Interview: Five minutes with At 1980

       Image credit: Nima Elm

A little old school, a little new school. A little pop, a little synth. All in all, what it really comes down to is some good synthpop, dressed up to the nines and ready to be taken out for the night. At 1980, a duo comprised of Adrian Quesada Michelena, who is from Madrid, Spain and Josh Dally, who is from Brighton, UK have just released their latest LP Late Night Calls. Now anything that’s paired with the NewRetroWave label really shouldn’t need justification, but if you’re looking for somewhere to start we recommend you take a look at the pair’s live edition of ‘California Nights’, shot at the Brighton Electric Studios.

Stream/ download: Late Night Calls LP

As always, we’re eager to explore the minds of new producers breaking the boundaries of traditional music and following their gut. Join us, as we sit down for an exclusive interview with At 1980, following the release of their latest LP. 

Set the tone for us. Why the arts?

It´s our language, the way we can communicate our emotions.

Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?

The idea

Does your material feature any collaborations?

Our first album featured 3 collaborations (Timecop1983, Camille Glémet, Dana Jean Phoenix)

What’s on your current playlist?

Hotel Apache, Metallica, The Midnight, Degreed

What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound?

Soft synth sound design

Take us through a day in the recording studio.

Trying to get a feeling recorded without overthinking

Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?

Yes, when playing the first gig

What do you keep close by while you’re playing a set?

The little kid in us

Any emerging artists on your radar?

Shadowrunner82

What gets your creative juices flowing?

A nostalgic melody

Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.

Fender guitars, Orage amps, U-he diva synths, Logic+Mac, 10,000 plugins

Any side projects you’re working on?

Josh Dally solo album

How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry?

Yes, massively, especially in the last 2 years

Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?

A new LP full of emotion.

Follow At 1980:

Facebook – Twitter – Soundcloud – Youtube – Instagram – Spotify