Australian synth-pop act Once Around Saturn reminds fondly of ’80s synth-pop, with a fondness for spacey, sharp melodies fondly reminiscent of a female-fronted Yellow Magic Orchestra. The moniker for Sydney-based synth pop solo artist Dan Kelso, Once Around Saturn has been active since 2014, his most recent release being the EP These Promises. “Fortress of Love”, featuring the dazzling vocals of Amanda Easton, showcases a wonderfully produced and infectious vein of synth-pop, with a mysterious spacey vibe that combines well with ’80s nostalgia for a time-trip.
Dan elaborates on the project below:
“So I fired up this sonic rocket in the middle of 2014, dusted off my olds synths and incorporated some new tech. Initial songs were refined ideas that I’d had for years, but couldn’t seem to find a singer that could nail them. Fortunately, my engineer here in Sydney pointed me in the direction of the powerful yet angelic tones of Amanda Easton, a talented songstress and performer in her own right. She has become an integral part of the Once Around Saturn sound. Every few months I get into the studio and work on new material, building up a repertoire of songs to ensure a steady stream of releases for some time to come. It’s no secret that I love Synth Pop; from the classic British eighties acts to the more contemporary sounds of other artists who are also clearly influenced by that earlier era. As technology progresses, new sonic possibilities become more accessible to the independent artist, but at the heart of it all is the sense of song. I love writing. I love recording. I feel truly alive when creating music. Long may it last.”
