{{Short description|American synthwave band}} {{about|the band|the EP by Lemon Jelly|The Midnight (EP)|other uses|Midnight (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Midnight | image = MidnightBrixton070522 (28 of 30) (52061108333).jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = The Midnight in 2022. From left to right: Tyler Lyle, Royce Whittaker, Tim McEwan, Lelia Broussard, and Justin Klunk. | origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Synthwave|futuresynth|electronic|chillwave}} | years_active = 2012–present | label = {{hlist|Independent|Counter|Ultra}} | website = {{URL|themidnightofficial.com}} | current_members = * Tim McEwan * Tyler Lyle }}
'''The Midnight''' is an American synthwave band composed of Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Tyler Lyle and Portland–based Danish producer, songwriter, and singer Tim McEwan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themidnight.bandcamp.com/|title=The Midnight|website=The Midnight}}</ref>
The band's motto is "{{lang|ja-Latn|mono no aware}}" ({{lang|ja|物の哀れ}}), a Japanese phrase that loosely translates to "a sense of nostalgic wistfulness and the awareness that nothing lasts forever".<ref name="Mono No Aware">{{cite web|url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2019/09/the-midnight-paint-with-vibrant-sonic-colors-as-they-prepare-their-new-lp-tour-the-world-interview/|title=The Midnight paint with vibrant sonic colors as they prepare their new LP, tour the world [Interview]|last=Dexter|first=Robyn|year=2019|website=Dancing Astronaut|accessdate=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
==History== Globe Theatre, November 2017|thumb|right ===2012–2014: Formation and ''Days of Thunder''=== The band was formed as a result of Lyle and McEwan meeting during a co-writing workshop in 2012 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33B7uhyY4HY|title = - YouTube|website = YouTube}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTvEwlil5HA|title=The Midnight Live Stream Video, April 10/2017|last=Tausi New VHS Technologist|date=20 April 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> Inspired in part by the score for ''Drive'', and the retro synth genre growing around its release,<ref name="auto"/> the pair wrote two singles, "WeMoveForward" and "Gloria", that would be released two years later in 2014 as part of their debut EP titled ''Days of Thunder''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themidnight.bandcamp.com/album/days-of-thunder|title=Days of Thunder, by The Midnight|website=The Midnight}}</ref>
===2015–2018: ''Endless Summer'', first remix album, and ''Nocturnal''=== In 2016, the duo released a 12-track LP, ''Endless Summer'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themidnight.bandcamp.com/album/endless-summer|title=Endless Summer, by The Midnight|website=The Midnight}}</ref> followed in 2017 with the release of ''The Midnight Remixed'' on the Monstercat label.
Their second studio album, ''Nocturnal'', was released in October 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themidnight.bandcamp.com/album/nocturnal|title=Nocturnal, by The Midnight|website=The Midnight}}</ref> which spent several weeks as a best seller on the music distribution website Bandcamp and reached number 17 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Dance/Electronic charts in October 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vehlinggo.com/2017/11/12/the-midnight-interview-nocturnal/|title=Reliving the Past with The Midnight: An In-Depth Interview|date=12 November 2017|publisher=}}</ref> The band went on to perform their second sell-out concert, taking place at the Globe Theatre on Broadway in Los Angeles in November 2017.<ref name="lamusicblog.com">{{cite web|url=http://lamusicblog.com/2017/11/review/fm-84-and-the-midnight-the-globe-theatre/|title=FM-84 and The Midnight @ The Globe Theatre - LA Music Blog|website=lamusicblog.com}}</ref>
The band had multiple collaborations with Timecop1983, another retro synth genre producer. One of the collaborations appears on the album ''Nocturnal'', titled "River of Darkness". The other collaboration between them appears on the 2018 album ''Night Drive'' of Timecop1983, titled "Static".
===2018–2020: ''Kids'', second remix album, and ''Monsters''=== {{Main|Kids (The Midnight album)|Monsters (The Midnight album)}} The Midnight released their third studio album, ''Kids'' on September 21, 2018. The album is the first in a trilogy series that shares similar thematic elements.
In 2019, ''The Midnight Remixed 02'' was released on Monstercat. McEwan also appeared in the documentary film ''The Rise of the Synths'', which explored the origins and growth of the synthwave genre. McEwan appeared alongside various other composers from the scene, including John Carpenter, who also starred in and narrated the film.
During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, The Midnight hosted a remix competition called Remix Radio, providing the stems of multiple songs they had produced on their website for free. On April 3, 2020, the livestream premiered on YouTube for one hour and thirty minutes.
