Synthetic Division is the music project of Shawn Decker. Inspired by the sounds of 80's electropop groups such as New Order, Depeche Mode and Duran Duran, Synthetic Division keep up with the times by infusing modern sounds into a classic and proven sound. Many issues of life and death come up in Synthetic Division's work, mainly due to Decker's medical resume- at age 11 he was diagnosed with HIV, infected through blood products used to treat his hemophilia. In high school, he met Depeche Mode through the Make-A-Wish Foundation- his dying wish, and in 2010 commemorated that occasion with a new album, A Symptom of Life, and a 9-city tour. Synthetic Division first began as a solo act, with Decker playing shows at Charlottesville's goth/industrial night, The Dawning. Between 1999 and 2003, Synthetic Division released two EPs, Tainted Goods and Bleeding Heart Cadaver. In 2007, the first full-length album, Get With the Programs, was co-written by Shawn and Kyle Wiggins, and featured a cover of Tori Amos' "Raspberry Swirl". It was produced by Micah Consylman and recorded at Final Symphony, receiving favorable reviews. Music has had a healing effect on Decker, and Shawn couldn't imagine his life without it. "Things happen to us in life that are out of our control," Shawn explains. "But how we choose to handle those events? That's very much in our control."
Synthetic Division members include Shawn Decker, plus any live combination of Marshall Camden + Josh D'Elia + Mike Johnson... look for more live shows in 2010 and beyond!