[Cover photo – Danz at home in Glendale, CA]
The publication Synth History has announced details of a Garden Party and Pop-Up Shop in celebration of the release of Issue Two, to take place on Saturday, October 22, at the Vintage Synthesizer Museum located at 1200 North Avenue 54 in Highland Park, CA. You can RSVP to the event in advance here for free admission. Admission day of show will be $10.
Synth History is a magazine, website, and limited narrative podcast series and more, dedicated to the importance of synths. It’s run and curated by Danielle “Danz” Johnson, known professionally as Danz CM.
Synth History Issue Two is a 154-page full-color zine, and features a compilation of interviews with contemporary and legendary icons within the synth world, including: Weyes Blood, Trent Reznor, Sylvan Esso, Ryuichi Sakamoto of Yellow Magic Orchestra, Nikolai Fraiture of The Strokes, Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, John Carpenter, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jackie Cohen & Jonathan Rado, Izzy Glaudini of Automatic, Hudson Mohawke, Hiroshi Sato, Fatboy Slim, Ela Minus, Chrome Sparks, Carl Craig, Black Marble, Alan Palomo (Neon Indian), A-Trak and more.
Issue One has been sold out since its release, but will receive a final re-release when Issue Two goes on sale. Both issues will be available online and in independent bookshops.
Reflecting on the inspiration for Synth History, Danz writes:
“I love synths, but above all else I love music. I started Synth History a few years ago for fun, solely as an Instagram account dedicated to vintage synths. I’d read interviews with Brian Eno, Wendy Carlos and Bob Moog. I wanted to know all I could about these machines. I love how each synthesizer invented has its own story of creation and has its own impact on everything we listen to. Without synthesizers, modern music wouldn’t exist as we know it and that’s absolutely a fact!
I kept reading articles and interviews with musicians that, in my eyes, were legendary. And I thought to myself – there are some questions I want to ask. So I figured out ways to get in touch and I simply…asked! The written interviews in the magazine are a way to document what pioneers and modern day legends are using. It’s not a traditional magazine – as in, an artist doesn’t have to have a recent release to be featured in it. I just need to be a fan. And I’m a fan of everyone I’ve interviewed. It’s essentially a place to nerd out about gear, music, and inspirations in general.”