In July 2020, The Midnight released their fourth studio album, ''Monsters'' on Counter Records. The album was included on AllMusic's list of the best albums of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2020/favorite-pop|title=Favorite Pop Albums {{!}} AllMusic 2020 in Review|website=AllMusic}}</ref> The album is a thematic continuation of their previous album ''Kids'', focusing on adolescence, closeness and alienation from the perspective of a teenager.
===2020–2023: ''Horror Show'', ''The Rearview Mirror'', ''Heroes'', and live album=== {{Main|Heroes (The Midnight album)}} The Midnight first released their second EP, ''Horror Show'' in October 2020 exclusively through Amazon Music. The EP was released to all platforms in March 2021. They followed with the collaborative EP, ''The Rearview Mirror'' with Magik*Magik Orchestra in July. The EP features reimagined orchestral versions of songs from ''Endless Summer'' to commemorate its fifth anniversary.
The Midnight released their fifth studio album, ''Heroes'' in September 2022. It is the third and final album in the ''Kids'' trilogy which includes songs that are influenced by hair metal bands and heavy metal, specifically Def Leppard and Mutt Lange.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-midnight-interview-2022-heroes|title=Interview: The Midnight's Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle talk synthwave, soundscaping and new album Heroes|first=Rob|last=Laing|date=September 1, 2022|website=MusicRadar}}</ref>
The band released their live album, ''Red, White and Bruised: The Midnight Live'' in September 2023 which featured performances from their ''Heroes'' tours.
===2024–present: Graphic novel, ''Syndicate'' deluxe, and Neon Odyssey=== {{Main|Syndicate (album)}} The Midnight announced that their first graphic novel, ''The Midnight: Shadows'', would be released by Dark Horse Comics in October 2024. The story and characters are based on The Midnight's music, and the book features writer Zack Kaplan working with artists Stephen Thompson, Johnoy Lindsay, and Thiago Rocha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-midnight-shadows-brings-the-popular-synthwave-band-to-comics|title=The Midnight: Shadows Brings the Popular Synthwave Band to Comics|first=Jesse|last=Schedeen|date=January 30, 2024|website=IGN}}</ref>
In 2024, the band announced McEwan would step away from touring to focus on producing new music.<ref>https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1928048/the-midnight-review-london-electric-ballroom-2024</ref> The band added drummer Kwesi Robinson to the lineup to fulfill McEwan's role on live drums.
The Midnight made their Ultra Records debut with the single, "Chariot" in September 2024 from their upcoming sixth studio album, ''Syndicate''. The band followed with their second single, "Love Is an Ocean" in February 2025. Third single "Digital Dreams" released on May 30, 2025. "Chariot" was featured on the soundtrack for the Codemasters racing video game F1 25 which also released the same day. The fourth single "Shadowverse" was released on August 1, along with the reveal of ''Syndicate's'' tracklist and October 3, 2025 release date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/syndicate-mw0004590850|title=The Midnight – Syndicate|website=AllMusic}}</ref> A fifth single, "Summer's Ending Soon", was released on August 29. A sixth single, "Runaways" featuring Bonnie McKee, was released on September 17.
In an interview with ''Daily Express'', McEwan called ''Syndicate'' "our version of an apocalypse record" which had gone through a rework after the band and label mutually agreed the first version wasn't there yet. Lyle called ''Syndicate'' "the album that we just couldn't help ourselves from making" with both Lyle and McEwan going through personal trauma during the writing process. Lyle calls the album the denouement of the ''Kids'' / ''Monsters'' / ''Heroes'' trilogy, signaling the closing of a chapter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/2115414/the-midnight-interview-syndicate-album|title=The Midnight: 'Syndicate signals the closing of a chapter'|website=Daily Express}}</ref>
The Midnight announced a deluxe version of ''Syndicate'' with six additional songs was releasing on May 15, 2026. The expanded album features new songs, unreleased demos, and remixes including their latest single "Love Is an Ocean (Chromeo Remix)".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forms.sonymusicfans.com/campaign/the-midnight-syndicate-deluxe/|title=The Midnight - Syndicate (Deluxe) Album Pre-Save}}</ref>
In May 2026, The Midnight collaborated with tabletop gaming group Avantris Entertainment to create the theme song and animated music video for "Neon Odyssey", a Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E 1,400+ page, three-book space opera trilogy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOGdEIaa_V4|title=The Midnight - Neon Odyssey [Official Video] - Kickstarter Cinematic|website=YouTube}}</ref> The song and cinematic released on May 5 at the opening of the Kickstarter project which surpassed their initial funding goals by raising $2.25m within the first hour of the campaign. Avantris said The Midnight played a huge part in creating the tone and overall vibe of the ''Neon Odyssey'' space opera with McEwan calling the collaboration “one of those great experiences – where someone comes to you asking for the thing you really like to do and you know are good at.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/neon-odyssey-avantris-the-midnight-collaboration|title=Neon Odyssey: How The Midnight’s Synthwave Sound Inspired a New D&D Space Opera|accessdate=May 5, 2026|website=IGN}}</ref>
