Starting a synth pop band

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a mate and myself are planning on starting up a synth pop sort of group.

Give me your best bet on what to do get this shit off the ground?

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:27 (twenty-one years ago)

More info? What do you sound like? Cos if you sound like Real Life, I'm coming over to play keyboards.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:30 (twenty-one years ago)

things you will need: synths.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:33 (twenty-one years ago)

You need lots of nerve. And a good wardrobe.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:34 (twenty-one years ago)

You need to read Marc Almond's biography, 'Tainted Life'.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:34 (twenty-one years ago)

we are just starting! all we've got is a synthesizer and a drum machine. ha.

we are playing around with various obvious choice influences (kraftwerk, bowie blah blah blah).

best comparison is either ladytron but not so syrupy.

maybe more like Schneider TM?

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:35 (twenty-one years ago)

sounds like you've got everything you need! get a reverb unit for the vocals too

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Do people really choose influences when just forming a band? Have you written any songs yet?

― jazz odysseus, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:38 (twenty-one years ago)

you need the right 'do ... like this:

http://archive.salon.com/ent/music/review/2000/01/26/numan/story.jpg

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't try to sound like the Associates, you'll never pull it off.

Listen to early OMD, early Depeche Mode and Yaz a lot.

Two words for you:

OCTAVE BASSLINES

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:49 (twenty-one years ago)

monophonic keyboard riffs. Avoid polyphony.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Do not swing your hi-hats.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:54 (twenty-one years ago)

eyeliner - even for the boys.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 05:02 (twenty-one years ago)

if you have a newish synthesizer, turn off the goddamn touch-sensitivity.

monophonic keyboard riffs=yes. add portamento for electro-funk!

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 05:07 (twenty-one years ago)

portamento made Gary Numan's early stuff rock.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 05:11 (twenty-one years ago)

"Give me your best bet on what to do get this shit off the ground?"

Some ordinary household bleach

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 05:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Ipso, I thought you were above really bad jokes. I really had you on a pedestal - something for the rest of us to aspire to.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 05:47 (twenty-one years ago)

no i'm the worst. most of the time I restrain myself though.

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 06:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Buy a Korg M500 Micropreset and a Jen Synthetone (sic) cheaply off E-Bay (less than £100 each) and you are rocking!

Listen to Printed Circuit.

― mzui, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 07:32 (twenty-one years ago)

You need to listen to a lot of John Foxx, in fact, you need to lock yourself in a closet and listen to nothing but Metal Beat and Metamatic for like six months.

And you should also try and get a guy who went to beauty school in the band so that he can do your hair and make-up for you. You will save a fortune, trust me.

― The Rebukes of Hazard (mjt), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 07:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Plus you should really consider getting a red tie.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 07:58 (twenty-one years ago)

You need more of this:

http://www.garbledonline.net/ladytron.jpg

― Lil' Fancy Pants (ex machina), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

what synthpop bands had interesting (mechanical-sounding?) live drummers?

― etc, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 09:29 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.lotsofnoise.com/bands/Mahi%20Mahi/MahiMahi.jpg

― Lil' Fancy Pants (ex machina), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 09:40 (twenty-one years ago)

add n to x isnt old but they are synth + live drums

― astroblaster (astroblaster), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Wardrobe, boys in make-up and a comprehensive knowledge of Marc Almond's book all U&K.

Also, listen to Sparks. Steal their stuff. Fuck it, I can barely think of a single synth duo who haven't done so.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

done and done.

awesome. thanks everyone

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I have never untill now heard of a Jen Synthetone. Why, in the advanced days of DCOs, were people still making monophonic synthesizers? When is that thing from?

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

you should get an Ensoniq Esq-1 (the kind skinny puppy use) and a cheap Ottawa drum machine.

Then listen to a lot mid to late seventies David Bowie.

Then write a concept album about a robot learning to deal with its robot identity

Then play it live, adding 5 minutes worth of synth solo to every track. Then end all your shows with a 20 minute version of TVC 15

― Sam Steadio, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

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