It began with a grooving, hazy track called "Deadbeat Summer," and there's no telling where it may end. Dallas/Austin artist Alan Palomo's outfit, Neon Indian, is the chief of chillwave, an upstart subgenre that fuses lazer-y synth lines, trebly beats and the chirpy blips of '80s pop with guitar flavors and lo-fi production straight out of indie rock. The combination leads to an '80s baby's dream: Plasticky vibes that recall Reagan-era radio, but rendered with the grit of early-'90s alt-rock. Neon Indian's live show also blends the gyration-inspiration of dance music with bored-out riffage and live drums. For Palomo, though, the dusty, critically acclaimed sounds on Neon Indian's debut album, Psychic Chasms, were more a result of having only a bedroom's worth of equipment to record with than a conscious decision. A new, sleeker track, "Sleep Paralysist," shows what Palomo can do with a studio, and so will his next album, which the 22-year-old hopes to record later this year. For now, he is riding the chillwave, touring the world (including big festivals like Bonnaroo) and proving just how hard beat music can rock.
Find everything you're looking for in your city
Find the best happy hour deals in your city
Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%
Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city
