The Alchemy of Classtronaut: Turning Hardship into Synthpop Magic
Classtronaut are a rising synthpop outfit hailing from Boise, Idaho. Their debut singles, "Chemical Reaction" and "Gee Whiz," showcase a shimmering blend of crystalline production, infectious refrains, and an unmistakably uplifting energy. These tracks are as capable of moving the soul as they are of filling a dancefloor. Comprised of Gus Curry, Brian Fortson, Andrew Craig, and Casey Dudley, the band is still in the early stages of their journey but has already captured attention with their polished recordings and dynamic live performances. No Transmission recently caught up with founding members Gus and Brian to delve into the creative process behind their music. As the duo shared their story, it became clear that their work is not just about crafting melodies but about finding hope and connection in the face of life’s challenges.
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NT: The story behind "Chemical Reaction" and "Gee Whiz" is deeply personal. Could you share more about how this period of emotional hardship shaped the creative direction of these songs?
[Gus]: Yeah, well we both were going through certain things at the time, those hardships among great joys that can just make you feel what a truly incredible thing it is to be alive on this planet, and we started sharing ideas back and forth. It was months of doing this that actually led to the creation of Classtronaut. Brian and I had been working together for a couple years by this point, and the music we were making just naturally started to head in this different direction. We have new material coming soon that I’d say delves deeper into this direction, kind of an extension of this first release.
NT: Brian, you mentioned composing song ideas during your son’s hospital stays. How did this unusual songwriting environment impact the mood and sound of the tracks?
[Brian]: It had a major impact the mood and sound of each track, for sure. You can hear these fluctuations in the sound design of our tracks, specifically some of the tracks coming out on our next release. They’re dark and extremely cinematic, which I think came from a blend of insomnia and a desperate need to put myself a place far from the isolation of a hospital room. "Gee Whiz" was written between hospital stays. Gus and I sat at a kitchen table and framed out the music. It’s probably one of the most light-hearted pieces we’ve made, probably due to the fact that we were not in the hospital at that point in time. "Chemical Reaction" came from a riff that Gus had been playing on his old Rhodes. You can hear the chord structure in the verses – it was almost a jazz piece that I re-arranged into what it is today.
NT: Given that your music was initially an emotional escape, at what point did you realize these songs had the potential to connect with a wider audience?
[Brian]: Gus and I had been working on these songs for almost a year before we decided to put them in front of anyone. If anything, Classtronaut started as a side project. We were both playing in another band at the time, which was a much more traditional indie-rock setup. I have been working with analog synthesizers for a long time, but really hadn’t produced any synth music for over a decade. With everything going on at the time, I decided that I wanted to exclusively focus on Classtronaut. It took some time to get Gus on board. We played our first show in December of 2023 as Classtronaut. We didn’t know what to expect taking our rough ideas in front of an audience, but it went well. I think the live reception was a turning point for us. People were enthusiastic about the music we were putting out.
NT: Both tracks were born out of challenging circumstances. How did you balance the emotional depth with the upbeat, synthpop energy that Classtronaut is known for?
[Brian]: That’s where Gus comes in. From a production standpoint, I’ve always gravitated toward edgier synthwave music, with darker sounds. Gus comes at the songwriting process from a completely different perspective. He’s incredibly introspective without taking everything too seriously. He has this pop sensibility about him that just comes naturally. The longer we work together, the better it seems to work.
[Gus]: I totally agree with that last part. Classtronaut has been a much more collaborative project than what we were doing before. We focused on live sound so much before, and with the hospital stays, Brian started creating tracks on his laptop and got back into production mode which was certainly a game-changer for us creatively. All of a sudden I’m waking up in the morning with anywhere from 1 to 5 really good, well-produced musical ideas for songs, sometimes fully finished. It was wild, and really inspiring to me. I guess that leads me to, and I think I can speak for Brian here, we love making music together- the puzzle of it, spending months on something even if it’s scrapped, and occasionally putting something together that makes you look at each other and smile. So even though these songs did come from a tough time, like, we’re here on the other side of it. Especially right now, I think we can all use some hope, and I think that’s a big vibe and throughline of what Classtronaut is.
NT: Classtronaut’s sound has been described as innovative, blending retro and modern pop elements. How do the individual members’ influences and experiences come together to shape this unique sound?
[Brian]: Gus and I have a common bond in our love of anything coming out of Thom Yorke and Talking Heads. But that’s about it. I love much of the synthpop that came out between 2005-2010. Crystal Castles, Midnight Juggernauts, The Presets, and Cut Copy have a big influence on how I write music. For Gus, it’s Radiohead, Hall and Oates, The Beatles, Elton John. On the surface, these influences are vastly different. But putting these styles together has worked incredibly well for us.
[Gus]: I’d add Prince, Queen, and CCNY to that off the top of my head, but yeah, we did bring some different tastes to this. Although, I don’t know if that’s what it is really- I just think Brian knows a lot more music than I do, because then everything he’d play for me, I was like fuck yeah this is where we should be heading. I’m pretty sure we both agree on the genius of Brian Wilson, though.
NT: You mentioned collaborating with Gus via email for song arrangements during difficult times. What was the most rewarding part of creating music in such an unconventional way?
[Brian]: I hate to say it, but I started looking forward to my hospital sessions. It was such a great escape at the time. And the creative process was different from song to song. Chemical Reaction, for example, is a glorified remix of a concept that Gus had been working on. He had the verses put together, and I built an arrangement around that. We wrote the early arrangement for Gee Whiz between hospital stays. For songs like this, I would polish arrangements in the middle of the night. I found that my most productive hours were between 3-4am, which is when I would often email concepts to Gus. For me, this process kept me going through some tough times. It was a needed distraction.
