Spotlight on a SWFL artist: 80sRetro

When someone hears Florida, they most likely think of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, or Tampa and the Florida Keys. However, in a county hours away from any amusement park, the music scene is as lively as South Miami Beach.

The ’scene’ is any kind of community music in an area, this includes independent music-oriented bands and their audiences. 

Multi-genre artist Jordan Santos, otherwise known as 80sRetro, was born and raised in Cape Coral, Florida, and there he currently writes and produces his own music in house. He describes his music genre as synthpop, scenecore, hyperpop and shoegaze.

When asked what his creative process is like, he says, “I usually ‘test-run’ the beat and see if my voice, flow, and effort fit within the beats intentions.” Though there are multiple unfinished projects of his, Retro uses those experiences as references when going to refine new or old work. 

Everyone has heard or used the phrase, “Practice makes perfect.” In the case of any art or profession, this holds true. With committed careers such as being a musician, consistent work and practice helps with finding a style that fits your desired aesthetic.

“The more projects you work on, the closer you are to finding your ‘sound’ that people will genuinely enjoy,” Retro says when asked about important lessons he has learned while creating music. 

“Another lesson I've learned is that not everyone will like your music and that is okay,” he expressed, “The more you experiment, the more you'll realize that everyone has their acquired taste, in which you may or may not align with.”

The evolution of music and its community shows that there is a little something for everyone. Whether someone's’ tastes include hyperpop and indie, or country and soul, there is someone out there willing to produce and perform that genre. 

As an independent artist, there are some things that are always worth rejoicing, such as finishing a tense performance or seeing the result of a long creative endeavor. “My favorite thing about creating music is the final results of my projects. Taking the time to view a finalized song and say ‘Wow, I can't believe I actually did that’ is satisfying, as well as receiving positive feedback on my work,” Retro shares.

For those who are starting their career as a small artist, take this as an opportunity to remind yourself that you are not alone. Retro advises to not look too much into the statistics of how well a song is doing on a platform. 

“Your music career is a slow and steady process that takes time to form. You should focus on improving your sound, work ethic, and knowledge within music,” he shared, a piece of guidance for musicians starting their line of work.

Retro also notes to not object to constructive criticism when it’s needed most, as he surrounds himself with friends and loved ones who are real with him and tell him when he needs to work on in order to improve. 

With loved ones aside, there are other inspirations that contribute to Retros’ music style. If you listen to artists like Joji, Crystal Castles, Bladee, and Boy Fantasy, then give 80sRetro a listen on platforms such as Spotify and SoundCloud.

80sRetro e-z.bio