==Personal lives== Tim McEwan's parents are the musician Tom McEwan and actress Terese Damsholt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gaffa.dk/artikel/144868/the-midnight-interview-rendyrket-80er-nostalgi|title=The Midnight Interview|website=gaffa.dk}}</ref>
==Band members== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
'''Current''' * Tyler Lyle – lead vocals, guitar, synths (2012–present) * Tim McEwan – producer, percussion, synths, vocals (2012–present)
'''Touring''' * Justin Klunk – saxophone, synths (2022–present) * Kwesi Robinson – drums and percussion (2024–present) * Oliver McEwan – music director, bass (2026–present) * Rhett Shull – guitar, groove boxes, sound design (2026–present) * OBLVYN – synths, vocals (2026–present) * James Small – drums and percussion (2026–present) {{col-2}}
'''Former touring''' * Nikki Flores – vocals * Thomas Edinger – saxophone * Jacob Scesney – saxophone * Jesse Molloy – saxophone, synths (2017–2021) * Alekos "Kosie" Syropoulos – saxophone, synths (2018–2019) * Lito Hernandez – saxophone (2019) * Chris Kuffner – guitar, synths (2022) * Lelia Broussard – vocals, guitar, bass, synths (2019–2025) * Royce Whittaker – music director, guitar, synths, vocals (2020–2025) {{col-end}}
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br /><ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=https://billboard.com/artist/the-midnight/chart-history/tlp/|title=The Midnight Chart History: Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br />Dance<br /><ref name="US-Dance-albums">{{cite magazine|url=https://billboard.com/artist/the-midnight/chart-history/elp/|title=The Midnight Chart History: Top Dance Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 14, 2025}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br />Indie<br /><ref name="USIndie">{{cite magazine|url=https://billboard.com/artist/the-midnight/chart-history/ind/|title=The Midnight Chart History: Independent Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 14, 2025}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br /><ref>Peaks in Australia: * ''Monsters'': {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Midnight|title=Discography The Midnight|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=April 18, 2022}} * ''Heroes'': {{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 September 2022|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1698|page=6|date=September 19, 2022}} * ''Syndicate'': {{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 13 October 2025|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1858|page=6|date=October 13, 2025}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| GER<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-details-504145|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts|publisher=GfK Entertainment|accessdate=January 8, 2025}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SCO<br /><ref name="OCC">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/54342/midnight/|title=Midnight {{!}} full Official Chart history|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWE<br />Phys.<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/234/?dspy=2025&dspp=41|title=Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 41|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=October 10, 2025}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK<br /><ref name="OCC" /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK<br />Dance<br /><ref name="OCC" /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK<br />Indie<br /><ref name="OCC" /> |- ! scope="row" | ''Endless Summer'' | * Released: August 5, 2016 * Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| ''Nocturnal'' | * Released: October 13, 2017 * Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|- ! scope="row" | ''Kids'' | * Released: September 21, 2018 * Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|''Kids'' did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 73 on the US ''Billboard'' Album Sales Chart.<ref name="US-Sales">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-midnight/chart-history/tsl/ |title=The Midnight Chart History: Album Sales |magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 14, 2026}}</ref>}} || 12 || 13 || — || — || — || — || — || — || 44 |- ! scope="row" | ''Monsters'' | * Released: July 10, 2020 * Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl | 134 || 3 || 18 || 28 || — || 26 || — || 85 || 1 || 5 |- ! scope="row" | ''Heroes'' | * Released: September 9, 2022 * Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl | 167 || 3 || 22 || 66 || 41 || 13 || — || 74 || — || 4 |- ! scope="row" | ''Syndicate'' | * Released: October 3, 2025 * Formats: CD, Digital download, streaming, vinyl | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|''Syndicate'' did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 13 on the US ''Billboard'' Album Sales Chart.<ref name="US-Sales" />}} || 6 || — || 90 || — || 60 || 15 || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|''Syndicate'' did not enter the UK Albums Chart, but peaked at number 23 on the UK Albums Sales Chart.<ref name="OCC" />}} || — || — |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. |}
