African American/Hispanic synthpop?

**rix harisson** · March 17th, 2003, 07:45 PM

Are there any African American or Hispanic synth pop bands out there?
I don�t mean house influenced, still sampling DJ/producers like Felix da Housecat (Whom the mainstream press call "synthpop"...I have the Kittinz in da Glitz CD and I disagree). I mean a band composed of black or Hispanic men/women who over the past 20 years were raised on synth pop and influenced by it and are now a touring synthesizer-playing band like Ladytron or Book of Love?
If so have they released any CDs?

**MidiRipper** · March 17th, 2003, 08:15 PM

I know there are ALOT of hispanic bands out there. Others, I'm sure can give you some band names. As for African Americans, I know of 2 bands that are fronted by by AAs. 1) The Mystic Underground 2) Carol Masters.

Both bands are great!

'Ripper

**rix harisson** · March 17th, 2003, 08:20 PM

thanxz!
i'll check them out.

**Hajas** · March 17th, 2003, 10:24 PM

Afro Americans are few
TKA
The Mystic Underground

Hispanic are many, these are fantastic!
Paris by Air
The Voice in Fashion
Noel
Clear Touch
... and many more.

good lucky

**MidiRipper** · March 17th, 2003, 11:11 PM

Originally posted by Hajas
Afro Americans are few
TKA
T

Actually, TKA are hispanic, and their music is freestlye, not synthpop.

'Ripper

**kellyrenee** · March 18th, 2003, 01:38 AM

Anything Box!

Claude is hispanic and I think Paul is too. Was Dania? Not sure.

On their official website a fan said:
When I was in Argentina, Anything Box was all they talked about... They are so popular in South America!"
--Tony Martinez, WEA

**Synthpopalooza** · March 18th, 2003, 04:55 AM

PLASTIC ORGASM PEOPLE

The #1 synthpop band from South America.

http://more.at/pop
http://www.mp3.com/PlasticOrgPeople

I swear Alejandro sounds just like Andy Bell. Oh, and I did a remix for them too, "The Meaning (of Love)", that song of theirs which was on Ninthwave's "Electricity" compilation. And they're also from Argentina.

**SFARAH** · March 18th, 2003, 06:42 AM

Many , many of us playing with the keys in the underground

**rix harisson** · March 18th, 2003, 11:50 AM

wow! thanxz for all the info.
but, Noel? are we talkin' 80's Noel who made "Like A Child" and "Silent Morning"?
He has left freestyke to become a synth pop artist?

**kellyrenee** · March 18th, 2003, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by Synthpopalooza
PLASTIC ORGASM PEOPLE

The #1 synthpop band from South America.

http://more.at/pop
http://www.mp3.com/PlasticOrgPeople

I swear Alejandro sounds just like Andy Bell. Oh, and I did a remix for them too, "The Meaning (of Love)", that song of theirs which was on Ninthwave's "Electricity" compilation. And they're also from Argentina.

Hey thanks! I'm interested as well to see what they're all about.

**Synthpopalooza** · March 18th, 2003, 02:28 PM

Oh as for African British synthpop (if that counts) ... who could forget the Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy" ... all time synthpop classic.

**Hajas** · March 21st, 2003, 10:12 PM

Originally posted by MidiRipper

Actually, TKA are hispanic, and their music is freestlye, not synthpop.

'Ripper

Well, the frontman Kayel is black, and I thought that we are talking about bands with Afro Americans and Hispanic. At the least TKA is both. hehehe

So New Clear Sky could be hispanic because his frontman is Colombian.

And freestyle is nothing more than latin synthpop to me, only mix latin beats. Many TKA songs are more synthpop than many famous synthpop artists.

Take a listen on his last work, the song "in a manner" that Martin Gore also recorded, the TKA version is fantastic! And better in my opinion.

About Noel, yeah, is the one of "Silent Morning" who worked with Paul Robb of Information Society. His is back with a new single and is now in studio recording his new album, that is more synth/trance sound, but still great.

Freddy

**synthpatico** · March 22nd, 2003, 12:34 AM

new clear sky front man is not colombian he's argentinian background, cesar is colombian he's the new member of the band, by the way robert sound great singing in spanish thanks to cesar's coaching in pronounciation.

TKA are puerto rican's, so is noel and a lot of those freestyle bands, i woundnt consider it synthpop, and i dont think they can speak spanish properly.
freestyle and synthpop are 2 different styles, way different.
just because information society had a freestyle beat and are also consider synthpop doesnt mean tka and noel are synthpop.

state of the union singer is colombian
neuropa keyboard player is uruguay background
claude, anything box is argentinian

**kellyrenee** · March 22nd, 2003, 03:38 AM

Originally posted by synthpatico
new clear sky front man is not colombian he's argentinian background, cesar is colombian he's the new member of the band, by the way robert sound great singing in spanish thanks to cesar's coaching in pronounciation.

TKA are puerto rican's, so is noel and a lot of those freestyle bands, i woundnt consider it synthpop, and i dont think they can speak spanish properly.
freestyle and synthpop are 2 different styles, way different.
just because information society had a freestyle beat and are also consider synthpop doesnt mean tka and noel are synthpop.

state of the union singer is colombian
neuropa keyboard player is uruguay background
claude, anything box is argentinian

Hey I LOVE your screen name - SYNTHPATICO. Very *nice*!!

