The Synthpop Torchbearer: Todd Durrant of A Different Drum

Todd Durrant of A Different Drum music label single-handed* rescued synthpop from oblivion in the early nineties when the advent of grunge drowned out almost everything else. Today, there is a thriving synthpop underground due to his persevering efforts.

In the early nineties, the marketing executives at many record companies have made the shift from marketing synthpop and the music of the New Romantics to grunge (Nirvana, Green Day and other crap), techno (early techno like the Shamen, 808 State) and rap. This new trend saw synthpop bands dropped or relegated to the back catalogue and finally getting deleted. Slowly, synthpop became extremely hard to locate. In many instances, they became extinct. Radio stations soon adjusted to this new trend and the format and programming did not include synthpop.

Synthpop and some varieties of electronic music were difficult to locate in stores in the early nineties. A Different Drum, based in Smithfield, Utah, was an avenue and it provided an online store for synthpop releases of all kinds. From mass-market releases to independent American synthpop and German synthpop, A Different Drum was a mecca of synthpop and electronic music CDs.

Through his store, he introduced a whole range of German, Scandinavian and other European synthpop, ebm, darkwave, dark trance, futurepop and ebm. His introductions and his online store gave widespread exposure to them.

Todd Durrant went a step further, he released synthpop CDs under A Different Drum label and held synthpop festivals inviting bands such as Alphaville. Synthpop bands from Europe like Wave in Head, De/Vision, Daybehavior, Alphaville and KeiTheVez were released on his label. At the same time, many CDs including wonderful CD singles from American synthpop acts like Brave New World, Cosmicity, A Covenant of Thorns were released. After a decade or so, A Different Drum has released over 100 synthpop and electronic music CDs including compilations, remix albums and samplers.

Today, A Different Drum with a few other labels like Synthphony Records and Dancing Ferret represent synthpop in the USA. The synthpop underground lives today and is thriving through small independent labels and distributors despite the dictates of large mainstream labels and radios.

*There were a few others like CAT from the CATCompilation series and Information Society which were subscribing to these ideals. However, their efforts were shortlived.