Finlay Shakespeare

Finlay Shakespeare’s sharp-edged synth pop and art-rock channels the founding spirits of the early-’80s era, folding sonic traits from Depeche Mode and the Human League into an art-pop framework reminiscent of Talking Heads, a combination fully displayed on his first album, the 2019 release Domestic Economy.

Raised in Gloucester, England, Shakespeare absorbed his parents’ record collection during childhood, an experience dominated by the profound impact of Jean-Michel Jarre. That exposure sparked his fascination with synthesizers; once he had taught himself to perform on them, he began examining their internal circuitry. During adolescence he constructed homemade D.I.Y. instruments, offered circuit-bent devices for sale, and later moved into the production of eurorack modules. Drawing influence from Drexciya and Autechre, he began issuing his own material as Future Image, self-releasing several albums and EPs that included 2007’s Reign Vent and 2008’s PACh ArcEL. Parallel to those projects he turned his synthesizer expertise into a commercial venture by founding Future Sound Systems, through which he collaborated with Throbbing Gristle’s Chris Carter on a series of Gristelizer modules tailored for the modular community. Following additional Future Image output he shifted his approach, abandoning the earlier IDM orientation in favor of vocal-driven pieces that leaned toward pop. In 2017 he commenced an audio diary called Housediet, capturing live improvisations on his modular rig while drawing lyrical themes from global political and social events. The resulting synth-pop aesthetic, marked by vocals recalling David Byrne, attracted the attention of Editions Mego, which signed Shakespeare. Tracking sessions for the project spanned 2018; the finished album Domestic Economy, bearing cover art by Nik Void and mastered by Russell Haswell, appeared on the label in the first months of 2019.