Playlist: Forward To The Past 2

GLASS SPELLS
“Without You”
@glass_spells

Glass Spells are a San Diego–based synth‑pop and darkwave band known for blending shimmering retro synths, dance‑punk energy, and moody, modern electronic production. Their sound sits at the intersection of ’80s new wave, post‑punk, and indie electronic, driven by pulsing basslines, atmospheric synth textures, and emotive, melodic vocals. Formed in the mid‑2010s, the band has built a reputation for high‑energy live shows and sleek, neon‑tinged aesthetics. Their 2021 album “Crystals” helped solidify their identity—danceable, shadowy, and cinematic—earning them attention in the synthwave and indie‑electronic scenes.

Recently Anthony Spells and Tania Cassette announce on their Instagram page that they were going on their separate ways musically, ending this chapter of the Glass Spells, but not closing the door on the band completely.

DARKSOFT
“Spend Your Days”
@darks0ft


Darksoft is the creative moniker of a Maine‑based songwriter and producer who writes, records, and performs nearly all instrumentation himself — guitars, bass, drums, percussion, and analog synths. His music leans into dreamy indie rock, shoegaze haze, and philosophical, existential themes, often delivered with understated vocals and warm, nostalgic production. Since 2018, he has released a series of conceptual albums exploring ideas like digital anxiety, universal truths, and the rhythms of everyday life.

His work has been featured on college radio, Spotify’s Indie Fresh Finds, and indie‑music outlets such as Expand Your Playlist, and he tours with a full band to bring the layered studio sound to life.

DIRTY NANCY
“Narcoterrorista”
@dirtynancyband


Dirty Nancy are an electronic duo from Athens, Greece, creating dark, synth‑driven music that blends elements of synthwave, electro, and dystopian storytelling. They released their self‑titled debut album on November 24, 2023, a record built around themes of political tension, societal collapse, and personal unrest, expressed through pulsing synths, vocoder‑treated vocals, and a retro‑futuristic aesthetic. Their tracks — including “Explode,” “Runner,” “Implode,” “Wake Up,” “Narcoterrorista,” and “Ideal Life Begins” — lean into a gritty, neon‑soaked electronic sound. The duo also continues to release singles like “Sunday High,” which arrived in 2024 and expands on their cinematic, dystopian tone.

CAMP CRUSH
“Voices Carry”
@campcrush
campcrushmusic.com



Camp Crush are a Portland‑based indie‑pop duo known for blending retro synth textures, heartfelt songwriting, and a warm, cinematic 80s vibe. Made up of married partners Chris and Jen Deale, the band leans into shimmering keyboards, pulsing rhythms, and emotionally direct vocals that feel both nostalgic and modern. Their songs often explore love, connection, and personal growth, wrapped in glossy synth‑pop production that recalls bands like The Cure, CHVRCHES, and MUNA. Camp Crush have become a staple of the Pacific Northwest indie scene, releasing a steady stream of singles and EPs that highlight their polished, romantic, neon‑lit sound.

KAT VON D
“H.A.T.E.”
@thekatvond


Kat Von D’s “H.A.T.E.” is one of her darkest, most confrontational tracks — a brooding, industrial‑leaning song that channels anger, betrayal, and emotional exhaustion into a slow‑burn, gothic atmosphere. Built on pulsing synths, shadowy production, and her signature dramatic vocals, the song feels like a cathartic purge, exploring the moment when love curdles into resentment and self‑protection. “H.A.T.E.” fits squarely within the moodier side of her My Side of the Mountain era, where she leans into vulnerability, shadow work, and the raw edges of heartbreak.

BRIGITTE CALLS ME BABY
“There Always”
@brigittecallsmebaby



Brigitte Calls Me Baby are a Chicago‑based alternative rock band blending new wave, jangle‑pop, and post‑punk into a sleek, modern sound driven by dramatic vocals and tight, melodic arrangements. Formed in 2022 by singer Wes Leavins along with Jack Fluegel, Devin Wessels, and Jeremy Benshish, the band quickly gained attention after early gigs opening for Inhaler and Muse. Their debut album “The Future Is Our Way Out” (2024) introduced their lush, cinematic style, described as upbeat synth textures paired with jangly guitars and punchy rhythms.