ABOUT

Seattle’s Nouveau Arcade sits at the intersection of underground electronic culture and synth-driven alternative rock. Built around pulsing analog textures, expressive vocals, and a strong pop sensibility, the band creates songs that move between atmospheric electronics and driving energy. Drawing influence from post-punk and ’80s new wave, their sound connects with the culture shared by gamers, music fans and creative communities.

The project formed during the pandemic when longtime collaborators Kevin Preston and Len Hotrum began writing and recording remotely from Seattle, Washington. The two musicians have known each other for nearly two decades playing together in a previous project, touring internationally with post-punk pioneers Killing Joke and electronic rock group Julien-K.

When live music paused in 2020, Preston and Hotrum began experimenting with new material through remote writing sessions, gradually shaping what would become Nouveau Arcade. Early demos gained momentum among listeners from their previous projects, helping bring the band to the attention of FiXT Neon, where they released their debut album Dead Hearts, establishing the band’s foundation of synth-driven songwriting influenced by new wave and modern electronic production.

The band’s second album, DIE HAPPY !, represents a new step forward for the project. Recorded inside a church, the album explores a loose concept centered around emotional disconnection and the search for meaning in a hyper-connected world. The album is available on vinyl, cassette, and CD and was released with the help of the electronic music collective Ninety9Lives. Two tracks from DIE HAPPY ! are featured in the Pacific Drive video game Vol 3 soundtrack.

What began as a remote studio project has now evolved into a full live band. Preston and Hotrum have assembled a five-member lineup to bring Nouveau Arcade’s music to the stage, marking a new chapter for the project. As the band continues forward, their focus is expanding their live presence while continuing to build meaningful connections with the listeners and creative communities that have supported the project from the beginning.