“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, without ever losing hope. Neil Armstrong invites us to listen closely and capture the emotions that resonate in his melodies.
“In the Borderlands” is a musical gem that originated in the Scottish Highlands and received its final polish under the Spanish sun. It’s an essential piece for connoisseurs of the finest Synth Pop/Rock and for those who long for the depth and poetry of the 80s.
How did your passion for music begin, and what are the main influences behind your musical style and identity?
I come from a musical family, sang with my parents in a church choir from the age of 5 and earned a music scholarship to my senior school playing piano and woodwind. My early musical experience was mainly classical, but I had a classics teacher called Mr James who was a blues pianist and he encouraged me to start my first band and let us rehearse in his living room.
As a teenager in Scotland my main diet of music was 70s rock and prog rock, endlessly listening to Bowie, Led Zepplin, Queen and Pink Floyd. I was pretty isolated from chart music growing up! At University in the 90s I realised that there was a whole world of music out there and soaked up a whole spectrum of music from Miles Davis to Beck, from Joni Mitchell to Nirvana.
As a father I now really enjoy listening to what my kids bring home and recently have really enjoyed the likes of Tyla’s “Water” for example. During lockdown I wrote and produced 2 albums of songs that were mainly rock and country ballads. In my most recent music, I have been determined to work on more groove-based projects and found myself working with a retro synthpop vibe, inspired by the likes of Tears for Fears, Howard Jones and The Eurythmics.
What was the inspiration behind your release, “In the Borderlands,” and what’s the story behind it?
I listen to a lot of Radio and podcasts. While I’m listening, I often make notes of turns of phrase or imagery. Late last year, I found a BBC podcast about poetry in the Scottish Borders. The description of the place and the people was really beautiful and inspiring. Based on my scribbles I soon started to draft some lyrics. At the same time, I was also working on writing a “groove a night” on my Roland FA06 multitrack and came up with a “Cure” inspired chorus theme. Somewhere down the line, the two ideas came together as an epic love song and I started recording the project in earnest in January.
As a Scottish singer/songwriter based in Spain, how did that come about, and do you miss Scotland?
Music is very important to me, but I have a separate career in hospitality that pays the bills! About a decade ago, I was given the opportunity to move with my family from UK to work in a white village in the hills of Andalucia. I miss Scotland, especially since my parents moved away about 5 years ago. I don’t get back there much now, but Scotland has become almost a mythical place for me now and I really look forward to taking our kids there to show them where I grew up on the West Coast.
What are some of the challenges you face as a musician in the current music industry?
As a songwriter I’m always writing from experience, from some sort of position of lived truth. I need a deep intrinsic motivation to take a song all the way through the production process. At the end of the day, it’s a very personal journey to produce the music. The most difficult thing for me as an independent is that post-production phase of marketing the project, creating the artwork, launch schedule, social media etc. The multitasking load required of an independent musician is absolutely enormous and it is always a challenge to release your personal creation to the ears of the public.
You are a musician who is open to collaboration; what would be your dream collaboration?
God, I would love to work with Annie Lennox, a fellow Scot who I have always adored. Dream on!
What are your thoughts on the role and influence of social media within the music industry?
I have a tempestuous relationship with social media. I need it to let people know what I am up to. But it is the principal cause of decay to my creative self when I find myself running down the rabbit holes of Instagram or whatever at all hours of the day. I find it way too addictive and I therefore have repeatedly found myself deleting apps from my devices for months on end while I am working on creative projects, only to reinstall them when I have something to say again! I wonder if other musicians feel the same?
Do you still remember the first song you ever wrote?
At school in the 80s I had an act called CZ5000, named after a Casio synthesizer I had. I played a tune at assembly the name of which I forget, but it was basically a rip-off of Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F”.
What are your goals for the future?
I’ve just received an Honorable Mention at this year’s Berlin Music Video Awards for my 2023 single “Go On Up!”. So I’m really keen to shoot another video this year, probably for my next single “Dying Day” which is really taking shape now and I’m really excited about. After that I would like to wrap up this synth pop phase with an EP called “Deep Blue Sea” which will include my recent singles plus some new tracks. I might even stretch it to an album. That will probably take me to the end of the year. After that I have in mind to enter a more acoustic phase and focus on some more simple production of piano based songs. Plenty to look forward to!
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