We are The Midnight and we’re playing Electric Forest for the first time. Ask us Anything!
*** THIS AMA STARTS AT NOON PST ***
There is a Japanese term: Mono no aware. It means basically, the sad beauty of seeing time pass—the aching awareness of impermanence. These are the days that we will return to one day in the future only in memories.
The Midnight consists of Tyler Lyle (a songwriter from the Deep South) and Tim McEwan (a producer from Denmark).
We are playing Electric Forest for the first time and touring the world this year: https://www.themidnightofficial.com/shows
![User avatar](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="256" height="256"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
Hi guys!
We made the trip from Argentina to NYC to see you in Brooklyn Steel on 2018. We were there, front and center and it was one of the most wonderful experiences my wife and I had. We're so thankful for that. Tyler neared the microphone to where we were during Gloria and I thought my wife would pass out =D.
I just wanted to drop by and thank you for your music, but since you're doing questions... Any plans on visiting South America?
How would you describe your style of music to someone who isn't familiar with you?
That's a very good question. I've described our previous albums as if Miami Vice had a baby with a John Hughes movie. But the newer stuff is evolving into a new thing so who knows where it will all go. Tim
Do you guys want an r/ElectricForest subreddit sticker to slap somewhere?
You let me know where to ship em and we'll get a few out to you guys! Your guys know my email, just let them know where you want them sent! :)
I have no question. I just wanted to let you guys know you absolutely rock and I love your music!
Is there anything in particular that draws you to the 80s/90s sound and aesthetic? For me there is a certain amount of romance and nostalgia for a time before social media, 400 cable channels, in retrospect it seems an era where people were less apologetic and more of the moment.
When you're young, you're wide open. You're like a slow shutter on a camera, just taking everything in- full exposure. As you get older, you get better at filling your shoes, doing your job, being in relationships, but that's because you filter so much out. You can get too good at that. Tim and I were both kids in the 80s, and I think that simply being a child in that era meant that the sights and sounds were unfiltered, and because of that, they live in deeper parts of us. We're all searching for origins, and rediscovering the early moments of wonder for the second time gives us delight. We're archeologists of nostalgia because it puts us in touch with deeper places in ourselves, before we knew how to filter life out. -Tyler
Over the last year you've talked a lot about evolving the genre. What does that mean to you and in what ways are you hoping to do so? Does your evolution include the live performance as well?
Love your music, can't wait until you're back in SoCal. Haven't missed a show yet.
Hopefully we'll always keep evolving our live shows as we grow.
In terms of the production, it's an ongoing thing and I'm definitely in the midst of that right now. It's creatively frustrating but also rewarding when you hit on something that feels new and exciting to you. As a producer, I don't want to feel stale and doing the same Synthwave sound for a decade would destroy my love for music. It has to evolve.
Tim
Synthwave definitely needs to be given space to change and grow. Too much genre purity can really make it hard for creativity to foster. There’s a few artists with interesting new takes on the genre
Hey you guys! I was there for your first show in SF in 2017, and I've seen you each time you've played in the Bay Area. I was running a 180 mile relay race during your show a couple weeks ago in Oakland. I got lucky in that we happened to be passing near SF that evening. I ran my leg, ran over to Oakland for your show, then left during the last song to meet my team and run a midnight 7-miler along Ocean Beach.
My question: you guys touch on a lot of aging millennial angst in your music. The grind, the frustration, what is adulthood, nostalgia for a time passed in the 80s and 90s. Is it productive? Do you worry that this retro nostalgia might be holding us back at times? Is there a way to bring that love of a fantastical vibrant retro past into the future and use it to fuel our present endeavors?
Sorry, that got a little heady. Would love your thoughts.
Second question: Will Tim ever sing "Synthetic" live in concert? Please say yes.
*cough*alsomarrymetim*cough*
Addendum: "America Online" is everything. It took a moment to grow on me, but wow, that desire for connection, the difficulty and fear in opening up. So much emotion in so few words. I can't wait for the new album.
