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Beyond Synth

Beyond Synth - 455 - Modern Knight

Sep 3, 2026 · 2 hr 47 min · 45 segments

Today on the best synth wave chat show there is Andy catches up with longtime pal and synthwave OG Mike Mendoza—aka Who-ha, Modern Knight, and the man behind Retro Promenade—for a sprawling…

Today on the best synth wave chat show there is Andy catches up with longtime pal and synthwave OG Mike Mendoza—aka Who-ha, Modern Knight, and the man behind Retro Promenade—for a sprawling conversation about creativity, nostalgia, and whether synthwave is dead or merely “no longer culturally ascendant.” They discuss Mike’s return to making music, the satisfaction of learning your tools, AI-generated slop versus genuinely useful AI, and how new technology is helping them resurrect old projects. And it wouldn’t be an episode of Beyond Synth without a bunch of complaining, video game talk, and general off topic silliness. The gentlemen also try and eulogize Tim Curry and Peter Cullen, but then that just becomes Andy talking about King Willy from Predator 2 which has nothing to do with anything. If you like what you’re hearing you can support Beyond Synth on Patreon: www.patreon.com/beyondsynth or PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/beyondsynth Check Out MODERN KNIGHT here: https://soundcloud.com/modernknightly https://modernknight.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/3qbXYP5qPi1Sd0XrP8cnCN https://www.instagram.com/modernknightly/ https://www.youtube.com/user/thetheWhoWhoHaHa Today’s Playlist: Who Ha & STARFORCE - “My Fantasy” https://soundcloud.com/starforce https://starforce.bandcamp.com/ http://aphasiarecords.bandcamp.com/album/omniversal-oscillations Magic Sword - “Side Quest (Droid Bishop Remix)” https://soundcloud.com/magic-sword https://magic-sword.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6PzFRXjgGHQw6K4WeERMK1 Droid Bishop: http://droidbishop.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HPVHsbV2yIYPp2Pk4kdHe https://www.instagram.com/droidbishop/ PULSITHER - “Space Dream” https://neonretrorecords.bandcamp.com/album/space-dream https://open.spotify.com/artist/1TKEbmEiwhqeigZMfqPFcg https://www.instagram.com/neonretrorecords/ DAN TERMINUS - “Live Is To Haunt” https://soundcloud.com/dan-smith-terminus http://dan-terminus.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/danterminusindustries/ Emil Rottmayer - “Departure” https://soundcloud.com/emil-rottmayer https://emilrottmayer.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/2UuvaSzB0VNumArR71ReMT Roger Raw - “Bliss” https://soundcloud.com/rogerraw https://rossocorsarecords.bandcamp.com/album/neon-sunset https://www.instagram.com/rogerraw/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/69c8xGWEjlFr47o2VMtS7N Hideotronic - “People Machine” https://soundcloud.com/hideotronic http://hideotronic.bandcamp.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/2fbKUtuqbMy9695ieFtFcX GEORGE ERGEMLIDZE - “Psycho” https://soundcloud.com/georgeergemlidze https://ergemlidze.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/38LvPFlgQ19IPv07bvI32H jacket. & New Arcades - “Hold You Up” https://soundcloud.com/jacketsynthwave https://jacketsynthwave.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/7dBdh9JWiaj8RanPakxQ6d?si=-3D0w7kTRD6unPoUKhamUg New Arcades: https://soundcloud.com/newarcades https://newarcades.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/newarcades/ Mild Peril - “Pure Reality” https://soundcloud.com/mildperil https://mildperil.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mild.peril/ Young Empress - “Heart Attack” https://soundcloud.com/young-empress-725718952 https://open.spotify.com/album/42fSZHGm9KWBvymIN9ye0M https://www.instagram.com/yngempress/ Caspro & Decisive Koala - “Come Cruise With Us” https://soundcloud.com/caspromusic https://caspromusic.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/2jtjyIKx9XY1wuIc5UKwSp Decisive Koala: https://soundcloud.com/decisivekoala https://decisivekoala.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/4WWpuWvJQum5ylWMjvDPHT Cassetter & CONNÖR - “No Remorse” https://soundcloud.com/cassetter https://cassetter.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6rzOP8pWzUuXlniCGCtrcE CONNÖR: https://www.instagram.com/connor_retro/ https://connoer.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6WFKMDluecw7Yy9PS4t0lI

