Creator to Creators S7 Ep 54 Arcade Knights

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The video for “Neon Dreamers,” the latest single from Arcade Knights, opens on a futuristic cityscape reminiscent of Blade Runner or Tron. As the visuals unfold, soaring vintage synthesizers and thunderous reverb-soaked drums create a cinematic soundscape. Digitized female vocals deliver the track’s core message:We’re the neon dreamers lighting up the sky
Chasing our tomorrow, never asking why
With our hearts electric, breaking through the dark
In this digital world, we’ll make our markEvoking the atmosphere of the Stranger Things soundtrack as much as Daft Punk, the song explores a timeless question: What does it mean to be human in a world dominated by machines?That question lies at the heart of Arcade Knights, the synthwave-cyberpunk electronic project of Canadian musician Dean Parsons. Known for his deep love of 1980s drum machines and synthesizers, Parsons incorporates authentic hardware such as the LinnDrum and Oberheim OB-8 into his work. While modern software can replicate these sounds, he prefers the analog warmth and tactile experience of physical instruments, embracing the buttons, knobs, and patch cables that bring a unique authenticity to his production process.Unlike most contemporary producers, Parsons creates entirely outside of a digital audio workstation. Every track is written, recorded, and mixed using his MPC hardware sequencer, a process he believes allows more emotion to come through the physical act of playing.“My main production machine is not a DAW,” he explains. “Every track, every note, every melody is crafted and recorded through purpose-built hardware. There’s a lot of heart that comes through the keys and pads.”“Neon Dreamers” serves as a companion piece to Cyber Hack, the full-length album released earlier this year. The record tells the story of hackers raised in an AI-driven world who use their skills to protect humanity, ensuring technology serves people rather than controlling them.The theme reflects Parsons’ own life. Growing up in the 1980s surrounded by Commodore 64s and science-fiction films like Terminator and RoboCop, and later working as a cybersecurity expert, he has lived at the intersection of the analog and digital worlds.“It’s important to embrace technology, but not let it control your life,” Parsons says. “Technology is advancing rapidly, and if we continue to depend on it blindly, it may begin to control us. I love technology, but it’s a double-edged sword. The message of Cyber Hack is that we must remain the ones in control.”

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