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Neil Armstrong’s ‘In the Borderlands’: A Nostalgic Journey Through Love and Loss

“In the Borderlands” by Neil Armstrong Neil Armstrong steps onto our blog stage for the first time as an artist. His music pays tribute to the icons of the 80s, including The Cure, Tears For Fears, Pet Shop Boys, and Howard Jones. Oscillating between the realms of Synth-Pop/Rock and New Wave, Armstrong’s transnational work, fluctuating between Spain and Scotland, is expressed in his latest piece, “In the Borderlands.” The song takes us on an introspective journey through the nuances of human relationships, unfolding the complexity of interpersonal dynamics . It exposes these nuances on the operating table of music, bringing them to life with a nostalgic touch reminiscent of the 80s, thereby endowing the work with a soul. The arrangement, inspired by the musical giants of that era, is a testament to Armstrong’s exceptional talent for composing and arranging songs. Every note, every melody in “In the Borderlands” is carefully chosen to tell a story of love: its loss and rediscovery, wit

The Tuesday Interview: Marq Electronica


Mit "Bad Bones" hatte er bei uns seinen musikalischen Einstand, welchen er mit Bravour meisterte. Dieser äußerst gelungene Electronic track war für uns Anlass etwas Ursachenforschung zu betreiben, sprich Marq Electronica zu interviewen. Und jetzt ist es soweit, aus Newcastle upon Tyne, und bei uns "on the Blog", Mister Marq Electronica, thanks for your time and of course your music.

Marq Electronica - Spotify


Who inspired you to make music?

I would initially say my family inspired me, I  grew up in a house hold where people sang all the time and music was played either in person or on the radio. Music was always associated with joy and emotion. I would listen to The Carpenters, then Ella Fitzgerald, or ABBA and then James Brown, Kate Bush and Dion Warwick. Soon I graduated to artists like Massive Attack and producers like Nelee Hooper and  Jam and Lewis. All of whom  provided inspiration. Later I got into my own  original  music through a friend. I said I was sick of just singing cover versions in bars and clubs  and she suggested I try forming a band and it went from there.


What is your creative process like?

I get inspiration from events or people and sometimes from sounds and experimenting in my home studio then I usually write the lyrics  after the music track has been created. I tend to start with a drum or bass section and then add a loop or sample and build the track like an audible jigsaw.


Who would you most like to collaborate with?

I would really be excited to work with CamelPhat or MNEK, Release a melodic, dark, funky dance track then work with Royksopp or Goldfrapp on a trippy electro song.


What is the most useless talent you have?

I can go through 1 pack of post it notes in a day! I don't know what I do with them I have a wall that looks like it has dragon scales and it's all post-its with reminders or notes on them.


What is the most useful talent you have?

I think either singing or teaching I teach as my day job and it's a rewarding job helping people to get the qualifications they need and build their skills and confidence.


If you could change anything in the past, what would it be?

That's deep. I think for me personally I would have had more faith and confidence in myself  and started my original music career sooner.


How do you feel the Internet (especially Social Media platforms) has impacted the music business?

I think its impacted massively it has offered so much opportunity for networking and support as well as the ability to release your own music, however the streaming model needs to be more profitable for up and coming  artists than it currently is.


What’s next for you?

Song writing and three more possible solo releases. Then a couple of festival gigs and rehearsal and performance with my electro dub rock band Sapien Trace.


What do you know about Austria?

I know Austria has the Alps, Arnold Shwarzennegger is from Austria and an Austrian invented the sewing machine!


Why "Marqelectronica", is there a story behind the artist name?

My real name is Mark and I love electronic music, I thought it was also a good way of explaining my music quickly to people who hadn't heard it. It's almost an advertisment for my music



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