NYXEN Races Through the '80s-Evoking World of 'PXNK'
Thanks to a killer soundtrack and some wildly nostalgic '80s vibes, Netflix's ultra-popular Stranger Things has ushered back the era of the synth. It's interesting to think that a show about a bunch of kids riding around on their bikes would have such a prominent impact on our current cultural zeitgeist. But regardless of how we arrived at this moment, synth-driven music is back in a big way.
Australian singer-songwriter Chelsea Lester, more popularly known as NYXEN, is a multi-talented recording artist who just dropped her debut album. PXNK is a showcase of everything she's been learning on her rise to fame. This album is loaded with high-energy tracks that highlight her powerful, confident vocals. Through her years of DJing and producing, it's clear NYXEN understands what fans want, and she’s handing it out in spades. The hooks are inexplicably catchy and every track oozes cosmic and grandiose vibes.
Distorted guitar-driven tracks like “Synthetic” and “Oceanview” give this album an otherworldly feel. “Radio Silence” and the title track “PXNK” are standouts, using warped synth sounds that scream '80s rock. Hearing some of the unique electronic samples on the album, you might think this music was pulled from a video game soundtrack. There is a beautiful marriage of analog and digital sounds woven throughout this album, and this harmony of classic and novel is part of what makes this album so unique.
Every single track on PXNX has something different to offer, whether it be a delectable hook or a riff that draws you in and keeps you engaged. Those within the Australian electronic scene have been familiar with the talent that is NYXEN for several years. For the rest of the world, PXNK is our first taste, and once you’ve experienced it, it’s almost guaranteed you'll be craving more. And there's nothing strange about that.
Listen to PXNK below:
