Down the Tubes is a (semi) regular feature where we, the SAW staff, share our favorite movie-related videos with the Wasteland.
Please share your video recommendations with us at info.screenagewasteland@gmail.com or on Twitter @SAWasteland.
I stumbled onto the synthwave music genre a few years back and quickly incorporated it into my daily work playlist.
Gunship, Timecop 1983, FM-84, and Phaserland were among the first synth artists that really solidified my love of the genre, and I remember thinking at the time that so many of these albums sounded like soundtracks to movies I’d seen. In reality, they were wholly new creations and the movies I imagined they were soundtracks to only existed in my mind.
Call it pastiche or homage – but whatever you call it, it’s clear that what these artists are able to convey with their music is the result of a specific talent for drawing on a broad array of influences, filtering them, and creating something completely new, and at the same time, eerily evocative.
The first time I heard Starcadian, I was positive some of the tracks had to be covers. I did a little searching around and found an interview with the artist and he had this to say about his approach:
I like to describe it as ear movies. I basically make soundtracks to imaginary movies that I wish I had seen when I was younger. I like to visually, aurally and slowly tell a story with every lyric in every song.
Yep. That’s pretty much how I’d describe it.
The guy behind Starcadian works in the film industry as a VFX artist, and has plans to turn the short cinematic music videos he’s produced with co-director Rob O’Neill into a feature length film.
The first time I heard the embedded song, I remember thinking this sounds like a song from an 80s horror comedy recorded by Prince. And I remember clearly visualizing a montage scene filled with practical monsters. I had shared the album with SAW’s own Vincent Kane that same day, and when we compared notes, he’d gotten the same exact vibes: Prince, monsters, and horror comedy.
I hope Starcadian stays at it, and I truly hope he gets his feature off the ground.
Enjoy.
So what did you think? Like? No like? Tell us why in the comments below!
The official ScreenAge Newsletter has arrived! Subscribe to receive a semi-regular round-up of all our exclusive content, including reviews, editorials, Top 100 lists, and more!
Not interested? Just hit the X and you won't see that message again for 30 days. But c'mon, we know you want to venture further into the Wasteland with us!
