Cannons in New York

About Cannons

Cannons is an LA-based synth-pop duo that emerged in the mid-2010s with a sound caught between 80s new wave nostalgia and contemporary electronic pop. They built a devoted following through a series of self-released singles that showcased their particular gift for building tension in four-on-the-floor arrangements—tracks like 'Fire' and 'Heartbreaker' layer breathy vocals over crystalline synth lines and brooding basslines that hit different in a dark club versus a daytime playlist. Their production style is deliberately restrained, favoring space and atmosphere over maximalism. By the late 2010s they'd refined a formula that felt both introspective and physical, with songs built for both late-night listening and dancing alone in your room. Cannons never quite broke through to mainstream recognition despite the quality of their output, but they've maintained a steady presence in the electronic pop underground, releasing material that shows genuine evolution without chasing trends.

Their shows are intimate and precise, anchored by synth work that demands attention. Crowds tend to be respectfully locked in rather than rowdy. The energy is hypnotic more than euphoric—people actually quiet down to listen rather than talk through it.

Known for Fire, Heartbreaker, Bad Dream, Loving You, Purple

Cannons + New York

Cannons brought their synth-pop warmth to Flushing Meadows Corona Park in June 2024, playing a set that leaned into the band's knack for atmospheric production and layered vocals. Opening with "Hurricane," they moved through a tightly constructed six-song performance that included deep cuts like "Purple Sun" and "Desire" alongside their more recognizable work. The park setting suited their sound—expansive and textured, with enough melodic pull to carry across an outdoor space. For a band that emerged from LA's electronic underground, their ability to command attention in New York's sprawling venue reflected how far their influence has stretched across the country's indie-pop landscape.

Cannons in New York News

• AudaTours Brooklyn Audio Tour: From Cannons to Craft Brews events.amny.com · Feb 24, 2026
• Cannons And Bob Moses Teaming Up For The Afterglow Tour antiMusic · Nov 3, 2025
• Top takeaways as Cannons take down Atlas in rivalry game Premier Lacrosse League · May 31, 2025
• Cannons Release New Track “Bad Tattoo” Sony Music Canada · Sep 29, 2023
• The Hermione Sails Into New York Harbor, Cannons Blazing (Published 2015) The New York Times · Jul 1, 2015

Live Music in New York

New York remains a proving ground for synth-pop and electronic-leaning indie acts, a city where disco lineage and art-school sensibility collide. Cannons' aesthetic—moody, production-forward, built on lush synthesizers and introspective lyrics—fits comfortably alongside the city's current crop of bedroom-pop-adjacent artists and established electronic producers. The venue at Flushing Meadows sits in a landscape that's hosted everything from festival lineups to intimate showcases, making it a natural stop for bands working in atmospheric, synthesizer-driven genres.

New York road trip to see Cannons?

Stay in the Upper West Side near Central Park—quieter than Midtown, better restaurants, and close enough to everywhere that matters. Dinner at Balthazar in SoHo if you want classic New York energy, or Gramercy Tavern if you prefer something less scene-y. Spend your afternoon at the Met or catching live music at Blue Note or The Basement—both venues where you'll see the players who influenced Mars's sound. Walk through Washington Square Park, grab a coffee, remember why New York mattered to music in the first place.