🎹 Synthwave Meets Pure Moods: Crafting Dreamwave

Retro Sonya
3 days ago
3 min read

A Journey into New Age-Inspired 80s Vibes!

synthwave, 80s music, neon-soaked art, new age music, Pure Moods, Deep Forest, Blue Stone, field recordings, African drums, gamelan, kalimba, bamboo flutes, 80s synthesizers, atmospheric synthwave, retro synthwave, ethereal synthwave, dreamwave, retro-futuristic music, analog synths, Omnisphere, TAL-Noisemaker, PG-8X, LABS by Spitfire, Ample Sound Cloudrum, Sonatina Orchestra, retro drum machines, synthwave gridlines, synthwave sun, synthwave palm trees, synthwave stars, synthwave clouds.

Hey synth fam! 🎧

I’ve always loved the lush, atmospheric sounds of New Age artists like Blue Stone and Deep Forest—the kind you’d find on those iconic Pure Moods compilations. At the same time, I’ve been drawn to the neon-soaked synthwave vibes of the 80s, with their warm analog synths and driving retro beats. For the longest time, I couldn’t make up my mind: Should I lean into the meditative world music side, or embrace my inner 80s synthhead?

Then it hit me like a flash of neon inspiration: Why not blend both? Synthwave + Pure Moods = Dreamwave.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to create a fusion of atmospheric New Age music with the driving retro groove of synthwave, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive into how to bring these styles together—plus I’ll share some free VSTs to get you started!

🌌 What Makes Dreamwave?

Here’s the secret sauce:

🎧 1. Core Synthwave Elements:

Analog Synths: Rich, warm sounds from classic synths like the Juno-106 or Prophet 5.
Retro Drum Machines: Think LinnDrum, Roland TR-707/909, or digital emulations.
Driving Basslines: Pulsing, neon-drenched bass that keeps the groove alive.
Gated Reverb: That signature 80s drum sound—big, punchy, and nostalgic.

🌍 2. Pure Moods / Deep Forest Vibes

Field Recordings: Nature sounds—birds, rainforests, water—woven into your mix. You can also use tribal sounds (be sure to respect copyright and authenticity; consider creating your own or using royalty-free libraries).
Ethnic Instruments: World percussion, flutes, or even vocal samples for that global touch. Layer in textures like African drums, gamelan, kalimba, or bamboo flutes. These add that organic feel Deep Forest is known for.
Atmospheric Layers: Pads, airy textures, and ambient soundscapes to create a meditative vibe.
Vocal samples: Integrate traditional chants or ethereal vocal layers, (again, ensuring you have the rights). Alternatively, collaborate with singers to create original vocal lines inspired by global traditions.

🛠️ 3. Production Tips

Atmospheric layering: Deep Forest’s sound relies heavily on atmospheric pads and rich textures. Use multiple layers of synths and effects like delays, reverbs, and granular processing.
Melodic structure: Keep melodies simple but evocative—maybe a haunting minor key progression with some unexpected modal shifts.
Dynamic transitions: Move between more electronic-driven sections (synthwave) and organic, ambient breaks (Deep Forest-inspired) for contrast.
Tempo: Deep Forest often uses mid-tempo grooves, while synthwave is usually around 80-110 BPM. Try something in the middle—around 90-100 BPM—to bridge the styles.

🎧 4. Suggested Tools

DAWs: Ableton Live, Reaper, FL Studio, Logic Pro—these all handle both electronic and acoustic well.
VSTs/Plugins:
- Omnisphere: Great for atmospheric sounds and world instruments.
- Kontakt: Tons of ethnic and cinematic libraries.
- Diva or Arturia: For analog synth sounds.
Field Recorder: If you want to record your own environmental sounds.

🎹 Free VSTs to Get You Started:

You don’t need to spend a fortune to begin crafting your Dreamwave sound. Here are some awesome free VSTs that will help you capture both synthwave and New Age vibes:

🎛️ Synthwave/Retro VSTs:

Dexed (Download Here): A fantastic FM synth modeled after the Yamaha DX7—perfect for those classic 80s tones.
TAL-Noisemaker (Download Here): Great for analog-style leads and pads.
PG-8X (Download Here): Emulates the Roland JX-8P for lush synthwave chords.

🌍 Atmospheric/New Age VSTs:

LABS by Spitfire Audio (Download Here): Offers a huge library of ambient textures, natural instruments, and atmospheric sounds.
Ample Sound Cloudrum (Download Here): A free steel tongue drum plugin, perfect for dreamy world music vibes.
Sonatina Orchestra (Download Here): A great orchestral plugin with ethnic percussion that can add a cinematic touch.
DSK Music (Free Ethereal Instruments): Offers a variety of ethnic and ethereal sounds that would be perfect for Pure Moods-style songs, even in Synthwave.

💾 Paid VSTs for Expansion:

When you’re ready to level up, here are some paid VSTs that can really enhance your Dreamwave palette:

🌌 Omnisphere (Spectrasonics): The ultimate atmospheric powerhouse, with endless synths and organic instruments.

🎹 Arturia V Collection (Arturia): A treasure trove of vintage synth emulations—Juno, Prophet, CS-80, and more!

🌀 Kontakt (Native Instruments): Opens the door to endless world music libraries and ethereal soundscapes.

🚀 Conclusion

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating music that merges the calming, meditative qualities of Pure Moods with the nostalgic punch of synthwave, Dreamwave might just be the genre you’ve been searching for. Start with the free tools above and blend your favorite elements until you find your unique voice.

So start your journey! Make something beautiful—one pad, one beat, and one field recording at a time. 🌠🎹

Got any questions or need help with your setup? Drop a comment below and let’s jam!