Today on the best synth wave chat show there is Andy catches up with longtime pal and synthwave OG Mike Mendoza—aka Who-ha, Modern Knight, and the man behind Retro Promenade—for a sprawling…

Speakers: Andy LastHostMike MendozaGuest

Top entities: Artificial intelligence×19 Patreon×36 Droid Bishop×3 Synthwave×14 Retro Promenade×5

Artist Names and AI Video Plans20:24 – 23:34

A

20:24

To me, I'm back with Mike Mendoza, a.k.a. Hoo-Ha, a.k.a. Modern Knight.

A

20:29

How do you feel about that whole name change

Mike MendozaGuest

20:31

thing?

A

20:31

Should

A

20:31

I go back to being Hoo-Ha? I was just going to ask.

Mike MendozaGuest

20:34

I think I'm old enough that, like, I don't give a shit and I could be Hoo-Ha.

Mike MendozaGuest

20:40

But I have changed.

Mike MendozaGuest

20:42

And who gives a shit about, like, going back on a thing? I feel like it looks so stupid when people go

A

20:47

back.

A

20:47

We got

Mike MendozaGuest

20:47

to go

A

20:47

back!

A

20:48

Lost, season three.

A

20:49

Okay.

A

20:52

Sorry, I didn't do an

A

20:52

impression of Jack.

A

20:53

What does he even sound like? How

A

20:56

do

A

20:56

you do a Jack

A

20:57

impression?

Mike MendozaGuest

21:03

I just haven't done enough with the modern night thing.

Mike MendozaGuest

21:06

So I'm going to use AI to make a bunch of videos and see what I can do.

A

21:09

No! I hate AI!

Mike MendozaGuest

21:13

slop it's slop you fucker if i use ai is that taking money out of cinematographers and pas

A

21:21

and audio guys that i could have hired in new york here's all i gotta say people only hate ai if they think it's ai oh so i just put no ai that's easy that's right just say i don't use ai and then just use it yeah

Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
99%19 mentions
PatreonCompanyCompany
98%36 mentions
Droid BishopPersonAustralian guitarist and keyboard player
97%3 mentions
SynthwaveEntityMusic genre
96%14 mentions
Retro PromenadeCompanyMusic label
95%5 mentions
King WillieEntity
94%8 mentions
Peter CullenPersonCanadian voice actor
93%8 mentions
Predator 2Movie1990 film
92%4 mentions
AustinCityCity in Texas
91%2 mentions
Magic SwordMusic GroupTrio
90%5 mentions
Mild PerilEntityMusical artist
89%4 mentions
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
88%5 mentions
Sunglasses KidPersonMusician
87%1 mention
Decisive KoalaPersonHip-hop artist
86%4 mentions
Stephen HopkinsPersonJamaican-British director and producer
85%2 mentions
Spider-ManEntityMarvel Universe character
84%1 mention
CassetterPersonMusical artist
83%2 mentions
SpaceballsMovie1987 film
82%3 mentions
Spaceballs: The New OneMovie2027 film
81%1 mention
Dan TerminusMusic GroupMusical group
80%5 mentions
PredatorEntity
79%1 mention
Tim CurryPersonEnglish actor and singer
78%3 mentions
Bruce WayneEntityDC Universe character
77%2 mentions
The OdysseyMovie2026 film
76%7 mentions
Tangerine DreamMusic GroupMusical band
75%1 mention
Creative workEntity
74%1 mention
SunoSoftware ApplicationComputer program
73%4 mentions
Fatal InstinctMovie1993 film
72%1 mention
CasproPersonMusician
71%4 mentions
MTVCompanyCable channel
70%3 mentions
Grand Theft AutoVideo Game SeriesVideo game series
69%2 mentions
Widow's BayTV SeriesComedy series
68%2 mentions
TexasAdministrative AreaUS state
67%4 mentions
Looney TunesMovie SeriesFilm series
66%3 mentions
Emil RottmayerPersonMusical artist
65%1 mention
Do it yourselfEntity
64%2 mentions
Doctor StrangeMovie2016 film
63%1 mention
Optimus PrimeEntityFictional character
62%1 mention
Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkMovie1992 film
61%1 mention
Christopher GuestPersonBaron Haden-Guest
59%1 mention
Mel BrooksPersonAmerican actor and comedian
59%1 mention
Nicolas CagePersonAmerican actor and film producer
58%1 mention
GoogleCompanyTechnology corporation
57%1 mention
Gestalt ProvidenceMusic AlbumAlbum by Dan Terminus
56%3 mentions
Grand Theft Auto VVideo GameVideo game
55%1 mention
George ErgemlidzePersonRecord producer
54%1 mention
Comma-separated valuesEntityFormat
53%2 mentions
Christopher NolanPersonBritish-American filmmaker
52%1 mention
FernGully: The Last RainforestMovie1992 film
51%1 mention
PayPalCompanyFinancial technology company
49%1 mention

