Week 41 - February 21, 2025
EPISODE 41 of Z-GR! Radio
Z-GR! Radio overview right from your Host:
- My name is Scot Apathy – I’m the lead singer for Zero-G Racetrack, and I curate the ‘Floating Around the Racetrack’ Spotify/YouTube playlist. It’s not a pay for play list; I personally choose what’s on it based on what I hear. True story.
- For Z-GR! Radio, I pull from tracks/artists on the playlist (current and archived) and include newer finds that might not be on the list yet (but likely will be).
- The artists included come from myriad genres, geographical locations and stage of growth. I stay away from mainstream established artists, but I will play artists that I’ve followed as they grow. I love it when emerging artists gain traction, and I like to celebrate it.
- I include a cover song each week, and highly recommend checking out MetroVeteran’s (Ruel Smith) ‘Synthwave Covers’ Spotify playlist. There are 900+ great tracks on that list.
- I post a page like this each week to help you find out more about the artists you heard on this week’s show and to make it easy to do so.
- I’m working with NEWHD on a Featured Artist program, and I’ll note those artists as they appear.
Have fun with the list below, enjoy the artists/music and…
PLEASE share the page out on your Socials!
Episode 41- On Demand
Z-GR! Radio Episode 41 Lineup
Francesca e Luigi- Come On I Want You
This week’s opener is from Sweden’s Francesca e Luigi, who embody Italo Disco to a T – Jessica is adorably goofy with a vocal that is vulnerable, unpretentious and catchy – Martin plays a pretty good Captain to her Tennielle as he lays down a bed of solid synth grooves. The result is a fantastic track, and it’s worth taking a look at the video of the song, which is a lot of fun.
annsofi & me - Heart of Glass
Annsofi & Me, a duo of Norway’s Annasofi and JP Paulsen, were on Episode 5 with their really cool track ‘Dancing on the Strip’, and ‘Heart of Glass’, which premiered on Episode 32, is also on their 2024 full-length release ‘The Pop Album. I recently took a spin through the album and I really like these guys and recommend digging into their library.
Bunny X- Young & In Love
I came across Bunny X just as the pandemic broke in 2021 and was really taken with their album Young and in Love – it’s full of catchy, well-produced tracks that really capture the emotional ups and down of falling into and out of love. They’ve become a regular presence here on Z-GR! Radio and although they’ve released a bunch of great material since that album – I’m going with the title track for this episode.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | Bluesky | TwitterX | Facebook
Zero-G Racetrack - I Think You're Beautiful - Radio Edit
Zero-G Racetrack’s most popular song ‘I Think You’re Beautiful’ was remastered and re-packaged as a 6 track EP in December of 2022 and collectively, the song has hit the 95k mark as of today. The radio Instrumental is the version that got picked up by Spotify’s Autoplay, and has kept the track moving. The art used for the cover was the catalyst for the cover art style we’ve used throughout the first wave of singles, and the song continues to be a fan favorite.
Spotify | Linktree | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook | Bluesky
Rykarda Parasol / Mark Pistel - Valborg's Eve (Mark Pistel Club Mix)
Mark Pistel, a founding member of San Francisco’s legendary Consolidated, is back on the show after just a few episodes, but that’s because I came across his fantastic remix of Rykarda Parasol’s ‘Valborg’s Eve’. Turns out he works with her on the regular both behind the console and on stage – she’s a San Francisco native, but has roots in Europe, notably in Paris and Warsaw.
Rykarda Parasol
Spotify | Linktree | Web | Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook
Mark Pistel
Shadow Colonies - You
As far as I know, Shadow Colonies is the first Z-GR! Radio artist from Thailand – they’re a trio of Ann, Bass and Andy who self- describe as film enthusiasts that blend metal, electronic, and synthwave and gaming. Movie soundtracks inspire their sound, and their track ‘You’, which is about gaslighting, caught my ear with the intro keys riff, but it was Ann’s haunting vocal that really pulled me in.
crypto WAVE radio - One Night Stand
Every once in a while I stumble across a track that grabs me and won’t let go. ‘One Night Stand’ is one of those tracks from the opening groove to the outstanding sound design to the soulful sax – I think it’s incredible, and I shared with several people who were also blown away. The track is by Crypto Wave radio, AKA Ausin Litz. The band is named after his live stream that focuses on NFTs and other crypto, but the truth is the real gold is in this track.
Electric Palace - No Way Out
Episode 8’s Electric Palace is back with ‘No Way Out’ – it’s off of their 2021 album, ‘Pretend’ and I hadn’t heard it for a while – when I did, I was reminded of how great a track it is. I did run through the rest of their library while I was there and they’ve got some great stuff, so be sure to check it out.
Big Image - Parallel Love Affair
This is the third time the UK’s Big Image has been on the show, and this time it’s 2021’s ‘Parallel Love Affair’ – I always get a lot of great feedback on this band, and for good reason – they play out in the UK a lot, so if you’re in their neck of the woods, keep an ear open.
Steve Balbi - Avalanche
Australia’s Steve Balbi has a storied musical history that dates back to the mid-70’s and is far too deep to get into detail here, but to suffice to say, the man has seen and heard some things, and his experience is on display with his 2024 album ‘Breakdown’. There’s a lot to like on the album, and I vibed on several tracks before settling on the album’s opener ‘Avalanche’. Worth a spin, for sure.
Spotify | Wiki | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook
Sam Doll - Bad Like Me
A trip through Toronto native Sam Doll’s Instagram account will tell you why ‘Bad Like Me’ works so well – she’s got a brash, sarcastic vibe and doesn’t seem afraid to say pretty much anything about pretty much anything. The track’s lyrics and vocal tone really work – she tells you what to expect from her with unfiltered and unabashed sincerity.
Dexelle - Figure It Out
This is the third time Belgian Singer – Songwriter Nicholas D’Exelle’s been on the show – ‘Figure It Out’ is also the third track featured to be pulled from his 2022 EP ‘Tired Mind’. He’s been playing out in the Antwerp area, so keep an ear open for dates going forward.
Sumthing Strange - Girl Like You
In the mid-90’s, UK artist Edwyn Collins had a somewhat surprising hit single off of his 3rd record. ‘The track charted all over the world, ranging from Top 10 in Europe, Top 20 in Canada and Top 40 in the U.S. and proved that a hybrid of Pop Indie sensibilities could be commercially viable. It’s become largely forgotten, but I came across a 2023 cover by Los Angeles band Sumthing Strange, who has a slew of interesting cover tracks, including Tom Petty’s ‘Don’t Come Around Here’ and Tiffany’s ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, but their cover of ‘Girl Like You’ is arguably the best of them.
Helefonix - Out of My Hair
Helefonix, AKA Helen Meissner, is a personal favorite of mine. I first came across her track ‘Out of My Hair’ back in 2022, – the track mashes genres so masterfully that I’m not even sure where to begin to describe it. I’ll settle for ‘Punk Rock Disco’, but that just scratches the surface. I think it’s awesome, and I think you will too.
Spotify | Website | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX
Sophia's Mission-newhd
Sophia’s Mission, in collaboration with NEWHD Media, spearheads initiatives to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Through dynamic digital campaigns, community outreach events, and strategic media partnerships, they provide vital resources and foster open conversations. Their joint efforts aim to destigmatize mental illness, empower individuals to seek help, and advocate for policy changes. Visit Sophia’s Mission and NEWHD Media to learn more about their impactful work in saving lives and promoting mental wellness through innovative approaches in media and community engagement.
