Something magical happened when synthwave artists Dana Jean Phoenix and Powernerd joined forces. This magic has its own name. It’s called Megawave.
Megawave showcases an energetic combination of the retrofuturism of Powernerd’s production with the hair-raising vocal prowess of Dana Jean Phoenix. It’s a clash of the future and past, and the result is simply supernatural.
The first full length release from the duo is packed full of funky bass lines and vocals with a strong RnB flavor, sprinkled with soul and disco in places. The lyrics are infused with empowerment and awareness of our individual and collective self and are delivered alongside surreal harmonies in a fashion as heartfelt, hopeful, and powerful as the words themselves.
Meet Dana Jean Phoenix and Powernerd
the electroscape connected with Dana Jean Phoenix and Powernerd to learn more about the artists and the making of Megawave. Paddy – the artist known as Powernerd – began playing guitar as a teenager, inspired by the rock n’ roll legend and AC/DC guitarist Angus Young. He has dabbled in many musical genres, including grunge, hardcore punk, 60s garage band rock, and jazz guitar. Paddy discovered his love of electronic music and, before long, began producing synthwave as Powernerd. His rock n’ roll history permeates his electronic style on his solo releases and his collaboration with Dana Jean Phoenix.
Dana has a different musical journey than Paddy, and that is precisely what makes the duo so explosive. She played piano since childhood and grew up listening to our pop heroes, such as Prince and Janet Jackson. The pop element to Megawave cannot be denied and is one of its most endearing attributes.
Dana studied jazz vocals and theatre in college and found her footing as a vocalist by jamming with musicians on open mic nights in Toronto. Dana landed her first big break singing and touring the US and Canada with RnB artist Jully Black, and she later sung for a Canadian electrofunk band called God Made ME Funky. If you dig the Megawave energy, give God Made ME Funky a listen.
Dana learned and developed as part of these high energy acts, and she was ultimately inspired to pursue her solo project. She began connecting with synthwave producers, including Powernerd. Dana said, “I instantly loved the collaborative vibe of the synthwave scene, and I continue to be inspired by the talent of the people creating synthwave music, and the passion of the audiences who support it.”
Read more about Dana Jean Phoenix in Certified, Bandcamp’s series spotlighting artists.
A Spark Lit the Flame
The mega collaboration between Dana Jean Phoenix and Powernerd emerged naturally. Paddy told the electroscape he initially reached out to Dana to collaborate on his EP, Testosterossa, on a song called “Flame.” The artists had a natural connection, kept in touch, and worked together on two songs on PixelDust by Dana Jean Phoenix called “Losing the Connection” and “Only for One Night.” Dana also did some backing vocals on two high energy songs on Far From Human by Powernerd called “Hyperdrive” and “Dancing.” The duo played live in Vienna, Austria, which Dana described as “epic,” and the idea for Megawave was born.
Watch Dana Jean Phoenix and Powernerd perform “Flame” live in Vienna on March 16, 2018.
Fans of the duo’s solo work will immediately recognize the elements they each bring to the equation, yet Megawave has its own sound which stems from their common vision for the album at the onset. Paddy said their mindset was to create a synthwave album with a funky edge. Dana added, “I knew I wanted to do something a bit darker and funkier that would definitely be fun to perform live. I always gravitate towards music with a playfulness and sense of humor too, so I’m stoked that on this album there’s both levity and darkness, and some seriously wicked bass-lines, courtesy of Paddy and his mega skills.”
The duo shed light on the nature of their collaborative song writing process. Dana said her and Paddy were on the same page from the onset with respect to the sound of the album they wanted. Paddy said he would often send Dana track ideas, and Dana would write and record some vocals. Dana added from the first track Paddy sent, she began exploring different textures, themes, and harmonies, and noted that her then manager at the time, PHATT al, also helped in the writing and recording process. Paddy would work on mixing and make some additions and send it back to Dana for feedback and, at this point, the song would be close to complete.
Cover Art as Mega as the Sound
The cover art for Megawave was done by Jordan Noir built around character designs and titling by PHATT al. It depicts Dana Jean Phoenix and Powernerd as two Rock n’ Roll superheroes hailing from the future, electrified up on the stage against the backdrop of a city under siege, all in electric pink and blue. Dana described the cover art as “Intergalactic space funk meets synthwave.”
On the topic of the album title, Dana said her on-stage and studio experience with Powernerd had been “mega” and she knew “working with Paddy on this album and having Outland Recordings on board to release it felt like taking synthwave to the next level. So, Megawave seemed like a totally appropriate title!”