The funny thing about art is that even when it progresses, it stands still. It's not like engineering or space travel or biology, which are always building upwards from foundational pillars. Medicine will improve. Technology will continually allow us to discover more. Our methods get better. Our body of knowledge increases. Art isn't like that. There isn't a "better" in art. There are phases to culture, and they generally center around small pockets of creative personalities who are concerned about specific questions. What is natural? What is artificial? Is art supposed to be beautiful? What is authenticity? Do we serve the age or betray it? Dylan at Newport. Disco into New Wave. Hair Metal into Grunge. Grunge into Hootie & The Blowfish. 70s camp into Gen X irony. It seems like the pendulum always swings- counter culture becomes culture- the old mainstream will become the new counter culture in a generation or so.
Nostalgia, for me anyway, is a trailhead. It's not the destination. It's a starting point for a whole world of interesting questions, none of which are trapped in a past decade. The fun part of music, as opposed to scientific or academic pursuits is that we can contradict ourselves any time it feels interesting to. The question of anomie and alienation isn't just a 21st century issue, (Emile Durkheim was writing about in the 1800s- Michel de Montaigne in the 1600s), but that seems to be the aesthetic/moral idea we're chewing on. Retro nostalgia is just a sideways angle of entering these questions in a creative way. The destination is still over the horizon. Always has been. Thanks for your question -Tyler
Los Angeles, bc my wife's vocals are in the track on the last chorus and I get to sing with her every night for a few seconds. -Tyler
Sunset is always fun because it gets the whole room going!
Tim
Hello! Thank you for having this AMA! I went to your concert in Dallas this past April as my first concert experience ever, and let me say y’all ROCKED my socks off! You set the bar for any other band’s concerts I may attend so high that it’s unfair. So, thank you for providing such a great experience. Onto the questions:
What was the inspiration for the band name?
What other themes/emotions would/have y’all think/thought about exploring in future songs/albums?
Bonus: How are the prospects looking for a cover of a Toto’s “Africa”? I hope I’m not alone in thinking you guys would knock it out of the park.
Thank you for your time.
Great questions!
Tim and I just kept spitballing names until something stuck. Early failures I remember... "Lightyears" "Temporary Tigers" "The Midnight Tigers" and then Tim says "What about just 'The Midnight'?" and then I was like "there's no way anyone would be able to find us on Google."
Themes I'm interested in follow Joseph Campbell's trend of the social mask you're born into, then the antithetical mask you give yourself and utopia as a concept. Tim anchors these to real sounds and images, but I'm more of the forrest for the trees kind of guy.
We love that song and would never want to ruin it for you.
-Tyler
· 4 yr. agoforrest forest FTFY
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Thanks ! Glad you enjoyed yourself !
- Can't even remember how we came up with the name tbh.
- Good question! I guess we''ll see...
- If we were to do a Toto cover, I can guarantee you it wouldn't be AFRICA lol. I'm a OG Toto fan and that's the song i listen the least to sorry. I'd have to go These Chains or A Thousand Years or something from The Seventh One (their best album IMHO). They're the gods !
Tim
Tim, how did you get into music production, and Tyler, how did you develop your voice and get into singing?
I grew up in a small town with a dad who was the choir director in a small town. I grew up singing in the church choir. -Tyler
Hey guys! My name is Jason and I met you at your Meow Wolf Show in Santa Fe ^^ I frequently do Guitar Covers of your Music on Youtube as well. You did a great show and you're so awesomely nice in person! I'm curious to ask: What vocoder did you use on America Online and what was that cool nostalgic synth in the beginning? Was it from a plugin or an actual synth?
*sings* "Ooooooh Jasooooon....."
- The synth in the opening of America Online is Serum with EchoMelt 2 to add the uneven tape jitter effect
- The vocoder I used was a mix of VocalSynth 2 from iZotope and BitSpeek. (you can also hear BitSpeek on our song Nighthawks)
Tim
I remember when I met you that night at Meow Wolf when I introduced myself as Jason to you and Tyler how you said ''Jason!'' you're awesome Tim! XD Tyler is awesome too as is the whole band ^^
Thank you for telling me! I'll definitely look into those cool plugins :) I play the Midi Keys sometimes and I'm still trying to learn how to use Spire and get the hang of it. I've been playing guitar for 12 years but I'm a beginner when it comes to the Piano/Keys even though I try lol.
