Ronnie Stone, in his peculiar temporality, marries both retrospective charm and forward-looking innovation, presenting a brand of synth-pop that gracefully fuses vintage allure with contemporary dance vibes. This NYC stalwart, a prodigious producer and musician, crafts all of his tracks from a secret studio, surrounded by a treasure trove of 1980s synthesizers, to deliver dance-pop gems for eccentrics and introverts alike.
With his latest offering, Ronnie Stone heralds his partnership with Chicago’s Feeltrip Records (home to Paul Cherry, Pearl & The Oysters, Pixel Grip), unveiling “The Diamond“—his first offering since 2015. This track, bathed in retro-neon hues and echoing the likes of New Beat and Industrial, is a fitting reentry—marked by its evocative, rhythmic tenor.
“The Diamond” leans into a minimalistic and mechanistic style, highlighting off-kilter bass rhythms, intertwined with brooding synths and vocals. What emerges is a track that’s simultaneously disconcerting and irresistibly danceable, replete with catchy refrains. With this creation, Stone escalates his dark-electro-synth artistry, with echoes of influences such as Tobacco, Front 242, and Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine days.
“I wanted the lyrics to be more conceptual and more graphic novel-esque to fit more in with the sound I was channeling,” says Stone. “The song takes place in a retro-dystopian future inspired by Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84. In a surreal and seedy narrative drawing influence from crime films like Natural Born Killers and Pulp Fiction, it details the thoughts of a woman on a mission to do whatever it takes to survive. She crosses a bridge, seduces a guard, steals some money, and slits the throat of anyone who gets in her way.”
The music video for “The Diamond” encapsulates Ronnie Stone’s distinctive style, harkening back to ’80s futuristic cyberpunk motifs reminiscent of films such as Demolition Man, Jonny Mnemonic, Escape From New York, and Blade Runner. Rosa Luna, Stone’s collaborative ally, took the helm as director and cinematographer, with Caroline Mills providing special effects and makeup. It’s a fun watch – and an intriguing short film.
Watch below:
Since the inception of the project in 2014, Ronnie has built up a loyal following in the NYC scene. His debut album, 2015’s Motorcycle Yearbook, was greeted as a revelation, and his live shows quickly gained a reputation as quasi-religious events.
In the opening months of 2022, Ronnie, accompanied by his onstage collaborator, Rosa Luna, triumphantly executed their inaugural transcontinental U.S. tour. This pair is deeply committed to forging a captivating milieu for their artistic and musical exhibitions. Their atmospheric settings, suffused with mist and complemented by meticulous light displays, invite audiences into Ronnie’s vintage, dystopian nightclub reverie. Stepping forth from the mist, clad entirely in leather, Ronnie commands the stage with the aura of an artist accustomed to sell-out arenas. And the moment he belts out a note, one is compelled to believe in the world he presents.
His latest album, Ride Again (Feeltrip Records), is the culmination of a decade spent dwelling in the shadows at nightclubs and warehouse parties. Inspired by the solace and epiphanies he found on the dance floor, Stone blends New Wave with the groovy and persistent infectiousness of techno and house.
Anticipation is building for Stone’s forthcoming LP, set to launch on FeelTrip in early 2024.
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