The State of Synth

The State of Synth is a weekly live news show in the genre of synthwave, broadcasted on Nightride FM and hosted by Dennis G and Neon Fawkes. The roughly two-hour program consists of multiple segments, including guest interviews, previews of upcoming events, and the latest album releases. Although the show is aired live, prerecorded audio segments are often incorporated to enhance the coverage of the top story within the program's universe.

The State of Synth boasts a diverse cast of characters, ranging from fictional personas to actual individuals who play themselves on the show. This mix of characters adds a unique flavor to the program and provides a compelling listening experience for its audience. With its focus on the latest happenings in the synthwave scene, The State of Synth has become a go-to resource for fans of the genre and a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work.

## **Multiple Universes**

The State of Synth is a multifaceted program that spans across multiple universes. The initial universe, referred to as universe A, takes place in the real world. Hosts Dennis G and Neon Fawkes broadcast the show from their respective locations of origin and conduct interviews with guests via remote means.

Along with universe A, the show features universes B and C, each of which plays a pivotal role in shaping the program's narrative structure.

Universe A and B are seamlessly interchanged throughout the show, forming the backbone of the program's structure. In universe B, Dennis G and Neon Fawkes broadcast the show from their studio located within the highly secured Nightride FM headquarters. This universe serves as a hub for the program's characters and is where the majority of the show's narrative takes place.

Universe C was fully introduced in season 6 and takes place in an alternate version of universe B. In this universe there are many differences, For example, in this universe, synthwave is known as retro electric and is widely popular. Retro electric is a genre inspired by the movie Fast and the Furious. Universe C also contains a version of The State of Synth with completely different versions of Dennis G and Neon Fawkes.

## **Characteristics of Universe C**

* Synthwave is called Retro Electric
* The genre of retro electric has gained immense popularity among individuals aged 30 to 40 and has emerged as one of the most sought-after musical styles within this demographic.
* Billboard has a "retro electric" chart
* Synthwave was made famous from the movie *Fast and the Furious* not Drive. *Fast and the Furious* only had three movies. *Drive* was never made. The blockbuster movie *Fast and the Furious* starring Dwayne Johnson was released in 2001. It was the first movie to introduce the retro electric  genre to a mainstream audience.
* On August 25th, 2011 the audio subscription service *Backpak* was founded by Erik Martin in Stockholm Sweden. The music service that allows fans to subscribe to their favorite artists quickly gained popularity with fans and producers alike. Since its launch, it has grown to become the largest music subscription service beating out Spotify in 2016. On March 1st, 2021 the music service announced that it maintains a listener base of 658 million active subscribers.
* The State of Synth takes place in front of a studio audience. The cast consists of alternate versions of Dennis G, Neon Fawkes, Vosto Vlad, and Chip Bitley
* Kavinsky is an prolific artist releasing an album each year
* Z is a female AI
* Vaporwave is called Mallsound
* There is no -wave anything
* Gunship frequently embarks on tours yet The Midnight has yet to undertake a tour
* During the early days of social media, *Friendster* emerged as a dominant platform, attracting a significant portion of the online population. At that time, *Facebook* was also launched as a social networking site; however, it failed to gain momentum and struggled to compete with Friendster. As a result, during this period, it could be said that "everyone" was on *Friendster*, while *Facebook* failed to take off.
* The 2020 pandemic still happened, but was caused by the A-Trp virus.
* On August 24th, 2004 Octane's debut chart busting album *Full Throttle* was released. It quickly climbed to the top of the *Billboard Retro Electric* charts peaking at No. 2 on September 5th. While it never reached the No. 1 spot, there is no denying it had a major impact in the retro electric scene. Many artists to this day claim it to be a huge influence in their music.

