❉ Ange Chan on the latest offering from up-and-coming Mancunian synthpop duo.
There’s a new synthpop band on the block producing catchy electronica with interesting lyrics, and a bouncy boppable beats. Enter TWO:30 aka Richard M Wrigley and Derrick Ryder, two Mancunians who have been producing punchy synthpop tunes like Open Yours Eyes, Million $ Daydream and their latest offering, Minute to Midnight. They formed in 2022 but have only recently come more to prominence having produced a few tracks under their belts. TWO:30 describe themselves as ‘a quirky synthesiser band from the UK’, who’s recognisable early-eighties sound reclaims it back again, and mixes it with juicy analogue modular beats, creating melodic digital earworms.
Their creative bond was forged during the global pandemic via the internet, which was a lifetime to us all during those dark times. Rich was in sometimes-sunny Manchester, remixing electronic music tracks and Dek was in the West Midlands producing elegantly crafted cover versions, under the YouTube moniker, Dek101. Dek is also the vocalist in the band.
They’ve already had significant airplay with the popular Friday night Electro Wave Show presented by Stuart Calder, and they are garnering significant support from the synthpop community as a result of this. Their style can be described as ‘Erasure meets Yazoo’ with the positive upbeat tunes, relatable lyrics and accomplished synths which both of those classic bands are known for. Of course, the linking character to these bands is the legend that is Vince Clark, and TWO:30 have stated openly that they are influenced by the man and his work.
What started out as an experiment in their shared love of the creative sounds of Vince Clarke, turned into a catalogue-full of very well received demos, and hence TWO:30 was born. Over the last twelve months, they have released six well-received singles. There are also rumours of both an album due in summer, and some interesting collaboration tracks to come.
The latest single, A Minute to Midnight is a instantly re-playable song that you will want to return to again and again. With its pop sensibility, the two-minute track has a comforting familiarity to it, and a catchy chorus that will linger in your head long after you’ve finished listening to the song.
Check them out on Spotify and all the usual platforms to listen to A Minute to Midnight, and all of their release tracks to date.
❉ Stream or download A MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT by TWO:30 on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Music now.
❉ Ange Chan is a Freelance Writer, having produced two novels and six volumes of poetry. A prominent contributor to Me and the Starman (available by Cult Ink on Amazon) and lifelong lover of music, Ange is also We Are Cult’s Social Media Administrator.
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