Megawave is a Livin' Feeling
Powernerd’s funky bass lines and retro beats on Megawave will bring you to your feet. The hummable melodies will keep the tunes fresh in your head and returning to press play time and time again. Dana’s vocals are a precision instrument, as always, but she pressed “level up” on Megawave. Dana said, “I felt more in touch with my RnB and jazz influences, and explored some more layered harmonies and darker textures in both subject matter and my voice.”
But there’s more. Megawave is a lyrical wonder, too.
Dana shed a little light on the meaning of some of the songs. She said, “The songs are all inspired by various relationships – of course the more personal ones like love and friendship, but also one’s relationship to their community and society at large and questioning the benefits, complexities, and challenges of them.” She added, “Self-empowerment is always a constant theme in anything I do, but this album explores the appreciation for human connection and how we can become stronger and more open-minded, both as individuals and collectively, by working together.”
Megawave takes flight with “Figure Me Out” and the belting of the first lyrics the listener will hear, “Your brain is alive! Yeah! It just kicked into overdrive!” The synth is raw, gritty, and energetic. The vocal rhythm is infectious, edgy, and packs a punch.
The title track is a painting made with the brush of nostalgia. The sound is bright and lyrics, “Our love’s a megawave,” wash away all that was just moments ago and gently warm your heart. Dana adds, “The future is ours to create,” reminding us the future is yet to be written and we as individuals, as a people, have the power to make it what we choose.
Paddy opens “Fight These Robots” with a disco infused beat and introduces a futurist synth sound that elicits the sensation of rippling through multiple dimensions of time. The bass lines are as thick as they are funky. Dana said, “ ‘Fight These Robots’ is a sci-fi infused plea to resist complacency and the status quo.” Lyrics such as “how it is when we flip, rewrite this” hint at this empowering message. While there’s a deeper underlying meaning to the song, there’s a playful tone as well. It closes with a dash of soul, as Dana sings “dit dit dee da dee da doo.”
The harmonies and vocal rhythms on “Living Rent Free” are otherworldly and delivered alongside the clash of retrofuturism and funk. The chorus is built from repitition of “Livin’ rent free inside your head” which has strong RnB and dance qualities. Dana said, “ ‘Living Rent Free’ is about staying true to oneself while navigating the pressures brought on by those in both real and perceived positions of power.” These pressures Dana mentions might not be so unfamiliar to our readers and are certainly of the type that take up residence in our headspace, a barrier to our own self-efficacy. The ending of the song is majestic, brought to you courtesy of the combined forces of Dana’s harmonies, Powernerd’s production, and a theatrical keyboard solo by Jan-Friedrich Conrad, who also plays on “Sunrise Stance.”
The last two original takes on the album are “New Technology” and “Moves Moves Moves,” which Dana said “celebrate the power of teamwork at its best.” Sandwiched between these juggernauts are amplified remixes of “Figure Me Out” by New Arcades and “Fight These Robots” by Straplocked, two remixes that rival the original takes.
On “New Technology” Dana’s vocals cut through black, empty spaces, whispering from every direction in a place that is otherwise silent. Powernerd’s bass and synth lines step into your consciousness. The vocals are animate and lyrics playful, “This is new technology, I’m freakin’ on your frequency, I think about you frequently, Cuz I can feel ya feelin’ me.”
Megawave closes with “Moves Moves Moves.” The bass, synth, and vocals feed off each other’s energy in a symbiotic fashion. At one moment, the song breaks down. Paddy’s minimalist synth takes stage. And the harmonies come into the spotlight, and Dana sings “Open the door,” raising you up as her vocals and harmonies linger and interweave in the air, only to set you down so softly you could rest on a bed of nails.
There’s a deeper message in “Moves Moves Moves”, and the notion “The future is ours to create” reverberates within it. The bass line, synths, and beats consume the space, and Dana says “The key has been unlocked, we are standing in the aftermath, and it’s beautiful because we finally understand our purpose, we’ve become one and the universe is wide open, we are no longer slaves, but masters of our own.” She adds, “Like we’ve woken up from a dream. So real. Free.”
Megawave is a genre busting release. It’s full of life in every way – the production, vocals, and lyrics. When asked what the future holds for Dana Jean Phoenix and Powernerd, the duo said, “More to come.” Until then, as Dana says to close out the album, “Go. Go live your life.” You could also play Megawave again. It’s your call.