**synthpatico** · March 22nd, 2003, 06:36 AM

hey is that you on the erasure pictures?
hey i like you very nice!!!!!!!!

by the way that band PLASTIC ORGASM sound great!!!!!!
very neuropa!
maybe that uruguay argentina influence!
good job.
where can i get more info on them, there might be a good show here in Ny?

**Synthpopalooza** · March 22nd, 2003, 06:14 PM

Well, their website is http://more.at/pop ... I believe the band is on hiatus at the moment and not doing any shows, because the singer, Alejandro, is currently in New York whilst Emiliano is still in Argentina. There is a CD single of "The Meaning (of Love)" which is being released on their Eternal Sunday label in Argentina, it features several remixes of the song (including the one by me, of course).

If I am not mistaken, you can also pick up their DAM CD off of mp3.com as well.

**Hajas** · March 23rd, 2003, 02:49 AM

Originally posted by synthpatico
new clear sky front man is not colombian he's argentinian background, cesar is colombian he's the new member of the band, by the way robert sound great singing in spanish thanks to cesar's coaching in pronounciation.

Ops, my mistake. Your are right.

TKA are puerto rican's, so is noel and a lot of those freestyle bands, i woundnt consider it synthpop, and i dont think they can speak spanish properly.
freestyle and synthpop are 2 different styles, way different.
just because information society had a freestyle beat and are also consider synthpop doesnt mean tka and noel are synthpop.

Well, Both was produced and have songs written by Paul Robb of Information Society, doing the same style. Why InSoc is synthpop and they not? Do you have any album by them? The Noel album is a lot different than a Stevie B album for exemple.

That "beat" that InSoc used was used also by DM, PSB, NO, Duran Duran, DOA and many other big synthpop bands.
The only difference is because the others aren't latin and had a big production and propaganda, different than TKA and Noel for exemple.

Freestyle is only one of the sub-styles of Synthpop, but still synthpop imo. Like VNV and APOP is Synthpop aside are "futurepop" like many said.

It's only a question of view.

I think that the main difference between Freestyle and pure Synthpop is 2 things: the latin rythms mixes on the beats, and almost freetyles albums have some really dance songs, that are more close to Backstreet boys than Synthpop or until Freestyle, I don't know why TKA recorded "crash" for exemple, aside they recorded some fatastic songs like "louder than love" and "give your love to me (original mix)", not the hiphop remix that appears on the album.

Almost of his songs are more close to InSoc than dance songs like "crash", so we can't label than because few different songs that not fit in synthpop.

Is like said that U2 is a dance band because you heard "Discoteque". Or Alphaville is Reggae because you heard
"Faith", really don't make any sense.

If you don't heard a full lenght album by TKA or NOEL yet, please do it and you will see what I'm trying to telling you.

The Noel self-title album is a piece of art.
Noel, different than TKA, never released a song like "crash" for exemple. But he is also still receiving preconception, I don't know why. :/

Freddy

**ERIC31** · April 1st, 2003, 07:02 AM

That's interesting. No black synthpop musicians/groups.

I guess I'm the lone ranger then. I have about 5 or 6 songs almost complete (no vocals). When I think the stuff is ready, I'll get it out there. Don't have a name for my group yet. My stuff is very minimalist and totally 80's style. Main influences: Human League, Yazoo, Depeche, Old A-Box, Old Red Flag. That is the stuff that gets me grooving. Not to mention newer stuff like Neuropa, Joy Electric, New Clear Sky, etc.

Even back in the 80-'s when I was a club kid, I almost never saw any other black people at the clubs I went to. It was very rare. People used to give me sh*t for being into "new wave" music and dressing "funny". I guess they couldn't relate to black trench coats, drain pipe trousers and Creepers. Not to mention a face full of makeup on nights out!

Is there anyone else in the Electrogarden that is black besides me?

(African American is such a cheesy P.C. term. I don't use it ever)

**Scar Chemik** · April 1st, 2003, 06:07 PM

Not exactly synthpop but ex-ClockDVA member Dean Dennis had his group Sector. Actually, I don't know if they are recording anymore.

I believe the late-80s/early 90s EBM band Code Industry from Detroit was almost all black. They had a few good songs.

Scar

**rix harisson** · April 3rd, 2003, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by ERIC31
That's interesting. No black synthpop musicians/groups.

I guess I'm the lone ranger then. I have about 5 or 6 songs almost complete (no vocals). When I think the stuff is ready, I'll get it out there. Don't have a name for my group yet. My stuff is very minimalist and totally 80's style. Main influences: Human League, Yazoo, Depeche, Old A-Box, Old Red Flag. That is the stuff that gets me grooving. Not to mention newer stuff like Neuropa, Joy Electric, New Clear Sky, etc.

hey eric, when you've named your project and release it, let me know as i'm interested. you're down the street from Oakland have you heard Ganymede's "Euromantique"? (from Oakland). Their sound has a touch of Visage, a pinch of OMD, a tad of A-box with some Human League and Kraftwerk spooned into the mix creating something that doesn't sound like any of them. With your influences you mentioned you will love these guys. Are you into Iris and Echo Image?

Oh, what does Neuropa sound like? (do a comparison)