Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Neon palm
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I grew up in a music loving house, with both my Mum and Dad loving a lot of the 70s and 80s rock, one of my earliest memories I have is my parents having a party and my uncle Ernie dancing on the table with a saucepan on his head to one of queens songs! An absolute riot! I must have only been 4 maybe 5 at the time, and it has always stuck with me.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
As a teenager I always enjoyed messing around with Decks and messing around on a guitar though I never had much staying power as a kid, easily distracted and onto the next thing, I remember there used to be a game on playstation in the late nighties, early 2000s called Music 2000, it was so simple and my sister and I would always try to outdo each other by making the better song, making sure our Mum and Dad had to act as talent show judges. I didn’t touch music for many years after leaving the family home until my partner bought me a uke for Christmas in 2023, this instantly reignited my love for making music, using the uke to re learn the basics, led me down the rabbit hole of Daws and understanding how simple it could be to now produce music, much like I did back on Music 2000!
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I want to make music that makes you feel something, it might be something warm, nostalgic or a little more energetic to dance. My music inspiration is heavily weighted towards Avicci, Lost frequencies, Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix with a little Ben Bohmer and Lane 8 thrown in for good measure, I love music that moves, I use lots of pads and strings to try to create this flowing undercurrent to every track I make, and with each song I try to make it at least 1% better than the last.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
My sound blends uplifting melodic house with warm, sunset-coloured synths and big emotional drops. I love creating tracks that feel both nostalgic and modern — the kind of music you’d hear driving along a coastline at golden hour. It’s energetic, catchy, and rooted in feel-good vibes, but always with a touch of emotion.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Using reference tracks to support the arrangement and track building, when I first started out, I really just messed around with sounds until I made what I thought could pass as a song. Once I learned the benefit of using one or more reference tracks to use as guide posts throughout the song, it has been a game changer. I now use them for multiple elements such as arrangement ideas, balance and tone. At first I was worried it would feel like copying until I realised that it was simply doing what every producer does and just learning from rather than stealing from.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I use FL studio to make all of my tracks, along with Native instruments and serum 2 are my go to for creating the sounds in my tracks. I often use splice to support the early building blocks of a track and then build my own elements in place of to drive my own artisic feel.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I really like a remix by disKatch at the moment, there version of the song “so alive” is brilliant, if you haven’t heard it yet, check it out immediately!
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Like most people I have lived through loss and trauma, my mum passed away when I was 21 and I found music to be the power of mood and in many ways a coping escapism, I want my music to continue this journey for others and I hope it does for others like Aviccis music did for me, the ability to just drive and lose yourself.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
A mixture really, each song tells a different story, I try to make my music the idyllic soundtrack to a sunset drive along a beach. My message from this is to get lost in the moment, enjoy the soundtrack and let the sun hit your senses. I hope this resonates with some.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Resilience, when you get 19 no’s to one yes, you have to believe in what you are doing. I look forward to the no’s, it means I must be one step closer to a yes. Equally, I have come to terms with the fact not all of my tracks will be a better success with each release, sometimes, they just don’t ignite like I hope they will, my attitude is very much, oh well, I’ll just make the next one better with the feedback I have had.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I haven’t really allowed myself to dream that far ahead, but it has to be Glasto and Tomorrowland, the two quintessential festivals in my opinion.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I think just for the vocal range and quality it would have to be Ariana Grande, her soft tones mixed with power, would suite my style of melodic house.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5BPtzVzWxEYCCAtOuqgQ3h?si=DlsXVcRWSvCd1pvXSNbYMA
Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/neon-palm/1771233351
Insta – https://www.instagram.com/neon__palm/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@neon__palm?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I have worked in supermarket management for many years now and I just know there is more to life than that! My dream is to be making music I love as a full time profession where I can earn enough to never work in a supermarket again!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I’m about as normal as anyone else, there isn’t anything special about me, I am very lucky to have found out in my mid thirties that I really love making music and I feel this is my purpose and because of this, it an no point feels like work, so I put as much time into it as I can to be the best producer I can.
Thank you again,
Steve aka Neon Palm 🌴