## **Sunset Radio 88 FM and the events leading up to Operation Space Toaster**

   Sunset Radio 88 FM was a once-popular radio station that was in direct competition with Nightride FM. Owned and managed by Ryan Cunningham, who also hosted the popular program *Night Moves with Ryan Cunningham*, Sunset Radio 88 FM had a loyal following of listeners. Another widely popular program on the station was the Chip Bitley Show, hosted by the renowned radio personality Chip Bitley.

Sunset Radio 88 FM was built as a direct result of the knowledge gained from studying "the junction" phenomenon. It is well known for its unconventional and sometimes questionable methods of increasing its listenership. One such method involved attempting to use broadcast signal intrusion techniques to take over the airwaves of rival station Nightride FM. Additionally, the station was infamous for its attempt to manipulate events in the past using time travel, in order to influence the audience in the future.

These stunts propelled Sunset Radio 88 FM to the forefront of the radio scene, quickly making it a fan favorite. However, the station met its eventual demise, as described in the events of the concept album Operation Space Toaster.

*Operation Space Toaster* is a synthwave concept album that is set within the context of the seventh season of The State of Synth. The album centers around a mysterious anomaly that was discovered near the Portavina Hotel in Redondo Beach, California.

This anomaly was later discovered to be a time portal, which members of the Sunset Radio 88 FM radio station used to travel back in time with the aim of rewriting the soundtrack of the film *Cannonball Run* in its entirety using the synthwave genre. However, their efforts were challenged by Vosto Vlad, who followed the group into the past in an attempt to thwart their plans.

Despite his intentions, Vlad's whereabouts remained unknown following his arrival in the past.

## The Carpathian Mountains, Light Beings, and the Story of the Synth Stones

The Carpathian Mountains is a prominent mountain range spanning approximately 1,500 kilometers in Central and Eastern Europe. Within this majestic mountain range lies a network of caves that serve as a remarkable connection point between Universe B and Universe C. Specifically, nestled deep within the labyrinthine caves, lies a transitional area known as "the junction," possessing extraordinary and peculiar characteristics.

Notably, "the junction" is inhabited by a group of enigmatic entities referred to as "light beings." These beings, residing within the Carpathian Mountains due to the unique circumstances of their transitional location, have undergone a profound transformation over time. As a consequence of the continuous interaction between the connecting universes, individuals in close proximity to "the junction" have experienced a gradual loss of their physical forms, eventually transforming into radiant beams of light. Although the light beings exist in a state that transcends conventional notions of life and death, they possess full sentience and consciousness. Interestingly, their luminous essence emits a distinctive sound resembling the harmonies produced by a synthesizer, further enhancing the ethereal atmosphere surrounding them.

Trapped between universes, these light beings find themselves unable to leave "the junction" due to the unusual phenomenon that brought them into existence. As explorers ventured into the depths of the Carpathian Mountains, they eventually discovered the presence of these extraordinary entities. Recognizing the significance and secrecy surrounding the phenomenon, a clandestine society was established to safeguard this newfound knowledge. Subsequently, hidden railways were constructed, and underground laboratories were established to study and investigate the light beings and their alluring nature. Fascinated by the strange alluring properties of the sounds emitted from “the junction”, a dedicated music studio was established within the research facilities. Within its walls, musicians and scientists collaborated, seeking to decipher the secrets hidden within the unique harmonies. The knowledge gained from their efforts would lay the foundation for groundbreaking discoveries.

As a result of the musical exploration, the Sunset Radio 88 FM radio station was established. Utilizing the insights garnered from the study of the harmonies emitted by the light beings, this radio station attempted to exploit the unique properties to further amplify its own global influence.

In the season 2 premiere of The State of Synth, Vosto encounters these enigmatic light beings. Prolonged periods of isolation and boredom led the light beings to concoct a fabricated tale centered around the existence of powerful artifacts known as "synth stones." These stones were falsely believed to possess magical properties, serving as a means to entice Vosto into returning to visit them on a frequent basis. Unbeknownst to Vosto, the story of the "synth stones'' was a product of the light beings' desire for companionship and interaction with the outside world.