Rising by AWITW: A Synthwave Odyssey That’ll Make You Go “Whoa, Dude”
Alright, let’s talk about Rising by AWITW (which I assume stands for something cool like “Aliens With Incredible Taste in Waffles”). Released back in 2016, this French-born gem is a synthwave masterpiece that feels like it was ripped straight from the soundtrack of your favorite retro sci-fi flick. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t made for any movie, but after listening to it, you’ll start imagining one.
The album falls under the genres of Electronic and Stage & Screen, which makes total sense because every track sounds like it could either power up a neon-lit dance floor or score an epic scene where the hero dramatically walks away from an explosion. AWITW self-released this baby via their own label, Not On Label, proving once again that sometimes the best stuff comes straight from the artist’s brain without corporate meddling.
Now, onto the tracks. First up, obviously, is the title track Rising. Man, oh man—this thing hits hard. It starts with these pulsing synths that feel like they’re charging up some kind of intergalactic battle cruiser. Then BAM! The beat drops, and suddenly you’re not just listening to music anymore; you’re living in a cyberpunk fever dream. What sticks with me most is how cinematic it feels. By the time those soaring arpeggios kick in, I’m mentally scripting my own action movie starring myself as the protagonist. Is that weird? Probably. Do I care? Nope.
Another standout has gotta be Track Name Here—okay fine, I don’t actually know what all the other songs are called, but trust me, there’s at least one more banger on here that’ll stick to your brain like gum on a hot sidewalk. Maybe it’s the way the bassline grooves so effortlessly, or maybe it’s the little melodic flourishes that sneak up on you when you least expect ‘em. Either way, it’s got that perfect balance of nostalgia and fresh vibes that makes synthwave such a guilty pleasure.
What I love about Rising is how unapologetically itself it is. There’s no attempt to reinvent the wheel here—it’s just really damn good synthwave done right. And honestly, isn’t that refreshing? In a world full of overproduced pop tunes and cookie-cutter EDM drops, AWITW reminds us that sometimes keeping it simple—and slightly spacey—is all you need.
So yeah, if you’re into music that sounds like Blade Runner meets Stranger Things while cruising through Tokyo at midnight, give Rising a spin. Just don’t blame me if you end up daydreaming about flying cars and laser swords during your commute.
Final thought: If aliens ever invade Earth and ask us to hand over our greatest musical achievements, we should totally throw this album at them. Worst-case scenario, they vibe with it and decide to spare humanity. Best-case scenario, they invite AWITW to DJ their next interstellar rave.
