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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
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D.I.E.I.N.T.H.E.U.S.A. by don't get lemon

don't get lemon

Don’t Get Lemon create upbeat music inspired by downtrodden times. Finding humor and beauty in the grotesque that surrounds us, the Texas heatwave trio craft intricate dance music for people standing still, a colorful torrent of motion for a frustrated world gone dark. Debut album Hyper Hollow Heaven is set for March 2022 release via à La Carte Records.

don’t get lemon
are

Austin Curtis - vocals
Bryan Walters - bass, percussion
Nick Ross - synth, guitar, drum programming


D.I.E.I.N.T.H.E.U.S.A.

Nicht in Amerika sterben zu wollen, als ungewöhnliche Inspiration quasi "Wegzugehen" wenn sich der Tag abzeichnet und die Möglichkeit besteht. Das Gefühl des "Gefangen seins" hinter sich lassen. Das ist das Thema zur neuen Single von don't get lemon, welche heute erscheint. "DIE is the most unique song on the album; it’s our first ballad.", sagen sie selbst darüber.
Musikalisch setzen sie auf Indie Dream Pop welcher im 80er Jahre Glanz zu schimmern vermag. Roxy music meets OMD to create a song in the 2020's. Die Vocals fügen sich einerseits perfekt ein, geben aber andererseits der geschaffenen Stimmung enorme Impulse. 
Der Part der Synthies, zusammen mit den "Drums", in der Instrumentalisierung sicher prägend. Der Bass, elegant und vornehm, komplementiert und fungiert als perfektes Bindeglied. "D.I.E.I.N.T.H.E.U.S.A." by don't get lemon, ist ein kreativer Hörgenuss und ein Hauch Nostalgie der durch den Äther schwebt. Im Anschluss daran gibt's noch ein kleines kurzes Interview um euch die außergewöhnliche Band etwas näher zu bringen. Thanks for your time!


Q&A

don't get lemon are...?

We are a Texas-based electronic music/new wave trio, best described in our own genre terms as “heatwave”, a more appropriate companion tag to the more familiar coldwave. Don’t Get Lemon is a line from The Football Factory starring Danny Dyer. It's cockney rhyming slang that means “don’t get smart”. Aside from contrasting this aggressive connotation against our upbeat music, we liked this change since it gave us an opportunity to use an acronym, DGL, where appropriate.


Who inspired you to make music in general ...and especially to your song "D.I.E.I.N.T.H.E.U.S.A."?

We come from the DIY scene and have been inspired by just getting up and playing. No virtuosos, just giving things a shot because you have something to express. So seeing punk, hardcore, and metal bands up close in DIY venues inspired us to make music. 
This song is the most unique song on the album; it’s our first ballad. We think this song is probably the most accessible we’ve written. We didn’t want to lead off with this single because it is a different sound, but it’s also the song I’m most proud of and the most personal. 
It’s about not wanting to die in America and my desire to always get away from it but feeling trapped to it, but if I knew I were to die tomorrow or that I had a limited amount of time left, I would free myself of any perceived responsibilities and shackles and get on a plane and leave. This song vocally owes a debt to the crooners.


What can we expect from your upcoming debut album?

It’s an 8 track, 34 minute album titled “Hyper Hollow Heaven”. It’s our debut full length after a couple EPs, singles, remixes, and a cover over the past couple years. It’s being released on à La Carte Records on March 29th and will be available on both vinyl and cassette, as well as a limited VHS visual album. 
The LP is led by a string of singles: Boxing Day’s kaleidoscopic “Industrial (Amusement) Park (Revolution)”; February’s glossy synth ballad D.I.E.I.N.T.H.E.U.S.A.”; and mid-March’s kinetic table-setter and LP closer “Purple Hour Kingdom”, featuring guest vocals from Renay of Monochrome Lover. 
Each single, alongside the five other tracks on the LP, further common lyrical themes that echo the fear, panic, and anxiety we’re forced to live with on a daily basis as our future grows inherently darker. To borrow a line from Adam Curtis’ 2016 BBC docu-film HyperNormalisation, regarding Patti Smith and how she experienced New York City in the ‘70s, the eight-song Hyper Hollow Heaven is “best experienced with a slight cool detachment.”


What is your creative process like and was it for this song different?

Usually Nick and Bryan come in with the bare bones of a song idea and we share some files around to create a demo. From there lyrics are written and vocal melodies are found, which is the same method to create this song.


What's your most useful talent besides music?

Coaching soccer. I coach Girls High School soccer.


How would you describe 2021 in a sentence?

Start and Stop.


What do you prefer, a live gig or a studio session?

Both have their perks and struggles. I think a couple years ago I definitely would have said recording. The best part of being in a band is hearing all of your ideas come together and listening back. But recently I think we’ve started to really hit our groove in our live performance and it’s fast becoming a liberating experience.


Do you remember your first ever self-written song?

I kind of do, but wish I didn’t. Like a lot of things.


What’s next for you?

Release this album and film, play a few shows around Texas and then tour over the summer to the west coast.




Photo credits: Nadia Al-Khalifah


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