Indiescoveries interview with Arcane Synthetic!

(Please Note) This interview was conducted on 3/28/2025, This interview is published on 4/25/2025- as a result, two of the “upcoming” releases that are spoken about in this interview are out now.

Ghost: Can you tell us about your journey into music? How did you get started and what inspired you to become an indie artist?

Arcane Synthetic: I grew up in a family full of musicians. My art journey started as an actor but since have branched further into music along the way. 

I find music to be the ultimate art form in that it hits a grey emotional area - I feel it tends to make us feel emotions that remind us of an experience we’ve been through, except the cathartic intensity is so much more than the experience it reminds us of. Somewhat of a therapy one might say.

Ghost: Well said my friend. What is the story behind your artist's name? Does it hold a special meaning for you?

Arcane Synthetic: The best way for me to answer this, I feel is to state what I put on all my bios:

“Arcane Synthetic:

An experimental sonic project by Benjamin Murray.

Narrative Concept:

A central protagonist reporting on the human condition via time travel.

This timeline’s point of contact:

Arcanesynthetic.bandcamp.com"

Ghost:  Nice. How would you describe your music style? What genres or artists have influenced your sound?

Arcane Synthetic: I suppose I’d describe it primarily under the genres of experimental, goth, industrial, “Cinematic”, and dark ambient.

I have so many influences - mostly Maynard James Keenan’s projects, Mike Patton’s projects, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and The Doors.

Ghost: That's awesome. I love all of those musicians. I definitely get Bowie vibes and Goth-industrial vibes, reminds me a lot of the 90's music I listened to but at the same time, having your own original sound. It's beautiful! Can you share the creative process behind your latest album/single? How do you usually go about writing and producing your songs?

Arcane Synthetic: ‘A New Era & Nothing More: Part I’ is my second album releasing on the 17th of April. It is half of the second chapter in the narrative concept following my debut album, ‘Awaken The Androids’.  The first album was totally on my own from except for my fiancée, Nora singing on a cover I put together of, ‘You Are My Sunshine’; she also creates all the album artwork, created the ‘Quieten’ music video alongside me, and did all the post-production of the video.

  This second upcoming album is all collaboration tracks with artists I deeply admire except for a 14-minute dark ambient/field recording track I place at the end of the album narratively setting up an intermission before the next eventual album, which will be Part II. Arcane Synthetic is a time traveler character effectively living vicariously through me, or maybe the other way around?!? He’s just a better version of myself. Every song or album I put together is just his story continuing in my imagination inspired by my own life experiences and perceptions.

Ghost: This album sounds like a deeply personal yet collaborative evolution of your work. The way you frame Arcane Synthetic as both an extension of yourself and an independent entity adds such an intriguing layer to your creative process. It’s fascinating how the concept isn’t just about music but storytelling, an unfolding narrative shaped by both imagination and real-life experience.  What challenges have you faced as an indie artist? How have you overcome them

Arcane Synthetic: I believe if an artist’s music resonates in themself, it will resonate with an audience. I find if my work doesn’t cost me something, in other words I heal from the process, it’s not worth putting out there. It has to mean something and have a purpose. As long as the audience gets something from what I do, my job is done. It’s never easy. I’m always keen to finish what I’m doing and move onto the next thing. The problem is always that it’s done when it’s good, not the other way around.

Ghost: That’s such a powerful philosophy. Music as both a personal journey and a gift to the audience. The idea that art must take something from you before it can truly give something back resonates deeply. It speaks to the weight of creation, the necessity of struggle, and the catharsis that comes from pouring yourself into your work. It’s also interesting how you frame completion, not as a rigid endpoint, but as something that happens when the work reaches its fullest potential. That tension between wanting to move forward yet ensuring the piece is ready is such a familiar challenge for artists. Can you tell us who inspired your passion for music growing up?

Arcane Synthetic: Growing up it was Michael Jackson, and a bit of Pink Floyd. 

Ghost: Beautiful! What message do you want to convey through your music? Is there a particular theme or emotion you aim to evoke in your listeners?

Arcane Synthetic: I want my audience to interact and participate in what I’m presenting. I want them to think about the concepts I’m placing in front of them. I want them to experience some sort of healing through the sounds I create.

Ghost: I think you have well past that accomplishment, my friend! What are your future plans? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that your fans should look forward to?

Arcane Synthetic: Gosh… there’s a lot in the pipeline. The second album releasing on Bandcamp as I’ve mentioned, a remix album containing reinventions from plenty of my favourite indie artists, I’m on the hunt for a label to help me distribute my first physical releases, I just did a collaboration on a track for Protonoid’s new album coming out in May, I’m working on vocals for a song by Embracing Discomfort… obviously an eventual third album in ‘A New Era & Nothing More: Part II’.

Ghost That’s an incredible lineup of projects. It's inspiring to see how deeply intertwined collaboration is with your creative process. The remix album sounds like a fascinating reinterpretation of your work through the lenses of artists you admire, which must make for some fresh perspectives. It’s exciting to hear about your physical releases as well, there’s something undeniably special about holding music in a tangible form.

Your work with Protonoid and Embracing Discomfort only adds to the sense that your artistry is evolving not just in isolation but within a broader network of talent. And, of course, the anticipation for "A New Era & Nothing More: Part II" builds, especially with how you’re structuring the narrative arc across these albums.

Arcane Synthetic, we’re truly honored and grateful that you took the time to be interviewed. Your story, woven through music, imagination, and lived experience, continues to evolve in ways that are both intimate and expansive. Thank you for sharing your perspective and TIME with us!

Arcanesynthetic.bandcamp.com"