Alex Westaway
As the voice of synthwave act Gunship, Westaway crafts lush, neon-soaked soundscapes that resurrect the cinematic thrill of 80s electronica.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Musical artist·Birthday: February 2·Millennials
Biography
Alex Westaway operates in the shadows of the spotlight, a central architect of the modern synthwave revival. While his earlier work with the post-hardcore band Fightstar showcased his guitar chops and co-vocal talents, it was the founding of Gunship that became his defining creative outlet. Alongside Dan Haigh and Charlie Simpson, Westaway helped shape a sound that is both meticulously nostalgic and forward-looking. As lead vocalist, his smooth, melancholic delivery floats over layers of pulsing bass, shimmering arpeggios, and thunderous drums, evoking the feel of a lost John Hughes film score. Gunship's success lies in this authentic emotional core, building a dedicated global following not through pop charts, but through a shared love for the aesthetic and mood of a bygone digital age. Westaway proves that the most potent retro-futurism isn't about mere imitation, but about channeling a era's spirit into new anthems for the night drive.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alex was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the critically acclaimed synthwave band Gunship, whose self-titled debut album became a cult classic in the genre.
- Served as co-vocalist and guitarist for the UK rock band Fightstar, which achieved a top 5 album on the UK charts.
- Gunship's music video for "Fly for Your Life" won the award for Best Animated Video at the 2016 UK Music Video Awards.
- Helped grow Gunship into a streaming powerhouse, with their albums amassing hundreds of millions of plays across platforms.
Did You Know?
Before music, Westaway worked as a graphic designer and has been heavily involved in the visual aesthetic of Gunship's albums and videos.
He is a self-taught musician and producer.
The name 'Gunship' was inspired by the iconic helicopter from the film 'Aliens'.
“The synth is the sound of the future, but it's built on the bones of the past.”
