# Manchester Synthpop Artist RICHARD EVANS Celebrates Life’s Biggest Challenge With Release Of 3-Track ‘Dream Of The World’ EP

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/manchester-synthpop-artist-richard-evans-celebrates-lifes-biggest-challenge-with-release-of-3-track-dream-of-the-world-ep/
- Published: 2024-01-12T12:00:00-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **Manchester synthpop artist Richard Evans celebrates life’s biggest challenge with release of ‘Dream of the World’ EP**

_“A beautiful performance”_ ~ **The Guardian**

_“While new wave has been around for quite some time, Richard Evans cleverly summons
all the best elements of the genre, tastefully packaging them with thoughtful lyrics
in a way that is completely fresh and forever young” _~ **The Spill Magazine**

_“Commendable, not only for its allure and catchiness (with elements of Rational
Youth, Pet Shop Boys and Jean-Michel Jarre), but for taking on such topical subject
matter as technogenic disaster, environmental devastation and our skewed outlook
on our dire prospects as Earth’s inhabitants” _~** Ampify Music Magazine**

With an incredible story to share, Manchester-based synthwave artist [**Richard Evans**](https://www.richard-evans.com/)
has released his new retro-futuristic EP [**‘Dream of the World’**](https://richardevans.bandcamp.com/album/dream-of-the-world-ep)
via [**Cold Star Media**](https://bit.ly/3IleAfk). Recorded at **Cold Star Studios**
in July 2023 after recovering from a life-threatening illness. It’s no wonder that
the inspiring [**title track**](https://youtu.be/Jcqz3ZFenrE) is about remaining
positive even in the darkest times, as reflected in the accompanying video.

[⌊Richard Evans⌉⌊Richard Evans⌉[

A British-Irish electronic musician, writer and digital media artist, Evans was 
previously keyboardist in UK cult band [**James**](https://wearejames.com/), with
whom he also co-wrote and recorded material. Previous to that, he was also guitarist
and songwriter for [**St. Vitus Dancers**](https://youtu.be/86E18SULJxk).

This was no easy feat. Struck with Miller Fisher Syndrome, a rare debilitating auto-
immune disorder (a variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome) in 2022, it would require
Evans’ full recovery, something that is not guaranteed to most people suffering 
from this ailment. He also had to learn to do everything all over again, including
speaking, singing and playing music. But he managed to do exactly that, against 
the odds.

This superb [**3-track EP**](https://richardevans.bandcamp.com/album/dream-of-the-world-ep)
follows Evans’ 2022 debut record [**‘Sentinel’**](https://richardevans.bandcamp.com/album/sentinel),
an electro-pop concept album that touches on micro-plastics, gene editing, stardust,
technogenic disasters, human evolution, among other themes, this superb eight-track
collection telling the story of humanity at a tipping point and a world trapped 
in a climate crisis.

“‘Dream Of The World’ is a call to action in the face of an unrelenting climate 
crisis and, on a personal level, it reflects on a health situation that affected
me in late 2022. I was diagnosed with Miller Fisher Syndrome, a rare auto-immune
disorder that impacts around one in a million people each year and is a variant 
of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. I found parallels between the life-threatening aspects
of the climate crisis and a condition which decimated nearly all of my body’s functions,”
says **Richard Evans.**

“I literally woke up one morning in the midst of losing all muscle control. Over
the course of a single day, I became unable to open my eyes, to sit, stand or walk,
even to eat or swallow food. I was hospitalized for a month and for the first 10
days of this stay, there was a real risk of respiratory failure. Alongside a treatment
plan, I kept going with positive visualizations, mentally depicting future times
when I would be well again. If nothing else, this practice helped me find the strength
to endure the most challenging experience of my life.”

**Evans **adds, “Once I was released from hospital, music became an important part
of my recovery – learning to sing and play keyboards again helped me regain control
of my arms, hands and facial muscles. For a long time I had double vision and didn’t
have the concentration to work on a computer. However I could play piano for short
periods and was able to resume some vocal work after a couple of months. This phase
created an unexpected change in my writing process, which previously was built around
riffs and sequences developed on a computer. ‘Dream Of The World’ was composed entirely
with piano and voice.”

