Coming from Paris and Los Angeles, the orchestral Sci-Fi Pop collective Warningfield releases a dreamy video visualizer for their retro-inspired debut single, "1981."
Merging the talents of multi-platinum, award-winning writers, producers, and Grammy-
nominated composers and performers, their music is a unique hybrid of dramatic underscore woven together with conceptual pop songs.
With their debut single "1981," Warningfield pushes listeners into this deep nostalgic state while questioning the changes we would make if given the opportunity to go back to a simpler time. Not to mention with their exceptionally conceptual visualizer for the song, we're instantly transported back to a time of freedom, discovery, and groove.
The visualizer for "1981" begins with incredibly edited scenes that open similar to a video game, while the song dreamily begins with pulsating keys and echoed vocals. While distant keys flutter above and subtle percussion begins to rain down, ShyBoy's vocals softly ascend into his head voice and perfectly complement the surrounding airy and retro sci-fi-inspired production.
Once the plucky bassline begins thumping, the song's energy heightens and delivers this highly nostalgic atmosphere. Warningfield's visualizer continues to support the song's retro-feel, filling the video with an entire 80s aesthetic through shots of a needle touching down on vinyl, nostalgic alarm clocks rewinding, typewriters, and heavy technological scenes that depict the initial moments of music meeting technology.
With tightly-wound production and a visualizer that sends us back to simpler times, "1981" easily finds a place in our hearts with the track's entire nostalgic experience, taking us out of present-day turmoil.
Congratulations on the huge release of your collective's debut single, "1981." What inspired the group to go back in time with the release of your debut single?
When we began working on “1981,” the first thing we did was layer a number of synth parts that had a very specific retro flavor. The kind of stuff you hear in the sound design on an early 80s pop records and soundtracks. The lyric was born out of this process. We started talking about the music of that era and wrote about what it might be like to take a trip back and create songs in that time and place, while at the same time being able to use modern knowledge and tools. The age-old time travel fantasy.
Could you tell us about Warningfield's creative process for "1981"? Seeing as you're based in Paris and L.A., have the world's circumstances hindered your process?
There are four of us, each with our own studio setups. Our process has always been to collaborate remotely, where one or two of us start something and then send it over to the other guys. After a few back and forth passes of ideas, we arrive at a final mix. We occasionally come together to work in person when we are in the same city together, but our process is usually long distance - so not much has changed in our workflow.
Speaking on the visualizer for "1981," did you have anyone come in to help with the video's editing? What sort of visualizations did you initially want to take place to help reflect the song's concept?
The video was an in-house job. We were very inspired by the song and curated visual clips that helped tell the story. We wanted to focus on the alchemy of music and technology and how they came together in a really specific way at that specific time.
Could you tell us how Warningfield undergoes merging two different sonic approaches like retro synth-pop and dramatic underscore? What initially inspired this sound?
We all come from various backgrounds in music. Pop production, rock bands, DJ culture, film, and TV composition. We wanted to see what it would be like to merge them all into one sound. Ultimately, we are all music geeks and love to experiment with styles.
What are you currently working on with your music and what can fans anticipate to hear next from you?
There are several more songs we have in the works, which are all at various stages of development. We’ve discovered that it’s really important to let the ideas gel and morph however they are meant to, so we never rush the process.