Burbank, California (March 2019) — Singer, songwriter, synthesist, entrepreneur, and educator Thomas Dolby — known for making the earworm “She Blinded Me with Science” a permanent part of our cultural landscape — will give an exclusive concert and talk at the inaugural session of Synthplex™, Los Angeles’ first-ever convention devoted to electronic music and musical instruments. Synthplex runs from Thursday, March 28 through Sunday, March 31, 2019 at the Los Angeles Marriot Hotel at Burbank Airport. The four-day extravaganza features exhibits of both new and vintage music synthesizers, DIY synth-building and modular workshops, and panels and seminars with industry leaders.
Dolby will perform signature songs and give attendees a look into how he created them at the Synthplex dinner banquet on Saturday, March 30, from 6:30 to 9:30 P.M. At live solo performances, Dolby is known for using video of his synthesizers and laptop screen to show audiences exactly how he builds his tracks. Introducing Dolby and serving as emcee is none other than electronic dance music artist BT, with whom Dolby has toured and whose use of exotic synthesis methods and meticulous audio editing revolutionized EDM. The banquet is sponsored by musical instrument maker Roland, known for their Jupiter and Juno synthesizers as well as their V-Drums electronic percussion.
“We’re witnessing a global upsurge in DIY electronic music, and I’m thrilled that there’s finally a focused event for West Coast synth enthusiasts,” says Dolby. “Synthplex is definitely the place to be if you have a fetish for knobs and patch cords!”
“There are so few places where synth enthusiasts from all generations can meet and communicate about the explosive resurgence in the synthesizer market,” adds BT. “I’d be lying if I didn’t confess I’m profoundly excited to be involved. Synthplex is a one-of-a-kind event.”
Initially inspired by finding a discarded synthesizer, Thomas Dolby became an icon of 1980s electronic pop with albums such as The Golden Age of Wireless, The Flat Earth, and Aliens Ate My Buick. The ’90s would find him helming technology companies Headspace and Beatnik, an early pioneer of interactive real-time sound on the World Wide Web. Beatnik would later develop the first polyphonic ringtones for cellular telephones, including the ubiquitous “Nokia tune.” Among Dolby’s many other accomplishments are serving as musical director of the prestigious TED Conference and launching an interactive online game and companion album in 2010 called A Map of the Floating City. In 2014, he was named Homewood Professor of the Arts at Johns Hopkins University, where he leads the bachelor’s degree program Music for New Media.
Launching on its maiden voyage this year, Synthplex was conceived by Michael Lehmann Boddicker and Mike Learmouth. Boddicker is one of the most sought-after keyboardist/composers in Los Angeles since the 1970s. His synthesizer work is heard on Michael Jackson’s album Thriller, he penned the soundtrack for the cult sci-fi film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension, and won a Grammy Award for his song “Imagination” from the soundtrack of Flashdance. Learmouth is a lifelong electronic musician and producer and president of Deco Technology Group, which specializes in custom printing on virtually any kind of object or material. Both Michaels are self-confessed “synth maniacs” and are excited to be bringing people from all over the globe together to share their passion for electronic musical instruments.
Previously announced talent includes keynote speaker Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL), Harold Faltermeyer, Mark Isham, Michael Abels, Allee Willis, Dave Smith (MIDI Inventor and founder of Sequential), Craig Anderton, Shelly Peiken, Russell Brower, Michael Lehmann Boddicker, Germaine Franco, and more to be announced. Find all the details at https://synthplex.com/speakers-list.php.
For those who cannot travel to the conference, DubLab Radio will broadcast live from Synthplex each day from 12 noon to 5 P.M, conducting interviews with speakers and artists.
SYNTHPLEX LOCATION:
2500 North Hollywood Way
Burbank, CA 91505
WHEN:
March 28 – 31, 2019.
Ticket Information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ca–los-angeles/synthplex/
Full details at https://www.synthplex.com/
Social Media Channels:
https://www.facebook.com/synthplex/
https://www.twitter.com/synthplex/
https://www.instagram.com/synthplex_burbank/