Dream Of The World

[⌊Dream Of The World⌉⌊Dream Of The World⌉
Watch this video on YouTube

Richard Evans’ draws inspiration from real-world science, exploring biotechnology,
machine intelligence and the environment. For this album, existing songs were refined
and new material was written, combining the warmth of classic synths with pared-
down lyrics that explore real-world subject matter.

The Song [**‘Dream Of The World’**](https://youtu.be/Jcqz3ZFenrE) reflects how the
climate emergency is met with procrastination and indifference from most governments
and corporations, as if the switch to zero carbon is somehow beyond human control.
The lyrics are also about facing mortality on a personal level, with Evans singing,_“
I won’t bow to the hand of fate”_, emphasizing that we don’t always have to accept
the hand we’re dealt.

[⌊Richard Evans⌉⌊Richard Evans⌉[

With the sonically hypnotic effect of its single sequence and drum pattern, [**‘2084’**](https://richardevans.bandcamp.com/track/2084-2)
is about those who deny science and convince others of a different reality, underscored
by the lyrics_ “Hear the priests lie that black is white”._

**[‘Motherlode’](https://richardevans.bandcamp.com/track/motherlode)** is a previously
unreleased track, recorded during the ‘Sentinel’ sessions in 2021. It’s about the
phenomena of algorithmic trading – flash trades – and how ‘the market’ advances 
in cities worldwide each day to relentlessly exploit planetary resources.

Richard Evans’ output extends well beyond the musical realm. He recently received
a **New Ideas Fund **award from **Creative UK** to develop a virtual production 
studio. The award supports content for future stage shows and a new sci-fi short
film, called** ‘DeepSleep’**, which was written and directed by Richard and is due
for release in 2024.

Since the early 1980s, Evans’ independent creative projects have received nine awards
from **Arts Council England** and a separate one from **Creative England**, in addition
to being commissioned for various projects by the University of Manchester and the
Manchester Science Festival.

Evans also wrote, directed and produced the science fiction drama [**‘AEON**‘](https://thisisaeon.com/).
An author of many short stories, he also published the novel [**‘KOSMONAUT ZERO’**](https://www.amazon.com/Kosmonaut-Zero-Richard-Evans/dp/1908853247)(
via Dead Ink), researched at Star City Cosmonaut Training Centre. He also oversaw
the** ‘Gagarin 50’ **exhibition for the 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight
by Yuri Gagarin.

‘Dream of the World’ is out now, available [**everywhere online**](https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/richardevans/sentinel),
including  directly from the artist via [**Bandcamp**](https://richardevans.bandcamp.com/album/sentinel).

[⌊Richard Evans album cover⌉⌊Richard Evans album cover⌉[

**CREDITS**
Music, lyrics, vocals, programming by Richard EvansRecorded at Cold 
Star StudiosMixed and produced by [**Hervé Girardin**](http://hervegirardin.weebly.com/production--sound-design.html)
Graphic design by Lee Baxter3D wireframes by PJB Creative MediaMastered by Digitalflesh
Audio MasteringWith thanks to Arts Council England, Creative England, Manchester
Science Festival, Waterside Arts and the University of SalfordReleased by Cold Star
Media

**TRACK LIST**
1. Dream Of The World2. 20843. Motherlode

**FOR FANS OF:** 
Rational Youth, Pet Shop Boys, Kraftwerk, New Order, Jean-Michel
Jarre, Vangelis, Gary Numan

**Keep up with Richard Evans**
[Website](https://richard-evans.com/) | [Bandcamp](https://richardevans.bandcamp.com/album/sentinel)
| [Twitter](http://twitter.com/richardemusic) | [Instagram](http://www.instagram.com/richardemusic)
| Soundcloud
 | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCdxjOko_riONB5qzIfVEhA/videos)
| [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3mZe8rdOznXKwbPRMgpnE0) | [Apple Music ](https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/richard-evans/1595142498)
| [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/coldstarmedia)

[⌊Shameless Promotion⌉⌊Shameless Promotion⌉[

**[Website ](http://www.shamelesspromotionpr.com/)| [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/shamelesspromotionpr)
| [Twitter](http://twitter.com/shamelesspr_) | [Soundcloud](http://www.soundcloud.com/shameless-promotion)
| [Instagram](http://www.instagram.com/shamelesspromotionpr/) | [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/company/shamelesspromotionpr)**

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