“Listen while you read”
If you think you know what synthwave sounds like, Ness Daniels and her band are here to push that boundary. Blending electronic production with live sax, dual guitars, and hard‑hitting drums, this El Paso project doesn’t just revisit the ’80s, they rebuild it with new architecture. Their sound is cinematic, nostalgic, and unexpectedly aggressive, creating a world where neon dreams collide with metal riffs, jazz‑trained drum grooves, and video‑game‑inspired melodies.
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Where It Began: The Moment It Became Real
Every project begins with curiosity, but it takes a moment of clarity for it to become a responsibility. For guitarist Erwin, that realization hit the first time he heard the band live:
“This was a bonafide group. It pushed me to further explore the boundaries of what synthwave can be.”
With roots in ’80s metal, modern rock, and a collective love for heavier music, each member brought their own influences into Ness Daniels. Ness, the project’s vocalist, producer, and creative anchor, built the foundation, but the project truly came alive when the others stepped in.
“Creating alongside others is what feels unlike anything I’ve done before,” she explains. “I used to only play pre‑made things in other bands. But with this, I want the guys to have freedom to create and shape the music with me. I was stubborn and letting people in was scary, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way.”
Her willingness to open the creative door turned an idea into a full‑fledged artistic commitment.
Balancing Synthetic and Organic: The Sound of Two Worlds Colliding
Synthwave has always lived in digital landscapes, but this band injects it with breath, sweat, and physical energy. Saxophonist Alex describes their inspiration clearly:
“Acts like The Midnight and media like Stranger Things influenced our direction. But what really shaped my approach was seeing Mos Def’s ‘Auditorium’ performed live with the Robert Glasper Experience taking a studio track to the stage and making something new.”
That philosophy defines their sonic identity. Honoring the genre’s nostalgic roots while reshaping them with improvisation, live textures, and unexpected genre crossovers.
Pushing Past Comfort: Embracing the Unfamiliar
For Ness, the biggest leap was letting the project become a collaboration. After years of fronting bands with pre‑written material, she embraced a new dynamic, one that invited risk. The band’s shared love of metal and breakdown‑heavy music also crept into her synthwave vision. Ness laughs when describing that transition:
“I knew I wanted some edge in there, but I was scared. What if it didn’t sound good? But it ended up working better than I hoped.”
This willingness to experiment gives the project its signature sound: retro but restless, nostalgic yet daringly modern.
World‑Building Beyond Sound
Beyond the sonics, Ness Daniels crafts an entire emotional and visual universe, neon color palettes, cinematic moods, and cyber‑noir storytelling. Drummer Brian brings an especially unique lens shaped by jazz, gospel, and even martial arts philosophy.
“Dave Weckl influenced my melodic drumming. Gospel drumming shaped my tom‑heavy approach. And my Kung Fu background inspires the philosophy behind the aesthetic. Think Shaolin monks and ’80s ninja films, mysterious and powerful.”
His drumming isn’t just rhythm, it’s world‑building. It echoes discipline, mystique, and retro action‑film energy. These influences even spill into their music videos.
What They Hope Listeners Understand: Years From Now
If someone discovered their music decades from now with no context, guitarist Nate knows exactly what he’d want them to sense:
“They’d hear the ’80s influence and that’s our foundation, but I hope they also feel that we’re geeky musicians inspired by video games, movie scores, and novels.”
For Nate, video game music from every era shaped his melodic instincts. Those subtle (and sometimes not‑so‑subtle) melodic cues weave themselves into the band’s DNA.
Our Take (A Let Down Studio Perspective)
Hexx129: When John mentioned that Ness was interested in performing on Live from Let Down, I was beyond excited. Her name had been coming up for months while we were working with different bands in the studio, and every single one of them had nothing but incredible things to say about her music and live performances.
At Let Down, we genuinely love working across all genres, and synthwave was a new addition that I couldn’t wait to dive into. Based on some of the live videos I had seen on YouTube, I initially thought it would be a solo performance. But when I found out she was bringing a full band to back her up, my excitement quickly mixed with a bit of nerves. I knew John and I were going to have our work cut out for us.
What we didn’t expect was just how professional and prepared everyone would be. The entire band was not only kind and easy to work with, but they showed up completely dialed in and ready to deliver.
Once the shoot wrapped, I couldn’t wait to jump into mixing the live set. I truly believe we captured something special that day, and I’m excited for people to discover just how talented Ness Daniels and her band really are.
John: I’ve always had a soft spot for ’80s music with the textures, the intricacies, the unapologetically catchy melodies. There’s a kind of creative magic baked and hearing Ness Daniels reinterpret that world through her own vision felt instantly familiar yet refreshingly new.
Once we broke the ice and really got to know each other, it became clear just how much each member’s musical background and personality feed into this project. Every influence, every story, every joke we shared added another layer of understanding to the music they’re creating. We spent the day hanging out, laughing, and being fully in the moment, and that energy, that genuine connection, is exactly what you hear in their sound.
These artists are carving out something special here. Ness Daniels and her band aren’t just participating in the scene, they’re going to leave a mark on it.
Check out the full Live after Let Down Interview Here ⬇️
