Oakley’s work on the California EP was born from a period of personal upheaval. Following a painful breakup, he turned to music as a "cathartic way of processing everything". This vulnerability is the secret sauce of "Here Comes The Night"—it captures that specific late-night feeling of reflection, where loneliness meets the quiet beauty of the city. Why It Still Matters
If you’ve ever found yourself driving down a rain-slicked highway at midnight with nothing but glowing neon signs and your own thoughts for company, you’ve lived the world of Michael Oakley. While the synthwave scene is packed with artists chasing 1980s nostalgia, few capture the raw, "heart-on-sleeve" emotion quite like this Scottish-born, Toronto-based producer.
Whether you’re a die-hard synth-head or just someone who loves a well-crafted pop song, "Here Comes The Night" is a reminder that the 80s wasn't just about the aesthetic—it was about the feeling . INTERVIEW: Michael Oakley - Music Musings & Such Michael Oakley - Here Comes The Night
"Here Comes The Night," a standout track from his 2017 debut EP California , remains a quintessential example of why Oakley is often called the "melodic master" of the genre. The Sound of Melancholy and Hope
Utilizing classic sounds from gear like the Roland Juno-106 (via the TAL-U-NO-LX plugin) and the Korg M1 , the song builds a lush, atmospheric backdrop. Oakley’s work on the California EP was born
Released through NewRetroWave Records , "Here Comes The Night" helped solidify Oakley’s place as an iconic fixture in the scene alongside peers like The Midnight and Ollie Wride . It moved past the "chugging arpeggiator" tropes of early synthwave, favoring emotive percussion and songwriting that sticks with you long after the synths fade out.
The track feels like it belongs on the soundtrack of a lost John Hughes film, blending 80s pop sensibilities with modern production clarity. The Inspiration Behind the Music Why It Still Matters If you’ve ever found
Driving into the Neon: A Look Back at Michael Oakley’s "Here Comes The Night"