A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THIS SCENE SINCE 2011. IT HAS RAPIDLY GROWN IN BOTH ARTISTS AND LISTENERS ALIKE. NRW PREDICTS THAT IN 2-3 YEARS TIME, WE WILL BE SEEING/ HEARING OF RETRO ARTISTS SIGNING TO MAJOR LABELS AND SETTING THE SCENE FOR MAINSTREAM EXPOSURE.
BUT THE MAIN QUESTION IS……IS THAT WHAT THE SCENE NEEDS?
WILL EXPOSURE TO THE MAINSTREAM MAKE OR CRIPPLE THE RETRO-REVIVAL?
WE WOULD LOVE FOR POP MUSIC IN 2015 TO BE NOTHING BUT RETRO BLISS ON ALL THE MAJOR RADIOS.
ARE WE DREAMING TOO MUCH?
THOUGHTS?
3 thoughts on “THE RETRO SCENE – WHERE IT STANDS.”
Honestly i dont think it will be the mainstream – Simply because you have artists like Ga Ga who are already selling a watered down 80s thing,and i think thats a good thing. The longer the retro scene stays out the limelight, the stronger its roots will become,and it will have its OWN history, rather than just being looked on as an 80s revival thing.Its a great thing to see young people discover new music themselves, rather than having it sold to them ( I was lucky enough to be a teenager in the 80s!). You can look at the very early years of Hip Hop which had nearly a decade in the 70s as an underground thing, and even now over 30years later more savvy fans still try and unearth long forgotten mix tapes,from those days,and learn all the early history. THATS what any scene needs to have real longevity.I also though do feel that there has to be evolution.The music has to find its own path – You can love 80s music,and stay retro,but you have to add something to it to make it unique for now, otherwise eventually the music will be stifled – This happened to Northern Soul in the U.k, but there are some amazing young producers around now who i'm sure will find new paths to take this music!! And i'll be listening! -Neon Vandal
My honest thought is that most artists and listeners around the New retro scene wouldn't "sellout" for some mainstream producer or sound. This scene feels strong from it's roots and in it's sound. If it goes mainstream I think and I hope that it wont change much if it changes at all – except reach a bigger audience. Which would only be a good thing. Think about havin' a New Retro Festival with neon lights, chrome, space scooters and lazers n shit! I'm following this scene with excitement!
This is not something that we can speculate upon, nor can we anticipate the positive or negative outcome of this genre's revival into mainstream media. Unlike many modern songs, which implement 80s beats and melodies, New Retro Wave music invents its own. I guess I'm not really drawing conclusions with this comment, but I believe that whatever happens, happens.