I'll listen to Nighthawks again to try and listen to that cool vocoder sound!!!
Thanks again Tim :)
The AOL vocals on a few of our dates came from an iPhone app our front of house lady Alice found. It worked surprisingly well in the room, but I couldn't hear it in my monitors. We're working on a better live vocoder solution for fall. Liking the microKorg XL, but still looking. -Tyler
That sucks Tyler I'm sorry to hear :/ What was the name of that iPhone App by the way?
I hope whatever solution you find for performing AOL live will work out as you plan :)
I know the new updated MicroKorg S Synth has a built in vocoder and built in speakers too. I think its an updated version of the silver microkorg but I have no idea how it would sound live.
The microkorg XL does seem to be pretty awesome though too!
I was going to save this question for September when I see you guys in Chicago, but I figured I may as well ask now.
Is that Vocodex I hear in Wave? During the "I'll keep dreaming" sequence? Every time I hear it, it immediately throws me back to my younger days before I got my MicroKorg XL and had to use software for multi-band vocal attacks like that.
Idk hopefully that's not too specific. Keep up the good work, can't wait for the next album!
That's not a vocoder but an online voice generator and then I manipulated the notes. I did the same in Endless Summer.
Tim
You rock!
- Right now it's The Terminator from 1984
- I'd have to say The Fox in Oakland
Tim
Hi friends!
What are you looking forward to the most at your first artist experience in the forest?
Also, do you plan on exploring the forest?
Thanks! Can’t wait to enjoy your set :)
everyone talks about the forest with such reverence. we're excited to come for the first time and explore! -Tyler
A while back you posted a sample of a track to go with the Charlie Sheen cigarette advert. Will that ever become a full track?
You never know.... I may or may not be working on it right this moment.... There's no way of knowing..................
Tim
Thank you for the reply. The amount of times I’ve replayed that clip has made me a chain smoker
First of all, you two are one of the best on the scene and there's not a lot of things I look more forward to than a new single or album from you guys.
As a relatively new band and an indie one at that, has it been hard to break in on the industry, especially considering synthwave wasn't exactly mainstream a few years back? I manage some smaller artists myself on the EDM scene and have been curious about this one.
Second of all, I bought the whole discography on vinyl as soon as I could, they were perfect to be on a record. I love it and actually prefer to forego streaming to listen to them instead. I just wonder why did you stop using the anti-static/anti-scratch sleeve for the records after Endless Summer repress?
Thanks for everything you do, you've made a lot of my days. Looking forward to seeing you in Finland in October!
- Never thought about if it would be hard or easy to "break into the industry". We created The Midnight so as to not have to worry about that stuff and continue not to, to this day. We're making music for ourselves and if other like it, great. If not, the way I see it, there's lots of other great music out there for people to listen to.
- I didn't even know about the anti scratch thing. I don't even know what that is tbh lol SORRY thats way above my pay grade
- See you in Finland!
Tim
Hey Tyler & Tim. You guys are amazing!! My brother and I are really big fans. We came to the Nashville show and had the best time ever! Not only did the set list blow me away, the saxophone and light show also definitely set the tone.
I think what sets you guys apart from a lot of other artists is how your lyrics and music combine perfectly and resonate with your fans. The songs touch people on a deep level and create a connection. This connection is what fans crave.
I’m honestly curious what kind of setup you use when making music? What DAW, controller, fave instruments, etc. do you fall back on, or do you switch it up? How did you decide to incorporate sax in addition to other sounds? Just wondering what processes you go through.
And, when are you coming back to Nashville? Hopefully soon, so your Nashville fans can show their support!!
And if we live forever, let us live forever tonight.
We both use Logic in our studios. I default to guitar. Tim's playground is synth and drums. He's the wizard producer. Live we use an Ableton rig. In Tim's section, he uses an SPD SX and Midi controller. I run my guitars through a Kemper profiling amp, and I have an OP1 for certain synth moments and pads. Last tour Leto had a Minilogue and a sax.
I love Nashville. That venue was a privilege to play.
-Tyler
Thank you, glad you dug the show! Nashville was a great crowd.
It's a pretty simple setup honestly. Logic Pro, a bunch of in the box synths and then good old mixing. Synths I like are Diva, Serum, Spire, TAL U NO LX, Roland Cloud Jupiter 8 and Juno 106.