Music ReferencesEntertainment > Film > Pop Culture
Pop CultureEntertainment > Film
AI in MusicMusic > Genres > Synthwave
Cultural ImpactMusic > Genres > Synthwave > AI in Music
SynthwaveEntertainment > Media > Music
ArtistsEntertainment > Media > Music > Synthwave
Cultural CommentaryTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Music Production > Creativity
CommunityCulture > Music > Synthwave
TrendsCulture > Music > Synthwave > Community
Cultural CommentaryEntertainment > Film > Pop Culture > Music References
MediaEntertainment
SynthwaveMusic > Genres
MusicEntertainment > Media
CreativityTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Music Production
Music ProductionTechnology > Artificial Intelligence
Music
Technology
Entertainment
FilmEntertainment
Culture
GenresMusic
MusicCulture
Artificial IntelligenceTechnology
SynthwaveCulture > Music

Artist Names and AI Video Plans20:24 – 23:34

A

20:24

To me, I'm back with Mike Mendoza, a.k.a. Hoo-Ha, a.k.a. Modern Knight.

A

20:29

How do you feel about that whole name change

Mike MendozaGuest

20:31

thing?

A

20:31

Should

A

20:31

I go back to being Hoo-Ha? I was just going to ask.

Mike MendozaGuest

20:34

I think I'm old enough that, like, I don't give a shit and I could be Hoo-Ha.

Mike MendozaGuest

20:40

But I have changed.

Mike MendozaGuest

20:42

And who gives a shit about, like, going back on a thing? I feel like it looks so stupid when people go

A

20:47

back.

A

20:47

We got

Mike MendozaGuest

20:47

to go

A

20:47

back!

A

20:48

Lost, season three.

A

20:49

Okay.

A

20:52

Sorry, I didn't do an

A

20:52

impression of Jack.

A

20:53

What does he even sound like? How

A

20:56

do

A

20:56

you do a Jack

A

20:57

impression?

Mike MendozaGuest

21:03

I just haven't done enough with the modern night thing.

Mike MendozaGuest

21:06

So I'm going to use AI to make a bunch of videos and see what I can do.

A

21:09

No! I hate AI!

Mike MendozaGuest

21:13

slop it's slop you fucker if i use ai is that taking money out of cinematographers and pas

A

21:21

and audio guys that i could have hired in new york here's all i gotta say people only hate ai if they think it's ai oh so i just put no ai that's easy that's right just say i don't use ai and then just use it yeah

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