Moog Music in the Studio: Flight To London’s Analog Alchemy

The video opens with Flight To London—Jimmy McGorman and Robb Vallier—deep in the studio, surrounded by a formidable line-up of Moog synthesizers. Their workspace at Revolver Studios is a playground for analog enthusiasts, with five Moog synths at their disposal. The duo’s chemistry is immediately apparent as they bounce ideas off each other, tweaking parameters and trading roles between songwriting and synthesis.

Rather than diving straight into sound design, they emphasise the collaborative nature of their process. Each brings a different strength to the table: one more rooted in performance and songwriting, the other eager to explore the sonic possibilities of oscillators and filters. The video captures the organic back-and-forth as they shape the foundation of their debut album, making it clear that for Flight To London, the journey is as important as the destination.

Flight To London’s approach is refreshingly traditional: every song begins with a simple, playable core—usually just piano, guitar, or a single synth and voice. They stress that if a song doesn’t work on a basic instrument, it’s not worth dressing up with layers of synthesis. This philosophy guides their workflow, ensuring that the songwriting remains at the heart of every track.

Once the foundation is set, the duo moves into production mode, layering harmonies and experimenting with synth textures. The interplay between the two is highlighted by their natural tendency to harmonise and trade vocal parts, reinforcing the idea that strong musical bones come before any electronic embellishment. For them, the song is everything; the synths are there to serve, not overshadow, the core composition.

A recurring theme is the irreplaceable feel of real hardware. Both musicians agree that twisting actual knobs and feeling the resistance of a keybed brings a level of authenticity that plugins can’t match. The tactile interaction with the Moog One, Muse, and Minimoog Model D becomes part of the performance itself, influencing both the sound and the creative flow.

They discuss how each synth responds differently—some are fast and nimble, others more nuanced—making the act of sound design a physical, almost instinctive process. For Flight To London, the hands-on approach isn’t just nostalgic; it’s essential to capturing the emotional depth and character they seek in their music. The video subtly champions the value of analog hardware in a digital age, especially for those who crave direct engagement with their instruments.

Flight To London’s collaboration is a balancing act between reverence for the past and a desire to push forward. Their sound is steeped in 80s synth-pop influences, but their production techniques are firmly rooted in the present. They highlight the Moog Muse as a particular surprise, with its personality standing out even among a crowded field of synths.

The duo’s approach mirrors Moog Music’s own ethos: honouring analog tradition while embracing innovation. By limiting their palette and focusing on hands-on creation, they capture a sense of ‘lightning in a bottle’—complex, lush textures that evoke nostalgia without feeling dated. The result is music that feels both familiar and fresh, a testament to what happens when classic gear meets contemporary creativity.