Tim
I don’t really know what to ask but I really love the song Shadows! It hits me right in the feels. I hope to catch your set at Forest! :)
No question as well. Ily you guys and I wish your music played in the background at all times as the soundtrack of my life.
Did you ever think when you posted your first song that you’d get this popular?
What convinced you to do a show in Pittsburgh next month? (Which I'm super happy about!)
I also wanting to say, growing up a lonesome homeschooler only child, I missed out on a lot of the feelings and experiences that Kids evokes, yet it still evokes those feelings in me and it gives me gives me glimpses into what I didn't have while still hitting me where I am, like with Explorers. So thank you for that, and I have a feeling that your next album with America Online will hit every nail on the head for me growing up how I did.
P.S. idk how you feel about this but your headband makes a great fursuit tail accessory! XD https://i.imgur.com/npJbTLe.jpg
Thanks! I hope our next album will give you those feels.
Tim
Hey Tim and Tyler. My absolute favorite band.
Tim, did you use the abbey road mastering chain on AOL? It sounds a bit heavier than previous releases. Also what's usually on your vocal chain?
Tyler, how did you pick topics for From The Secret Lair and how did you go about researching things? It's by far my favorite podcast I've ever listened to. Any future of it continuing?
Thanks so much for listening to the Secret Lair! I really just picked topics that I wanted to learn more about. It was a very creative time. I would love to continue working on something in the same spirit. Unsure what form that will take, but I am curious about trying something new this summer, so stay tuned!
-Tyler
I DID! That's a crazy you have and I don't know what black magic you used to even know that. I used it on the master chain and have been using on this new album in general . It's amazing. Highly recommend.
Vocal chain varies honestly so there's no set strip.
- Tim
This is indeed very important. It really depends on the donut but I'm partial to cinnamon/sugar or possibly chocolate.
Tim
Hey Tim and Tyler,
Been following you guys (well I guess Tyler) since the golden age and the silver girl.
Was curious about your latest cassette dead drop. What motivated or inspired that and what else do you have planned to push your newest album?
Can’t wait to hear some more!
we want to engage with fans more, and the cassette drop was a super fun way to do that- maybe something we'll incorporate more in the future. At the Atlanta drop, I got to meet a bunch of fans face to face and speak with them for a while. Super gratifying for some one on one time, because It's hardly ever possible at shows. -Tyler
I was fortunate enough to see you guys in Columbus last month and I am planning on making the drive to Toledo to see you guys again this September. First off thank you for an amazing experience. Now to my question which is what groups/artists in the synth/vapor genre should we be looking out for? As in who are your personal favorites right now.
I couldn't even tell you. I don't listen to a ton of Synthwave/Vaporwave. But a band I've fallen in love with in the last year is The Paper Kites https://open.spotify.com/track/0ySZOAaEFX3NxykNIsFsEO?si=kKL2yD4uS8WyPaKE_AmwAw
Tim
Your guys music is so atmospheric and unique, even in the vaporwave genre it seems like you guys standout the most. I'm curious, what music, film, etc. has inspired you guys the most with your work?
Just want to say you guys were amazing in Phoenix, can't wait to see you in LV in the fall!!
Edit: a word
Thank you! Lately, I've been more inspired by early 90s movies and commercials for The Internet" and such. There's a vapidness to those ads that I love. It's all empty promise and I love leaning into the cynicism of Vaporwave.
Tim
Hey flew out from England to see you in Madrid and you killed it, spoke to Chris afterwards and he was kind enough to give me a setlist. Was wondering how you guys construct your setlists for shows? Is it mostly straightforward, are there arguments or needs for compromise?
PS. Please please play Synthetic live at Manchester ly xxx
We're still a young live band. Our setlist were pretty straightforward this spring with tiny variations. We're trying for more variation, going deeper into the catalog for fall. -Tyler
Saw you guys in Columbus OH a short while ago - it was a great show.
I wonder what other elements you are thinking of bringing to your live performance? You've really upped the lighting/fx game and the sax is always a crowd favorite.
