EPISODE 49 of Z-GR! Radio
May 02, 2025
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 and what I like. True story.
- For Z-GR! Radio, I include artists from the playlist, though for time availabilty reasons, I’ve moved most of my attention to the show. I include new artists as well as artists who have appeared on past episodes.
- 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 950+ great tracks on that list and he updates often.
- 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.
- We occasionally select artists for our NEWHD Featured Artist program. I’ll note those artists as they appear, and there are links to them at newhdmedia.com/zgr.
Have fun with the list , enjoy the artists/music and…
PLEASE share the page out on your Socials!
Episode 49 - On Demand
Z-GR! Radio Episode 49 Lineup
Teen Commandments - Balance
Dance-party Brooklyn band Teen Commandments self-describe as ‘Undomesticated Synthpop’ but the thing is they made really really great synthpop – their last release was last decade and they’ve dropped off of the socials – normally, I’d pass, but I think I mentioned that they were really, really good and I think you heard them, so much so that they’re opening this week with 2015’s ‘Balance’. Let’s hope we get more from them sometime.
Breathe of My Leaves - Perfect Defe
Breathe of My Leaves is back on the show for a with another track from their excellent 2023 album ‘The Radiant Believers’. For the uninitiated, Breathe of My Leaves is a project by Stephano Barberis, who is known most notably for creating and winning awards for music and concert videos and Jordan Gant, who clearly has a talent for hook-filled synthpop vocals. It’s been a year or so, so I’m hoping we’ll get a new release from the band in the near future.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook | Bluesky
Bunny X - Never Give You Up
New York City’s Abigail Gordon and Mary Hanley form Bunny X, who are easily one of my favorite artists in the synthwave / retrowave scene; their latest release marks their seventh track on the show, and their latest, ‘Never Give You Up’ was released alongside a remix from earmake, and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t gone back and forth between them more than a few times – ultimately, the single release won out, but it’s worth checking the remix and instrumentals out.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | Bluesky | TwitterX | Facebook
Rude Awakening / Patrik Kambo - Sqeal! (Patrik Kambo Remix)
Back in 2022, a message on my Instagram account pointed me at The Rude Awakening, the synthpop duo of Johnny Normal and Bridget Gray, who claim to make “downright naughty modern electronic songs”. I was, of course, sold immediately, and this remix of ‘Squeal!’ is remixed by Patrik Kambo, who has also worked with Z-GR! Radio artists Train to Spain, Vogon Poetry and Stereo in Solo’.
Rude Awakening
Spotify | Web | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook
Patrik Kambo
Step Rockets - Phantom Flower
I had Minneapolis’ pop-rock band Step Rockets back on Episode 28 – I went back to the excellent extended version of their 2023 EP Future Nature and I have to say, it is a really, really great record that is well worth spending some time with – hard to choose just one, but ‘Phantom Flower’ has so many interesting things going on, it made the final cut for this week’s show.
Zero-G Racetrack - Slave To My Ego
As Zero-G Racetrack’s vocalist, I have a soft spot for this track – I wrote the vocal as I was transitioning out of a long-term relationship, and realized to my chagrin that I had boxed up several things that I liked about myself to accommodate the relationship. The track is about self-realization within the context of a personal reboot, and making sure that you don’t go sideways during the renovation.
Spotify | Linktree | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook | Bluesky
Electric Penguins - Close Your Eyes (and Try Again)
Paul X Murphy and Mark Cummins are Electronic Penguins and simply put, they are awesome. They’ve nailed the electronic prog-rock aesthetic and their sound ranges from heavy to melodic and all points between. They are fantastic, so make sure you check all of their stuff out.
Mark Mallman - Reverse Paradise
Minnesota music staple Mark Mallman has been making the Twin Cities his musical playground since the late ‘90’s, and has released nine full-length albums along the way. He wrote ‘Flowers’ for the Rick and Morty TV show, and I spent some time with his 2021 record ‘Happiness’, which is an absolute blast. Seriously, put the album on your to-listen-to list.
Spotify | Wiki | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | Bluesky | Facebook
Chonny Jash - Ain't No Rest For the Wicked
I’ve been stumbling across some really great covers these past few months and this week the trend continues – Cage the Elephant ‘s 2008 debut record holds one of the greatest rock tracks ever, and when it popped up in my YouTube feed, I decided to hunt down a cover – I was not at all disappointed to come across Chonny Jash’s take on the song – it is an AMAZING and unique take on ‘Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked’.
Aisle 9 - Liquid Blue
Z-GR! Radio favorite Aisle 9 was our featured instrumentalist on episode 14 and was back on episode 25 and our epic Christmas Episode 33, so when his latest dropped last week it was a no-brainer to have him close out the show with ‘Liquid Blue’.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | Bluesky | 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.
