Russian producer 808weeds has seemingly done it all in his decades-long career. From his early days as a drummer in a metalcore band in 2008, to developing a love for electronic music which led him to produce brostep, drum and bass and psytrance, among other electronica soundscapes.
In 2020 he released his debut synthwave offering titled ‘Streetlights’ which laid the foundation for his synthwave journey. His distinct take on synthwave has earned him support from renowned synthwave YouTube channels like NewRetroWave, NightrideFM and AstralThrob to name just a few.
In our exclusive interview with 808weeds, he discusses the influence of his favourite films, drawing inspiration from his parents, and plans for future releases.
Describe a pivotal music moment for you in your favourite film, television show, brand partnership etc. Has this influenced any of your own compositions?
There are a few, but one of the biggest for me was the fight scene between Jackie Chan and Benny Urquidez in Wheels on Meals. The track ‘Battle In Old Castle’ was playing, and the drums and percussion were just insane. That groove stuck with me for years. I grew up on Jackie Chan movies, and they always had killer soundtracks. Another huge one was Scarface – tracks like ‘Push to the Limit’ and ‘She’s on Fire’ were just legendary. That whole era had a sound that really shaped my taste in music.
What first drew you to making Synthwave/Synthpop?
It probably started in my childhood. My parents listened to a lot of Modern Talking, C.C.Catch, and Bad Boys Blue and others, so those rhythms were always around me. When I started making music in Fruity Loops back in 2009, I was trying to recreate that sound – the snares, the toms, but I had no idea what I was doing. There weren’t a million tutorials or sample packs like today, so it was all trial and error. For a long time, I put it on hold. I was playing drums in a metalcore band, and electronic music was just a side thing, more like self-learning. Years later, I came back to it, and Synthwave just felt like the perfect mix of nostalgia and modern production.
What does your current software/hardware setup currently consist of?
I started in FL Studio, then moved to Ableton Live, but after switching to MacBook, I stuck with Logic Pro, which I still use. For plugins: Serum, Arturia Analog Lab, and recently started using Current—really cool stuff. The rest is mostly stock Logic Pro plugins. I’ve got some hardware too, but I don’t use it much for production—mostly for inspiration and jamming: Roland JU-06 Korg Microkorg MK1 Korg Volca Sample Behringer K2 Electronic drum kit (recently got one)
Who are your biggest influences, both inside and outside of the genre?
Definitely the music my parents listened to when I was a kid. I’ve always been the type to really listen—breaking down instruments, melodies, figuring out what makes them work. I listen to everything, from indie folk to black metal, so it’s hard to name just a few. But when it comes to Synthwave, I’d say I was drawn to the genre because of its mix of 80s nostalgia and cinematic dark vibes.
Outside of music, what art forms or experiences inspire you the most? Are you pulling from sci-fi films, old video games, cityscapes at night?
Traveling, movies, video games. I wouldn’t say I have a single source of inspiration—it just hits randomly. Sometimes a film, sometimes just a moment I want to capture in sound. Sometimes a cool melody just comes out, and the draft itself inspires me to continue.
When you sit down to create, what’s the first thing that sparks the process? A melody? A feeling? A memory?
Most of the time, it’s a feeling. Sometimes it’s a mood that’s hard to put into words, sometimes it’s a random sound that gets stuck in my head. Other times, the urge to capture a certain atmosphere or recreate a vibe that’s been lingering in my mind.
Do you have any personal rituals or habits when writing or producing, things that get you in the right headspace? (e.g., late-night drives, dim lighting, a specific synth always within reach)
I don’t think I have any strict rituals or maybe I just don’t notice them. But I do have one bad habit: I leave behind a million unfinished demos because I don’t like how they sound. Sometimes even full tracks that are almost done. If anything, I’d say the closest thing to a habit is that I tend to work at night. There’s something about late hours that just makes everything sound better.
Please suggest an album for us to listen to.
Ascension by MIRAR. Absolute mind-blower. It’s not Synthwave, but it’s definitely worth a listen.
Looking ahead, what’s next? A new album? A shift in sound? Something totally unexpected?
I want to change my sound, but I’m still figuring out how. Right now, I’m experimenting, playing with different ideas. There will definitely be more releases in my usual style, but maybe the changes will happen gradually. We’ll see. Or maybe I’ll just throw everything in the trash. Who knows. Haha.
If you could collaborate with anyone, from any era or genre, who would it be and what would that track sound like?
MIRAR and Vildhjarta. I’d love to mix their heaviness with a cyberpunk vibe. I actually have a track called ‘Excommunicado’ that starts with this heavy, guitar-driven intro before switching into a groove. If I got to work with those guys, it’d be 100x more intense. I’m definitely drawn to heavier sounds, and even I’m not sure what that kind of collab would end up sounding like.
Follow 808weeds:
Bandcamp – Beatport – Linktree – Spotify– Apple Music – SoundCloud– Instagram – Twitter