I suggest you perform in 1980s Replica NASA Space Suits but that's up to you!
ah, the Moby. Love the suggestion! We're thinking hard about how to grow our live show. We'd love input! (apparently the Space Suits are super hot on stage) -Tyler
Oh Tyler - you aren't thinking outside the box enough!
Take those Space Suits and turn them into assless chaps. You get the sweet space suit aesthetic with the ball/ass air flow of chaps.
Foggy stage + Carl Sagan Introduction + Assless Chap Nasa Suits! This would be a great first step hahaha!
Hi guys. Saw you in scala london in march and you were fantastic. Also going to see you at SWX in bristol in november.
Your music has helped me through a lot of tough times recently and i just wanna say thank you for that. It just brings back so much nostalgia from my youth.
I also asked on twitter a while back about a christmas remix of kick drums and red wine to be called kick drums and mulled wine hows that going? :)
That's amazing to hear. Thank you!
Working on the remix now lol JK
Tim
hey guys super huge, number one , mega, big time ,huge fan
also love your darker album Nocturnal 🖤
what was the inspired you to go this route when most albums were fun/happy/hopeful?
and do you find happier stuff to draw more people or is it equal?
hope to meet someday take care
- D
$ <3 XXX
Thank you! Good question. I honestly don't know. We both like a good mix so I suppose it's up to people to listen to what they like.
Tim
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY! COMMENTS ARE CLOSED. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU NEXT MONTH AT ELECTRIC FOREST!!!!!
Hey, I was also wondering if you guys have any tips for people just starting out with creating music, more specifically snythwave. I been trying to get into creating music, but I really don't have any idea what I'm doing or where to start.
There is no right or wrong way. You just have to start. It's on you. watch a bunch of youtube tutorials for the technical stuff but it's really just about making tons of mistakes.
Tim
I've been super digging the OA recently. Time travel sci-fi with a bit of mythology and whimsy- sign me up. -Tyler
are there going to be sax solos in the next album and tracks like "Collateral" and "Crockett's Revenge" in the next album?
have you thought of giving an instrumental to a famous singer "Justin Timberlake" as a special song in some of your works?
Thanks and big love to you and your astonishing style of music, peace.
Probably no crooner sax solos like those songs no. Might be some sax tho, we'll see.
Tim
I'm always reading. Ready Player One was super fun. Inhaled it in two days on a beach in Hawaii a couple years ago. I like adventures and mythology and creative psychology and urban planning. The last book I read was Joseph Campbell's Pathways to Bliss, and I can't recommend it enough. -Tyler
hey guys!
have you ever thought about possibly putting a live album together? i know it might be a bit difficult to do, but i've always wanted to see you guys live and i just haven't been able to go, mainly because of school (drop by state college, pa sometime??), but i'd love to hear how it sounds!
thank you!
yeah maybe sometime in the future that could be fun to explore
Tim
Any thoughts on why so many talentless people are all of a sudden “Spotify playlist curators” and charge Synthwave artists a fee for playlist placement? Has the scene been so committed to the 80s aesthetic that now people are acting like old school record labels?
is this happening?! how do I get in on it?
Kidding!!!!
The cream rises. Community matters. Pay your dues. The rest comes in its own time. don't pay the bastards to play your music. -Tyler
I have no idea haha. I didn't even know this was a thing.
Tim
Would you prefer the fans to listen to The Midnight on a streaming service other than spotify considering their history and their poor record with paying artists their dues?
I actually don't know what pays best but I think make more money if you buy our album on Bandcamp vs just streaming it on Spotify or Apple Music.
Tim
hard to say. we're tiny little artists and the changes in music are tectonic- way bigger than we can comment on here. We make the most money if you buy something directly from our merchandise table or our webstore. If you stream, the next best option is if you actually pay to subscribe to the service (I pay for Spotify, Apple, & Amazon-because Garth Brooks). Our rate is much higher than if you use the free radio service. Pandora or other internet radio sites pay the worst. Finding "the most ethical" way to listen to music is hard these days. We love and appreciate you however you're able to do it. -Tyler
That’s good to hear because I’ve probably played Lost and Found and America 2 (let’s not exaggerate) no less than 40,000 times each on Spotify.
Oh man that's a tough one... I'd have to say Coldplay or The 1975.