===Live albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Red, White and Bruised: The Midnight Live'' | * Released: September 1, 2023 * Formats: Vinyl, cassette, digital download, streaming |}
===Collaborative albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row"| ''The Midnight Remixed 01'' | * Released: August 14, 2017 * Formats: Digital download, streaming |- ! scope="row"| ''The Midnight Remixed 02'' | * Released: September 27, 2019 * Formats: Digital download, streaming |}
===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |- ! scope="row"|''Days of Thunder'' | * Released: July 15, 2014 * Formats: Cassette, CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl
|- ! scope="row"| ''Horror Show''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/horror-show-ep/1553380822 |title=Horror Show - EP by The Midnight on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |date=19 March 2021 |accessdate=April 7, 2021}}</ref> | * Released: October 16, 2020 * Formats: Cassette, Digital download, streaming, vinyl |- ! scope="row"| ''The Rearview Mirror'' <br/><small>(with Magik*Magik)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-rearview-mirror-ep/1758766664|title=The Rearview Mirror - EP by The Midnight,Magik*Magik on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |date=23 July 2021 |accessdate=June 16, 2023}}</ref> | * Released: July 23, 2021 * Formats: digital download, streaming, vinyl |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! style="width:16em;"| Title ! Year ! style="width:16em;"| Album |- ! scope="row" | "Years (Prologue)" | rowspan="3" |2014 | rowspan="3" |''Days of Thunder'' |- ! scope="row" |"WeMoveForward" |- ! scope="row" |"Los Angeles" |- ! scope="row" | "Endless Summer" | rowspan="3" |2016 | rowspan="3" |''Endless Summer'' |- ! scope="row" |"Sunset" |- ! scope="row" |"Vampires" |- ! scope="row" |"Crystalline" | rowspan="3" |2017 | rowspan="3" |''Nocturnal'' |- ! scope="row" | "River of Darkness" |- ! scope="row" | "Light Years" |- ! scope="row" |"Lost Boy" | rowspan="3" |2018 | rowspan="3" |''Kids'' |- ! scope="row" |"America 2" |- ! scope="row" |"Arcade Dreams" |- ! scope="row" |"Sometimes She Smiles" | rowspan="2" |2019 | ''Vehlinggo Presents: 5 Years'' |- ! scope="row" |"America Online" | rowspan="4" | ''Monsters'' |- ! scope="row" |"Deep Blue" | rowspan="3" |2020 |- ! scope="row" |"Dance with Somebody" |- ! scope="row" |"Prom Night" |- ! scope="row" |"Cold Pizza" | rowspan="4" |2021 | {{Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row" |"Neon Medusa" | rowspan="3" |''Horror Show'' |- ! scope="row" |"Good in Red" |- ! scope="row" |"Ghost in Your Stereo" |- ! scope="row" |"Change Your Heart or Die" | rowspan="5" |2022 | rowspan="5" |''Heroes'' |- ! scope="row" |"Heartbeat" |- ! scope="row" |"Avalanche" |- ! scope="row" |"Brooklyn. Friday. Love" |- ! scope="row" |"Heart Worth Breaking" |- ! scope="row" |"Land Locked Heart" | 2023 | ''Road 96: Mile 0 (Video Game Soundtrack)'' |- ! scope="row" | "Shadows (Redux)" | rowspan="2" | 2024 |''Shadows'' comic vinyl |- ! scope="row" |"Chariot" | rowspan=" 6" | ''Syndicate'' |- ! scope="row" |"Love Is an Ocean" | rowspan="5" | 2025 |- ! scope="row" | "Digital Dreams" |- ! scope="row" | "Shadowverse" |- ! scope="row" | "Summer's Ending Soon" |- ! scope="row" | "Runaways" |- ! scope="row" |"Love Is an Ocean (Chromeo Remix)" | rowspan="2" | 2026 | ''Syndicate (Deluxe)'' |- ! scope="row" | "Neon Odyssey" | – |}
===Remixes=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Artist !! Title !! Release date |- | Tyler Lyle || "Lost & Found (The Midnight Remix)" || March 13, 2016 |- | Drake || "0 to 100 (The Midnight Remix)" || July 2016 |- | Scavenger Hunt || "Never Enough (The Midnight Remix)" || November 8, 2016 |- | ARIZONA || "Oceans Away (The Midnight Remix)" || February 24, 2017 |- | Clubhouse || "Kyra (The Midnight Remix)" || April 10, 2017 |- | Jon Bellion || "80's Films (The Midnight Remix)" || June 25, 2017 |- | The Night Game || "The Outfield (The Midnight Remix)" || April 27, 2018 |- | SYML || "Clean Eyes (The Midnight Remix)" || February 8, 2019 |- | The Ivy || "Missing Out (The Midnight Remix)" || April 21, 2020 |- | Latroit || "Don't Give Up (The Midnight Remix)" || September 25, 2020 |- | Chromeo || "Lost and Found (The Midnight Remix)" || October 4, 2024 |}
==Notes== {{notelist-ua}}
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Midnight (band)}} Category:Synthwave groups Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles Category:Musical groups established in 2012 Category:2012 establishments in the United States Category:Counter Records artists Category:Ultra Records artists