Split Vision
Synthpop is a genre that reached its peak in the 80s and was characterised by electronic sounds, catchy melodies and danceable rhythms. Some of the most renowned representatives of this style are Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure, OMD, New Order, Soft Cell, Visage, or the Pet Shop Boys, who have millions of fans around the world to this day. But synthpop is not only a relic of the past, but also a source of inspiration for many contemporary artists who reshape and develop the genre.
One of these projects is Split Vision, a band from Sweden that was founded in 1985, disbanded later and was revived in the spring of 2019 by Dan Hansson and Henric Palmqvist. The reason is simple: the love for synthpop was never completely extinguished. With new material that has a clear connection to their musical roots in the 80s, the two musicians created new songs in their own studio, which they produced with modern technology, but preserved the characteristic sound of the band.
The result was the album ‘Among the Stars’, which was published on 1 October 2020 and was positively received by the fans and critics. The album contains ten tracks that offer a perfect balance between nostalgia and innovation. The songs are marked by meticulously designed arpeggios that smell like Moog and Yamaha DX-7, two synthesizers that come close to the holy grail of synthpop. An atmosphere, created from strong melodies that are permeated by a distinctive lead voice.
Since the publication of the album, Split Vision have not stopped making new music. They have released nine more singles, including the latest one titled ‘Envy’, which was released on 2 February 2024. Split Vision are one of those proofs that synthpop is still alive, never died and relevant, and that one should never stop following one’s passion.
Q&A
How did Split Vision re-form, and what revived your enthusiasm for making music after all those years?
We were two original members remaining from the former band, who had stayed in touch ever since the band split up. During a party in the fall of 2019, we were talking about how it might be fun to make some music again, just like we did in the 80s. We decided to give it a try.
The enthusiasm came once we had tested a couple of songs; then it felt like we were back in the same creative joy we once had. There was also an old dream of making a full album since we disbanded before we had managed to make one.
“Envy” sounds great, a fusion of dark electro and 80s sounds. What inspired this song?
Since we reunited, we have mostly made happy/bright synth songs. Now we wanted to make an attempt to create a darker sound. At the same time, we wanted it to be melodic and preserve our roots, which are in 80s synthpop, inspired by Vince Clarke's early songs. We chose to make a thematic album based on the seven deadly sins. The lyrics stem from these themes.
The song is also included on your upcoming EP, “Seven Deadly Sins”. What can we anticipate?
You can expect a thematic EP based on the seven deadly sins, all in an 80s sound with varying degrees of darkness.
How do you manage the band’s creative process? Do you have designated roles?
Many times we discuss different themes and phenomena that we feel are relevant in various ways, and from this, we draw inspiration to write new songs. Dan usually creates a demo that Henric receives. Then Henric provides input, thoughts, and ideas and can contribute to adjustments to the song. After that, we record vocals and harmonies and mix and master ourselves in our own studio.
You began in Sweden in 1985, and after some turbulent years in the late 80s, the group split. You have returned since 2019. What do you consider to be the most significant changes in the music industry?
There are many changes. One is the ability to record in your own studio with better technology and at a cheaper price. In the 80s, we did record demos in our own studio, but the actual recording and final product had to be done in a professional studio, which was often very expensive. Today we can complete the entire product in our own studio, and this applies to many bands nowadays. It wasn't like that in the 80s.
Distribution also differs remarkably, now easily accessible via Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, to name a few. This is a big difference compared to how it used to be in the 80s. Back then, you had to create a vinyl record that could be played on terrestrial radio. Today it's much easier to get your music out, but at the same time, you're competing with many more songs, making it difficult to cut through the noise.
In the 80s, it was difficult to get a vinyl record, but if you succeeded and it was played on the media at the time, it had a big impact. In the 80s, fewer artists had the opportunity to create their vinyl record compared to how many artists today can get their music out on streaming services.
Will we have an opportunity to see you perform live on stage?
During 2023, you could see us live both in Sweden and England. For 2024, we have some potential gigs, but dates and locations are not yet set. Keep an eye on our social media and on Spotify, where we will announce it.
If you could converse with any musician, alive or dead, whom would you select?
Dan would like to talk to Ludwig van Beethoven, as he's curious about how his musical works came about in a technical/practical sense, but it might have to happen in his younger days since he's said to have been deaf towards the end. Henric would preferably talk to Vince Clarke, mostly to learn more about his creative process.
What are your aspirations for 2024?
To continue producing music and playing live, we also have some interesting cover projects, which unfortunately we can't tell you more about at the moment. More information will be coming soon on our social media.
The most immediate thing in time, of course, is the upcoming EP with 7 songs, which is expected to be released in May 2024. There will be some radio shows with us, and our videos will be shown on XPTV online. We also have plans to produce a new video for one of the songs on the upcoming EP. The goal is still to create music and have fun at the same time.
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