NT: How has your relationship as a band evolved through the personal trials you've experienced together, and how does that bond come through in your music?
[Brian]: I would say that it has all brought us closer together. Classtronaut is more like an extended family at this point. I think that comes through in the writing process. Both Gus and I completely trust each other’s judgment when it comes to writing music. We have very different styles and approaches to creating music, and it just works. That’s a rare thing to have in a band. We’ve also been lucky in bringing in great band members. Andrew and Casey have brought an element to the band that we couldn’t live without.
[Gus]: Oh, we’re totally closer because of these experiences. For one thing, whether or not some freaking cool music was the result sometimes, any time your really good friend- and that’s what this started as, Brian and I were friends for years before we started making music together- but any time your buddy’s kid is going into the emergency room and being admitted for hospital stays over and over… yeah we’re closer because of it. I’d say it was a while until we got excited to share this stuff with people.
NT: You've already performed some of these songs live to great reception. How did it feel to share such personal material with an audience, and what was the reaction like?
[Brian]: That’s the best part. When you’re a developing band, most people don’t know your backstory. Often the only impression they have of you as a band is the music that you’re playing on stage. We didn’t write any of this music to get attention from bloggers or fans, we wrote this music as an escape to what was happening in the moment. That has translated to music that is truly authentic to us, and that comes across on stage. While I do much of the production for Classtronaut, I play drums in our shows. Drummers are inconspicuous in the grand scheme of a live show. So, while everyone’s eyes are on Gus, I get to watch the audience reaction. So far that reaction has been incredible.
[Gus] It was also really great because nobody knew who we were when we played our first shows, but I think these really wild videos Brian made to some of our earliest songs brought people out, and I was amazed at the turnout and reaction from the start. One of the most amazing things has been to see the different people who happened to be at that first show and sought us out and haven’t missed one since.
NT: Your performance at the 2024 Treefort Music Festival was a milestone for the band. What made that experience stand out, and how has it influenced your goals moving forward?
[Brian]: When we moved here from the East Coast in 2020, I was blown away at how sacred this city held Treefort Music Fest. It is a big event for Boise. On top of that, it was our second live show. So, we had felt a lot of pressure to give a new audience a glimpse of what to expect from Classtronaut. The sets are strictly capped at 40 minutes, so we had to be thoughtful about which songs we wanted to present as our best music. Overall, this process has forced us to think of a Classtronaut show as a story with the intention of keeping the audience engaged throughout.
[Gus]: Treefort Music Fest was a tipping point for sure. We did have to curate a little to think what the best 40 minutes of music we could put in front of people was, and I think that has heavily influenced everything we’ve written since.
NT: Having shared stages with acts like Petite Noir and Mystery Skulls, how have these collaborations and live performances influenced your approach to crafting your music?
[Brian]: I think anytime you get the chance to support a large touring act, you get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it takes to put on a great show. These acts are professionals. They’re great at engaging an audience and are extremely consistent in their aesthetic and sound. It has forced us to rethink our holistic approach as a band. We’re trying to be consistent in how we put our music and aesthetic out to the world. The cover art for Chemical Reaction /// Gee Whiz is a good example. Without listening to our music, you can pretty much know what to expect by the artwork.
NT: Alongside your original releases, you've also worked on remixes for Logan Lynn’s tracks. How did this collaboration come about, and what was it like working with a label as legendary as Kill Rock Stars?
[Brian]: KRS has been great throughout the whole process. As far as how it came together, it depends on who you ask. I cold called Logan before we had met. In a later conversation, Logan said we had been referred to him by a fellow musician. Either way, we were quickly drawn to Logan’s artistry and professionalism. In short, he’s just a wonderful person to work with.
NT: With "Chemical Reaction" and "Gee Whiz" set to drop soon, what can fans expect next from Classtronaut? Is there a full-length album or more collaborations on the horizon?
[Brian]: With Chemical Reaction and Gee Whiz out in the world, we’re headed back to the studio. I think our next release will be an EP. We have a massive backlog of content, and just need the time to get new material released. You can expect more releases over the coming months, for sure.
NT: Do you see these singles as part of a larger narrative or artistic journey for the band, or are they more stand-alone pieces in your discography?
[Brian]: Chemical Reaction and Gee Whiz are an intentional introduction to Classtronaut. We originally wanted to put these out as a larger album but made the decision to release as a single. Our next release will continue our story while showing a bit more breadth and depth in our style.
NT: Your journey is marked by resilience and turning hardship into art. What advice would you give to other artists who are facing personal challenges while trying to pursue their creative passions?
[Brian]: For me, music is way more than a hobby. It is a core part of my identity. I don’t feel complete when I’m not writing or performing. Experiencing several years of setbacks with our son, I found myself balancing the desire to get back into writing new content with the excuse of not having the right time or setting to make it happen. I would say to anyone experiencing personal challenges in their lives – channel that energy into a creative outlet and write content for yourself.
NT: Music has clearly been a healing outlet for you. How do you hope these songs will resonate with listeners who may be going through their own struggles?
[Gus]: Like I said, so much of what we’re trying to do with Classtronaut is bring hope, joy, fun, humility, love- oh man, love- through our music. It’s why we do it for ourselves, that’s what it gives us. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, ya? We live here together, let’s enjoy it.