Spotlight: Dream Shore
1. City as a Muse
Miami has its own rhythm and story. In what ways do your experiences in Miami inspire the textures and vibes in your synthwave productions?
Miami is the heartbeat behind everything I create. The city’s neon reflections, the pulse of the nightlife, the humid haze of a summer night — all of that bleeds into the textures of my music. I often find myself inspired by the contrast here: fast cars on Ocean Drive versus the stillness of a 3AM coastline. The city’s past and present exist in harmony, and that’s exactly what I try to capture sonically.
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2. Fusion of Past and Present
Your sound uniquely merges ’80s nostalgia with modern production techniques. Can you share how you experiment with vintage influences to create something entirely new?
I start by immersing myself in retro textures — whether it’s Synth Plugins or A few hardware synths I use to create. But instead of recreating the past, I like to distort it, stretch it, modernize the edges. I’ll layer lush 80s pads with cinematic risers, sprinkle in chopped vocal samples, and apply techniques like granular synthesis to add modern unpredictability. It’s about translating memory through a future-facing lens.
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3. The Studio Journey
Every track has a story. Is there a breakthrough moment or experimental session in the studio that reshaped the direction of your music?
One session that stands out is when I was working on the track Runaway. I originally wrote it as an instrumental, but something was missing. I decided to write lyrics on the spot — something raw, instinctive — and recorded the vocals in one take. That moment taught me to let go of control and trust the emotion in the room. It completely reshaped how I approached future tracks: feeling first, polish later.
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4. Dual Role – Artist and Curator
As founder of Neon&Above Label, you’re shaping more than your own sound. What is your vision for the label, and how do you foster creativity in emerging electronic musicians?
My vision is to build a home for artists who don’t fit the mold — people who are carving out something emotionally rich and sonically unique in the retro-electronic space. I mentor by listening deeply and giving feedback that centers around identity: What story are you telling? What makes your sound yours? We provide support, but we never try to overwrite someone’s voice. Authenticity is everything.
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5. Navigating the Digital Soundscape
In a digital era where music lives on multiple platforms, how do you keep your artistry authentic while engaging with fans on streaming services and social media?
I stay grounded by remembering why I started making music —
not for numbers, but to move people. I share behind-the-scenes moments, works-in-progress, or even quiet reflections from the studio. It’s less about promotion, more about inviting people into the process. Whether it’s a loop I posted on IG or a full album on Spotify, the soul behind it remains intact.
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6. Collaboration and Creative Growth
Collaborative projects can open new doors. Can you tell us about a recent collaboration that pushed you to rethink your creative process or explore new sonic territories?
Working with Rain4Sale on “I Will Let Go” was a transformative experience. Their vocal style is raw and haunting, and it challenged me to strip back my layers and let space speak louder than sound. We built the track from emotion outward, not production inward. That shift taught me a lot about restraint — that sometimes what’s not played is just as powerful.
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7. Looking Forward
With synthwave constantly evolving, what unexpected genres or artistic experiments do you feel drawn to explore next, and how do you see that influencing your future projects?
Lately, I’ve been drawn to fusing ambient techno with dream pop — exploring mood-driven rhythms that still carry the warmth of retro synths. I’m also interested in scoring for short films and building visual albums. I see the future of my music becoming more cinematic, immersive, and cross-disciplinary. It’s not just sound anymore — it’s an entire world you step into.