J+1: Experimental Retrowave Beats for Forward-Thinkers
J+1: Cruising Through Neon Dreams With the Synthwave Maverick of L.A.
If you’ve ever driven down Sunset Boulevard at night with nothing but city lights and a playlist that sounds like a DeLorean just hit 88 mph, chances are, J+1 was on that list. He’s not just a musician—he’s a time machine pilot. A Los Angeles-based synthwave producer who’s been quietly (or rather, loudly) pumping 80s-fueled electro-dreams into our headphones since 2017, J+1 has carved a glimmering niche in the retro-futuristic soundscape.
And no, he's not a robot sent from the future. But with 40+ releases on Bandcamp and a sound so polished it might blind you with nostalgia, you could be forgiven for thinking he is.
Let’s rewind the tape a bit.
From L.A. With Love (and Lasers)
Synthwave has always been about vibes—sunsets, neon lights, muscle cars, Miami Vice aesthetics—and J+1 embodies all of that with a twist. While a lot of retro artists lean heavy into the cinematic or melancholy side of things, J+1 adds that modern punch, that electro-house edge, that makes you want to dance as much as dream.
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Think Kavinsky but with a beach tan and a USB full of EDM presets.
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Or Daft Punk’s cooler younger cousin who still watches VHS tapes.
Coming out of Los Angeles, a city already saturated with stories and sound, J+1 stood out by being... unapologetically shiny. His 2017 debut had that crunchy synth bite, but it was his steady output—like a monthly care package from a parallel 1984—that kept fans coming back. The guy didn’t just release music; he delivered experiences.
The Sound of Sunset
His 2024 singles—“Sunset Express,” “Home,” “Glitch,” and “Moments”—are peak J+1. They shimmer with that signature blend of analog fuzz and digital precision. They don’t just play; they roll like end credits on your best summer ever.
Let’s break them down quickly:
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“Sunset Express” feels like cruising down the PCH in a Camaro with T-tops and a trunk full of synths.
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“Home” is moodier, like returning from a cyber-adventure with a head full of memories.
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“Glitch” is exactly what it sounds like—a hyperactive neon rave with a soft spot.
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“Moments” (w/ RYFL) has more heart than a John Hughes movie and hits just as hard.
You get the picture.
And through it all, there’s that unmistakable J+1 signature—a reverence for the past mixed with the tools of the now. His music doesn’t try to be “just retro.” It is retro with an upgrade.
Enter the Alleyways (and Dr Disrespect)
Now, we can’t talk J+1 without bringing up “Alleyways,” “Red Skies,” and “Eclipse” (yeah, that collab with Dr Disrespect).
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“Alleyways” is basically an audio noir—dimly lit synth stabs, echoey snares, and that slow build that just wrecks your heart.
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“Red Skies”? That’s the track you put on when you want to feel invincible... or invincibly nostalgic.
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“Eclipse” (feat. Dr Disrespect)? Straight-up gamer fuel. It’s what happens when synthwave hits the gym.
These tracks helped define not only J+1’s sound but the wider genre. They bridged the gap between synthwave purists and EDM heads who just wanted something with more soul than a drop-heavy festival banger.
Jackets, Joyrides, and J+1
This is probably the part where we say something like: “If J+1 were a brand, he’d be wearing a leather jacket, mirrored shades, and high-top sneakers from the future.” And honestly? That brand already exists. It's Newretro.Net.
Here’s the thing—we get it. The guys who ride with synthwave don’t just listen to the past; they wear it. That’s where we come in. J+1’s music feels like what our denim jackets sound like. If that sentence makes sense to you, welcome to the club.
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Retro VHS sneakers? That’s “Glitch” in shoe form.
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Our sunglasses? Basically “Eclipse” for your face.
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Leather jackets? Let’s just say J+1 would approve.
So next time you're throwing on his latest track, throw on something that matches the mood.
Underground, Online, Unstoppable
Despite the obvious potential for crossover success (hello, 60K+ Spotify listeners and counting), J+1’s kept it indie. His Bandcamp is like a treasure chest of digital gems—deep cuts, rare tracks, remixes, and experimental loops that never make it to Spotify but feel like little secrets he left just for the real ones.
And then there's his social presence. @jplusnone on Twitter (which, by the way, is the most synthwave handle ever) has been dropping pixel-perfect updates, mini trailers, and the occasional cryptic post since 2016. The community loves him because he doesn’t try to “go viral.” He just makes music that deserves to be.
He’s also collaborated with some pretty rad people. That Halifax remix? Chef’s kiss. And the Wice work? Let’s just say it could power a small hovercar.
Why It Hits Different
What makes J+1 stand out isn’t just his commitment to aesthetic or his prolific discography. It’s that heartbeat in the music. The pulse behind the pulse. Synthwave often walks a tightrope between homage and parody, but J+1 dances across it, throws in a backflip, and still sticks the landing.