Tim
Did you guys have any idea that you were going to pretty much be everyone’s favourite New Retro Wave artist? Also, who is Gloria and do you still feel so much better today?
We had no idea we were going to be anyone's fav artist, no matter which community. it's just great to see our songs resonate.
Tim
Thanks for responding Tim! I love your music and I listen to you guys almost every day. I haven’t enjoyed an artist this much in a long time. Just wanna say thanks 🙏
What are some of the main synthesizers you use for your music production?
I love Serum for versatility and powerful effects chain. For more retro warmth I love Diva, TAL-U-NO-LX and also Roland Cloud's Jupiter 8 and Juno 106 emulations. Also Spire for it's quality sounds and tons of presets.
Tim
Hey guys!
Recently discovered you guys and I love your work! I’m gonna see you live in London at the Roundhouse so what can I expect?
Also I heard one of you used to work at Apple?? Any truth to that?
Thanks! 💜
Totally false. I was a roofer. I laid sod. I cut a lot of grass. Delivered hamburgers. Swept up parking lots. Spun signs advertising an apartment complex. I think if I'd ever had a decent job, this music thing would have been impossible. Good to stay hungry. At least when you're young -Tyler
I think you're mistaking us for FM-84. Colin from that band works at Apple.
Tim
SUP BRO
We've certainly thought about it
I'd have to say Lost Boy because it's the song where I'm the most happy with the production on the track
Tim
I was at your Phoenix AZ show, was my first ever concert too. And man that night i will never ever forget, it was such an amazing experience. Will you guys ever be coming to AZ again? Me and so many others love you guys here
Hell yeah we'd love to and I'm sure we'll be back again!
Tim
No question, just immense gratitude for thinking of Florida this September. Cannot wait.
I grew up in Georgia. a huge chunk of every summer was spent in Florida. It's such a great, weird, diverse, beautiful place. Can't wait to play for you Floridians! -Tyler
What are you all listening to right now? Other than Tyler's new solo album of course ;)
I've been listening to a lot of urban pop like Khelani, Lennon Stella, NexXthursday, Ty Dollar Sign and Post Malone.
Tim
thanks for the shout out! I'm all about Big Thief and Bibio right now. -Tyler
Seeing you in November in Dublin! Been waiting on you to announce here for soo long. no question so no need to respond, but huge thanks for everything your music has done for me.
![Cake day](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="80" height="80"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
We have played it a few times but only at some of our shows.
Tim
Oh wow! Dang, I need to find some video of that. Well, you guys are incredible. Some of the most unique music I’ve heard in many many years. You’ve hit my top 3 favorite artist ever next to U2 and REM. Loved your show in Nashville. Can’t wait to hear this next album. “America Online” is amazing.
Nothing planned. I prefer to be more in the background and let Tyler handle the lead singing as he is much better at it lol - Tim
Your songs are absolutely fantastic.
If I were to do a fan animation for one of your songs, would you guys be cool with it? .-.
Keep being awesome!!
do you think youll ever play in nyc? my friend and i absolutely love your work and want to see you guys live but its never been close enough to us in connecticut
We've played three shows in NYC in the last year or so. We'll be in Albany next month. -Tyler
Love your latest single guys. When is the next EP or album dropping on us?
Thx for the reply dude :) I run small synthwave/retrowave party in Slovakia called Nightcall.
You probably have agents for this kind of thing, but in case you plan tour in the future, feel free to get in touch with us :)
Love the new single! When can we expect new music? Hopefully by this fall!
He's very unimpressed with anything I do. Unless it involves treats.
Tim
that time I started getting too good at call of duty on PS3 and started getting heart murmurs. my wife had to throw away the power chord so that I could become a human being again. everything in moderation is a true motto that I don't know how to follow. -Tyler
Hey Guys! Thanks for all the wonderful music that you make.
I love your original music, as well as your album "The Midnight Remixed" with Michael Cassette, Johan Vilborg, Etc.
Any plans on doing a volume two?
Keep crushing it!!!
Attending the Cleveland House Of Blues show in June. Will there be any supporting acts or is it gonna be pure Midnight jams? By the way, cannot wait to see you guys live. :D
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