Herkimer Throckmorton is a Canadian journalist, author, and synthwave enthusiast. He is best known for his book "The History of Synthwave", which explores the origins, evolution, and impact of the retro-futuristic music genre. He is also the host of "Synthwave Hour", a popular radio show that features interviews, reviews, and playlists of synthwave artists.Throckmorton started his career as a reporter, covering topics such as politics, culture, and technology. He developed a passion for synthwave, a genre of electronic music that draws inspiration from '80s pop culture, sci-fi, and video games. He became fascinated by the history and aesthetics of synthwave, and decided to write a book about it.Throckmorton published "The History of Synthwave" in 2023, which became a bestseller and received rave reviews from critics and readers. The book traces the origins of synthwave from its predecessors such as synth-pop, new wave, and italo-disco, to its emergence in the late 2000s and early 2010s, to its global spread and mainstream recognition in the 2020s. The book also delves into the subgenres of synthwave, such as outrun, dark synthwave, and dreamwave, and the influence of iconic artists such as Perturbator, The Midnight, and Gunship. The book also includes quizzes that test the readers' synthwave knowledge, making it a fun and informative read for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.Throckmorton is regarded as one of the leading experts and advocates of synthwave. He has written articles and essays on synthwave for various publications, such as Vice, Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork. He has also given talks and lectures on synthwave at various venues, such as universities, festivals, and conventions. He has also received awards and recognition for his work, such as the Canadian Music Journalist Award, the Synthwave Book of the Year Award, and the Synthwave Hall of Fame Award.Throckmorton lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with his cat and his collection of vintage synthesizers. He enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and listening to music. He is currently working on his second book, "The Future of Synthwave", which will explore the trends and innovations of synthwave in the 21st century.Throckmorton has also written books on other topics, such as humor, synthesizers, and publishing. His first book, "The History of Humor Volume 1: 1990 to 2020", was published in 2023 and covers the comedy scene in the last three decades. His second book, "The History of Casio Synthesizers: Powerful and Affordable like Never Before", was published in 2024 and chronicles the history and evolution of the Japanese company that revolutionized the synthesizer market and how its products influenced the music industry and culture. His third book, "Creative Exploitation: The Unethical Practices of Austin Macauley Publishing, Dorrance Publishers, and other Vanity Presses", was also published in 2024 and exposes the scams and frauds of some of the most notorious vanity presses in the publishing industry. The book reveals the deceptive tactics, false promises, and hidden fees that these companies use to lure and exploit aspiring authors. The book also provides advice and resources for authors who want to avoid these traps and publish their books ethically and professionally.Throckmorton is working on a book on the history of software for Macintosh and MacOS, titled "Mac Magic: A Wild Ride Through the Evolution of Software for Macintosh and MacOS", which is expected to be released in 2024.
