'A loud wow': Leeds synth-pop duo Scenius discuss supporting Midge Ure and the challenge of seated crowds
For Leeds-based producer Steve Whitfield, the sight of the iconic former cinema building in the heart of Bradford has been a constant backdrop to his creative life.
But as the venue had had its recent rebirth as Bradford Live, Whitfield is no longer just an observer, but instead he’s preparing to take the stage for one of the most significant moments of his career.
His duo, Scenius, has been confirmed as the official support for synth-pop legend Midge Ure on his upcoming UK tour. It is a pairing that feels like a natural bridge between the genre’s pioneers and its modern torchbearers, yet for the Leeds outfit, the news still came as a shock.
"I think a loud wow came into my head," Whitfield recalls to the Yorkshire Evening Post of the moment the slot was confirmed.
"It was announced on February 27, but we got asked about three weeks before that. It was very hard not to tell anyone."
The tour reaches West Yorkshire on its fifteenth date, bringing Scenius to the newly renovated Bradford Live.
For a local act, the chance to perform in such a high-profile, historic space is a "huge statement."
"It feels immense," Whitfield explains. "For years I’ve been looking at that fabulous old cinema building, hoping it wouldn’t get knocked down but renovated and used for something creative. I never imagined that I’d play a gig there"
The scale of the venue isn't the only change for the duo, who are more accustomed to the intimate, high-energy club circuits of Leeds. The tour presents a new atmospheric challenge: the seated audience.
"We’ve never performed for a seated crowd before, so we imagine it might be more challenging to read the room," Whitfield admits. "That said, Bradford Live will be the fifteenth date of the tour, so hopefully by then we’ll have found our bearings."
The "old meets new" philosophy
Scenius is a cross-channel partnership that blends Whitfield’s "crunchy" West Yorkshire production with the "hypnotic, fragile" vocals of French singer Fabrice.
The pair first met years ago when Whitfield engineered an album for Fabrice's previous band, The Drift, but it wasn't until just before the first lockdown that their unique synth-led sound truly clicked.
Whitfield, whose impressive studio resume includes work with heavyweights like The Cure and Jah Wobble, brings a lifetime of technical expertise to the project. However, he is adamant that Scenius isn't just a nostalgic throwback.
While the influence of pioneers like Kraftwerk is undeniable, the duo injects a “huge chunk” of modernness into their sound, drawing from the likes of Radiohead and LCD Soundsystem.
The secret to their "tangible" sound lies in the gear. In an era of digital perfection, Scenius leans into the beautiful imperfections of analogue synths, most notably the ARP Odyssey.
"I really like the imperfections and warmth you get from them," Whitfield says. "All the sounds are programmed by us - no factory or preset sounds are used.
“I record a lot of parts by hand to keep the 'humanness' and don’t edit them too much. It’s a great combination: old meets new."
Despite the complex soundscapes and vintage hardware, Whitfield insists that the performance ultimately rests on one thing: the songwriting.
"Live is so different from the studio, and we don’t just want to replicate the versions exactly," he says.
"As passionate as we are about sound, we’re very aware that it all comes down to the strength of the song itself. Whether there’s a riff or a melody that stays with you, or a lyric line that lingers."
To mark the tour, the duo is releasing their new album, 13 Billion Dark Years, on vinyl.
In an exclusive treat for fans attending the shows, the record will initially only be available at the merch stand—giving the hometown crowd the first chance to own a piece of this landmark career moment.