There’s always a little surprise in his tracks—like a bridge that goes darker than expected or a drop that suddenly bursts into optimism. That unpredictability is part of what keeps fans hooked.
And let’s be honest. In an age of algorithms and AI-generated blah-blah, finding an artist who still puts out emotionally handcrafted tracks like it’s an artform? That’s gold.
The Pulse of the Future (Still Wearing Shades)
If Part One of J+1's journey is about how he mastered the craft of synthwave, the next leg is about how he shaped the space around him—how his music moved from late-night playlists to something of a small cultural ripple. It’s a story not just of retro revivalism, but of innovation wrapped in VHS static and drizzled with EDM glitter.
Let’s peel back the layers a bit more.
The Scene He Helped Shape
By 2019, synthwave wasn’t new—but it was transforming. What started as an underground SoundCloud thing had begun sneaking into trailers, indie games, Twitch streams, and those moody YouTube loops you listen to at 2 AM when you're pretending to finish your to-do list. J+1 wasn’t just part of that transformation—he was steering it with pixel-perfect precision.
Unlike many producers who either leaned full EDM or full analog, J+1 danced comfortably in between. His work pulled in fans who grew up on Blade Runner and Need for Speed Underground 2, but also caught the ears of modern EDM and electro-house fans looking for depth.
He wasn’t selling nostalgia; he was selling timeless cool.
And maybe that’s why even now, in 2025, after nearly a decade of work and over 40 Bandcamp drops, the man still sounds fresh. Or rather—freshly retro.
Let’s Talk Collabs (aka the Avengers of Synth)
One of the smartest things J+1 did along the way? Team up with equally bold sonic stylists.
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RYFL, whose silky vocal-laced collab “Moments” brought a cinematic warmth to J+1’s usual neon chill.
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Halifax, for a remix that turned one of J+1’s smoother grooves into a blistering night drive anthem.
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Wice, who gave J+1’s glossier synths a sharp-edged remix treatment that practically belongs in a cyberpunk chase sequence.
These weren’t just cameos. They were fusions—each pushing J+1’s sonic boundaries a little further. He didn’t just bring people into his world—he stepped into theirs, all without losing his signature glow.
The Merch Table We Deserve
Let’s be honest: if there’s a soundtrack to your midnight cruise, there better be an outfit to match. That’s where Newretro.Net comes in again.
We don't like to name-drop (cough yes we do), but it’s hard not to imagine J+1 fans decked out in:
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A faded denim jacket that looks like it survived a synth battle in 1987 and came out cooler.
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Retro VHS sneakers that squeak like cassette rewind buttons and feel like walking through a Tron set.
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Or a pair of reflective sunglasses so sharp they reflect the exact waveform of “Red Skies.”
Sure, our stuff looks vintage, but trust—it’s built for now. Just like J+1’s music. Timeless style with a retro engine under the hood.
Live, Loud, and Laser-Lit
Despite being a studio wizard, J+1 hasn’t shied away from live gigs. If you've ever caught a LineApp.Live stream or been lucky enough to see him play an IRL set in L.A., you know this man understands spectacle.
Live, his sets aren’t just about pressing buttons—they’re about building a mood. The lights, the visuals, the pacing... everything moves like a short film from the year 2099. His setlists blend unreleased loops with familiar bangers, and he isn't afraid to slip in a remix of “Eclipse” just to watch the crowd collectively lose its mind.
And here’s a hot tip: rumor has it he’s planning something big before he wraps up his active run. A live project? An album drop? A holographic dance-off with Dr Disrespect? Nobody knows—but whatever it is, it'll have synth, sweat, and swagger.
The Quiet Exit?
2025 marks what J+1 has hinted could be the final year of active releases. He’s not disappearing—just evolving. Artists like him don’t really stop; they transform. If J+1 does decide to close the chapter, you can bet he’s going to do it with a full-throttle, synth-drenched bang.
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Maybe it’ll be a final concept album.
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Maybe a collab with even more unexpected names.
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Maybe just a Bandcamp drop titled “The End is Neon”.
Who knows?
What’s certain is that J+1 has already left a permanent mark on the synthwave genre. And no algorithm, no AI-generated synth copycat, no shallow EDM loop will ever touch that legacy.
The Final Loop
J+1 gave us more than music. He gave us a feeling—that high-speed, windows-down, zero-regret feeling of a time that never really existed, but somehow lives inside us all. That’s the magic of retro-futurism: it's not about going back. It’s about remixing the past to imagine a cooler, glossier, VHS-colored version of the now.
So next time you’re flipping through your playlists, your jacket slung over your shoulder, your night still young, toss on a J+1 track.
Feel the pulse. Hit the gas. Let the neon blur.
And don’t forget your shades.
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