Music Spot: undrwatertape - adrenaline

From time to time, we shine the spotlight on a SoundGym member by reviewing one of their releases for our Music Spot feature. This time around we are taking an in-depth look at Austrian producer Chris Wiedner’s recent single as undrwatertape, ‘adrenaline’. 

The name of the project comes from Wiedner’s penchant for deep-diving into his song writing along with his wish to craft “mellow underwater soundscapes”. Undrwatertape skilfully fuses vintage-inspired indie pop with influences spanning the rock eras of the 60s, 80s, and 90s. Self-identifying as a "song writing and sound freak" with over a decade's worth of experience, Wiedner's musical journey has included stints at the renowned Berklee College of Music.

‘Adrenaline’ is a collaboration with Austrian EDM Pop duo Dreaming of Cali. The track is heavy on the 80s influences and has much in common with synthwave – although there seem to be certain other influences at play here too. The most obvious reference is the borrowing of the synth riff from Abba’s ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’ in the second and third choruses. This synth was of course famously sampled in Madonna’s ‘Hung Up’, produced by 80s loving super-producer Stuart Price. It’s this second song that actually feels like more of a touchstone here; this is music that is very much written in neon shades. This interpolation of the original sound is done in a really smart way – beginning as a straight lift from the original before eventually morphing to fit the more downbeat chords of this composition.

The song opens with ethereal voices, finger clicks and synth plucks, before settling into the familiar Knight Rider groove that characterises this genre. The track features an unashamedly poppy vocal. The bittersweet, minor-key melody combined with the 80s soundworld actually evokes the last couple of Weeknd albums, which is no bad thing. 

The glistening production is clear and precise; deceptively simple and yet full of depth. Space has deliberately been left in the mix; providing room for the producers to play with spot effects such as sudden stabs of reverb or delay. This gives the mix an immersive feel; as we move through different depths of reverb it gives the impression of traveling from one space to another, which only heightens the ‘night-drive’ feeling transmitted by the motoric rhythm and twinkling synths. 

The song clearly nods to past musical eras but has a contemporary twist, Wiedner’s sound resonates with both nostalgia and modernity. Drawing from a decade of experience and a diverse range of influences, his production shines, offering listeners an immersive journey through neon-lit landscapes. A successful balancing act; 'adrenaline' pays homage to its predecessors while not sounding out of place in the current pop landscape. As Wiedner navigates the intersection of past and present, his work hints at exciting times ahead.

If you want to hear more by undrwatertape then you can check out his YouTube, Soundcloud, Apple Music or Spotify. You can follow him on Instagram here.