Even as a kid, Unconscious Honey, aka Berlin-based songwriter Björn Trenker, was obsessed with the idea that all sentiments can be bottled up in a three-minute pop song. This appreciation for pop craft stayed with him ever since. Fittingly, the creative starting point for his debut album Being a Stranger was those records that shaped his mindset of youth. Deee-Lite's World Clique, Army Of Lovers' Massive Luxury Overdose, and Soho's Goddess, to name but a few. Think Hal 9000 meets Betty Boo.
In 2017, Björn co-wrote two songs on his husband Snax’s seminal album, Shady Lights, an experience that sparked the idea of writing songs on his own, and for the last two years has been working on this debut album. Ultimately, Snax was invited on board as co-producer.
Thematically, Björn’s career work in the field of psychiatry, his sexual desires, and his hardships — specifically losing his sister after her battle with cancer in 2018 — are all distilled in the sound of Unconscious Honey. Further influences were derived from disparate sources; the aesthetics of films such as John Cassavetes‘ A Woman Under The Influence, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Todd Haynes’ Safe, plus the work of Gloria Steinem and Samuel Steward. The idea is to translate real life muddiness into pop precision, and the result of this creative work are ten signature, melancholic synth-pop songs. The aesthetic is DIY, while the liberal use of vocoder amps up the emotional impact. Get ready for sonic adventure!
Andrew Emil (Glenview Records) – “So good! Thanks.”
Luis Machuca (Friskybeat Records) – “Really digging this release.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Capturing the vibe of the era perfectly, very enjoyable.”
Hard Ton (Toy Tonics) – “Luv it. Make Pop Great Again!”
DJ Electric (Deepology) – “This is a very nice electronic album.”
Electrosexual (Electrosexual) – “Great synth pop! Very Daftpunkesque, at it’s best.”
Ket Shah (Mucho Soul) – “Reminds me of my youth growing up with New Romantics.”
Jon Wesley (Music Goes On Radio Show) – “I like these songs, and I really like the breaks. I’ll definitely play them.”
Zach Van Lue (91X) – “This is pretty rad. Refreshing!”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel, Sydney) – “Great production and a unique sound. Will support here.”
Available Now From: Beatport, Juno Download, Spotify, And Apple Music.