In this in-depth interview, Nomad Navi divulges the most important details regarding his Synthwave gem “Blood Moon,” a collab with Calivania. Retro synth lovers will find much to appreciate in the artist’s insights.
1 — There are strong and effective song titles, and “Blood Moon” is no exception. Are there any juicy details about why this one is called that?
The song originally didn’t have a title when I sent the track over to Calvinia. It was after hearing her amazing lyrics that I chose “Blood Moon” to be the title.
2 — What elements give “Blood Moon” its nostalgic yet futuristic vibe?
The power chords, bright melody, and drum programming are the key elements that give the 80s futuristic vibe
3 — What do you hope listeners feel or experience when listening?
I want to put the listener in the driver’s seat of an ’80s action movie with underlying themes of escapism.
4 — How did the collaboration with Calivania come about for this song?
I had reached out to some of my producer friends with the instrumental to get their feedback. One of my good friends in the group reached out and asked me if I’d be interested in doing a feature with Calivania and I of course was interested.
5 — In what ways do you perceive this track differing from your previous releases?
For this particular track, I dove more into the Synthwave vibe.
6 — Which artists, whether widely recognized or not, have had an impact on your artistic endeavors?
I look towards Gesaffelstein and Lorn for their ability to really create dark-sounding landscapes as well as Synthwave artists such as Power Glove and Carpenter Brut.
7 — Can you share the story behind your interest in retro synthesizers?
I’ve always gravitated towards keyboards and pianos when I was little. As I learned more about production I began to deconstruct my favorite songs, a few of them being from the 80s period. Through those songs’ deconstruction, I familiarized myself with the synths that were used.
I guess from a sonic aspect I really like the sounds from retro synths because of the nostalgia you can draw from them. I think hearing a sound from the past is effective in creating bridges between a past self and the present self.
8 — Do you have a favorite brand of synthesizer that you find yourself gravitating towards?
I have a Korg Minilogue XD which is so fun to play with. The sounds that come with it are phenomenal and require me to be more intentional with how the sounds fit in my tracks. Separately, I don’t have one yet but I am also a big fan of the Moog sounds.
9 — What advice do you have for aspiring synthesizer enthusiasts looking to explore this aspect of music creation?
Do your research! Don’t go and buy hardware just because you saw one video of someone doing an amazing session. Watch tutorials, unboxing videos, etc to really understand if the gear is going to bring a lot of value to your production. It doesn’t hurt to visit synth stores to try out the gear before you buy either.
10 — Is there an album or more collaborations in the works?
There is definitely something coming down the line. The future is bright. ;)
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Hi, I’m Erick Ycaza — a music blogger with a BA in Advertising & Graphic Design. I created this blog to keep you updated with daily music news. Surprisingly, I’ve been writing about music since 2007. If you’re an artist and would like to be featured, feel free to reach out: info@electrowow.net
