Features : Exclusive Interview with Arcade Knights

Artist Spotlight: Arcade Knights

Arcade Knights, an artist deeply inspired by 80s cinema, retro arcade culture, and cyberpunk aesthetics. He shares the story behind his synthwave single "Neon Dreamers," his creative process rooted in hardware sounds, and his journey blending cinematic soundscapes with modern influences. Arcade Knights discusses his challenges, community-building approach, and future artistic ambitions, emphasizing themes of freedom, technology, and heroism in his music.

Fresh Music World: What inspired your single "Neon Dreamers"?

Arcade Knights: "Neon Dreamers" was born from my love of 80s late-night cinema, retro arcades, and that sense of retro rebellion. "Neon Dreamers" is the book end of the "Cyber Hack" album. The album is a high-energy synthwave-cyberpunk album, with dark and uplifting melodies, industrial sounds, and pulsating 80s synths. The album's lyrics and lead synths tells a narrative set in 2088. A Hacker vs. AI war unfolds. And "Neon Dreamers" is a "passing of the torch" from retro ethnical hackers to the new age hackers to continue the effort to protect the freedom of people. And in this case, freedom against a future evil AI. That story is illustrated in the "Cyber Hack" companion graphic novel "Cyber Hack: Uprising"

Fresh Music World: How do you stay motivated and creative during periods of writer's block?

Arcade Knights: I go back to the sources that first lit the spark for me—80s films, hardware synth gear, arcade games, and my own graphic novel worlds. Sometimes I’ll just sit down with a Juno-106 or the LinnDrum and let raw sounds trigger ideas.

Fresh Music World: Can you share a story behind one of your most popular songs?

Arcade Knights: For me, it’s "Neon Dreamers." I can really identify with the 80s retro ethical hackers—the misfits who lived in that glow of screens and neon, trying to outsmart the system. In a way, I’m one of them. My day job is ethically hacking and protecting power grids and industrial systems that everyone depends on. That bled into the song’s meaning. "Neon Dreamers" is about passing that torch—training and inspiring a new generation of ethical hackers to protect freedom in today’s world. It’s about embracing technology, using it to defend and create, but also remembering not to hand over all control to tech or AI. There’s always got to be a human heart behind it.

Fresh Music World: How has your sound evolved since you first started making music?

Arcade Knights: I started with a common DAW (digital audio workstation). I gave it a try but really left it behind as I felt it couldn't really capture my musical ideas and transfer my feelings from the mouse clicks into the computer. So I ditched it totally and found hardware. I leaned heavily on 80s authentic hardware and the real sounds from the machines of the 80s. And the raw 80s musical instruments used on classic action, sci-fi and horror movies. Over time, my sound has grown more cinematic, blending authentic 80s synths with a modern edge - but all still in hardware.

Fresh Music World: What has been the biggest challenge you've faced as an artist, and how did you overcome it?

Arcade Knights: The biggest challenge has been balancing the business of music with the art. Running Arcade Knights as a full project—albums, novels, merch, shows—can stretch you thin. I overcame it by structuring everything like a story world: the music, the visuals, the community all tie into the same universe. That keeps me focused, motivated, and consistent. I think now the challenge for me is getting my musical ideas recorded in quick drafts when the concepts and inspiration comes. For that I have a small synth I travel with.

Fresh Music World: How do you connect with your fans and build your community?

Arcade Knights: I think of my listeners as part of the “Arcade Knights Alliance.” It’s not just about streaming a track—it’s about giving them stories, behind-the-scenes peeks, early access, and the real feeling of belonging in this neon-soaked world. My albums and graphic novels are really worlds that connect us in the musicial albums and the stories in the novels. Social media helps, and what really connects is when fans see themselves in the story. They aren’t just fans—they’re Knights in the stories and their own stories. I get fans all the time messaging me with photos of them spinning the album while holding the novel in their hands reading it, where the album serves as the soundtrack for the novel.

Fresh Music World: What role does collaboration play in your music-making process?

Arcade Knights: Collaboration is huge. Sometimes that means working with guitarists or vocalists to bring extra layers of emotion or story elements to a track. Sometimes though those things may take away from the fan or listener's experience so I pick and choose what to add, but always up for a collaboration.

Fresh Music World: How do you see the music industry changing in the next five years?

Arcade Knights: Streaming will still be a big part of things, but it’s not the whole picture—and honestly, it’s a pretty volatile space. Algorithms shift, payouts change, and artists can’t really rely on it as their only lane. I think the next few years will be about artists finding balance—using streaming for reach, but also leaning into live shows, direct fan support, vinyl, merch, and other ways to actually sustain themselves. There is a need to move ftoward more independence and multiple income streams, instead of putting everything on one shaky platform.

Fresh Music World: Are there any artists or genres you're excited to explore in future projects?

Arcade Knights: My area is synthwave, cyberpunk and 80s rock ballads. I am very curious to colaborate with somebody and mix synthwave with orchestral scoring, pushing into that epic cinematic territory you’d expect from a movie soundtrack. It’s about keeping the retro roots but stretching the boundaries for sure.

Fresh Music World: What message or impact do you hope your music has on your listeners?

Arcade Knights: I want listeners to feel like they’ve stepped into a movie or an adventure where they’re the hero. My message is simple: don’t let the magic fade. Whether you’re a kid staring at arcade screens in the 80s, or an adult chasing dreams today, there’s always a neon light guiding you forward. Each of my albums have dark synth elements for sure, but it's not hard to discovery the positive messaging and up-lifting melodies throughout, always finishing each album on a up-beat, encouraging note!

Connect with Arcade Knights here:
SOCIALS
https://www.instagram.com/arcadeknights88
https://www.youtube.com/@ArcadeKnights88/
https://www.tiktok.com/@arcadeknights
https://www.facebook.com/ARCADEKNIGHTS
https://arcadeknights.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6M29kEMTRyd7Diy3WTdpMl

MERCH SITES:
https://arcadeknightsband.com/
https://arcadeknights.gumroad.com
https://www.amazon.ca/ARCADE-KNIGHTS-Cyb%CE%9ER-H%CE%9Bck-Uprising/dp/B0F9X41BDR/