program, and I’ll note those artists as they appear.
Have fun with the list below, enjoy the artists/music and…
PLEASE share the page out on your Socials!
Episode Seventeen - On Demand
Z-GR! Radio Episode Seventeen Lineup
Racing- Drugs and Affection
Auckland- based Racing have definitely established themselves as a New Zealand standout – their debut record ‘Real Dancing’ was nominated for Best Rock Artist at the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand and when I heard ‘Drugs and Affection’ from that album, this week’s opener was locked and loaded.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook
Sinestar - Ready Set Go & Die
Hanna Rua - Don't Cut Your Angels
Sweden’s Hanna Rua is back – she opened Episode 6 with ‘Don’t Cut Your Angels’, which has a modern 70’s pop sound and to my ears you can hear the ABBA-esque tonality in the vocal she’s part of the Aztec Records group of fantastic SynthPop artists and it’s easy to hear why.
Sandor Gavin / Horizons 1982 / Weldon - Nowhere Girl
B-Movie’s ‘Nowhere Girl’ is one of SynthPop’s enduring pillars – initially released in 1980, the song took off in 1982 and has become one of the genre’s most recognizable sleeper hits. It’s been covered countless times, but when it’s done right, you can hear why the song is a legend – this take is a joint between Sandor Gavin, Horizons 1982 and Weldon and it really shines.
Sandor Gavin
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Horizons 1982
Wildflower Collective, The - Daisy's Journey
Malo - The War
Sam Feinstein - Hamster Wheel
I met Silicon Valley’s Sam Feinstein at a gig where he was playing with his SynthPop trio the Monitors. They were really great so I asked him for links to some music and was rewarded with the very quirky, very cool ‘Hamster Wheel.’
Brothers Burn - Gets it Done
The Brothers Burn self-describes as a Boomer posing as a cool band, using excellent software to produce pop/reggae/rock music. That seems both fair and accurate, and ‘Gets It Done’ is a perfect example. I’ve been grooving to the Brothers for a few years now, and you should be too.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook
BlakLight - Prey
Los Angeles synthpop trio BlakLight have been building momentum since forming in 2020 – their songs have been remixed by some of the best in the Darkwave community including Bebor Beton and Assemblage 23. They are also actively involved in Darkness Calling, a collective that works to support LGBTQ youth suicide prevention.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook
Electric Dead - Never Enough
Sauvage Rule - Season of Love
Zero-G Racetrack - Never Ride Alone
Whitney Tai / Sunfreakz - Shockwave (Extended Mix)
Salme Dahlstrom AKA Saint SX - Candy Love
I’m a huge fan of Salme Dahlstrom’s 2023 record ‘Fabulous’, so I went back to look at her library and landed on ‘Candy Love’ off of her thoroughly groovy 2017 release ‘Pin-Up Pop’ record. She recently re-branded as Saint SX, and I can’t wait to hear what she’s bringing next.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook
Sophia's Mission-newhd
Sophia’s Mission, in collaboration with NEWHD Media, spearheads initiatives to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Through dynamic digital campaigns, community outreach events, and strategic media partnerships, they provide vital resources and foster open conversations. Their joint efforts aim to destigmatize mental illness, empower individuals to seek help, and advocate for policy changes. Visit Sophia’s Mission and NEWHD Media to learn more about their impactful work in saving lives and promoting mental wellness through innovative approaches in media and community engagement.
