Heartbeat Designers are a German synthpop and new wave duo from the Rhineland, primarily Cologne and the surrounding area. Their sound combines British-inspired 1980s pop music with modern electronic and dance elements. The band consists of John Boredom and William Forrester.
Since their formation in 2022, Heartbeat Designers have increasingly established themselves on the British market. They have worked closely with renowned London-based producers such as Ian Little, known for his work with Duran Duran, Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Sparks, OMD and others, as well as John Robinson of Clique Productions, Kingsgate Place, London.
History
John Boredom and William Forrester launched the project in 2022 with their debut album Casino Casino, which originally featured eleven self-written songs. A later deluxe edition expanded the album to 20 tracks.
Since then, songs by Heartbeat Designers have appeared on several compilation CDs, including 80s Emotion, Electronic Goes Pop, Disco Liebe Vol. 1, Blow Pop, 80s Retro Sensation, Pop From a Different Perspective Vol. 1 and others.
Their international breakthrough came in 2023 with their second album, Open Sesame, an 18-track release, followed by the single Fame. The track was produced in England by Ian Little and John Robinson, marking a decisive step in the band’s development on the British market. The collaboration led to chart and airplay success, including appearances in the Music Week Official Pop Chart, remixes by British DJs such as Blakk Habit, Cellardore and Dope Ammo, and a performance of Fame with Dope Ammo at the legendary Glastonbury Festival in 2023.
In 2024, the band released the EP Kingsgate Place, produced in London with veteran producer Ian Little. The title refers to the location of John Robinson’s Clique Productions studio near the famous Abbey Road Studios. The EP contained four new songs.
Around the turn of 2024/2025, Heartbeat Designers followed up with the four-track EP Gaining Momentum. Alongside the Ian Little-produced single Water Seeps Away, the EP included a remix of Anymore by German producer badidol, a new mix of the song London Rave, and the previously released single Groove feat. Winnie Ama, again produced by Ian Little and John Robinson.
In spring 2025, Heartbeat Designers released their third studio album, Triangular Universe, featuring 16 new tracks. The release party took place on 22 May 2025 at the legendary Cologne music club Blue Shell. The band consciously positions itself as an international act that brings authentic British synthpop and wave music into the present day.
Well-known singles from Triangular Universe released in 2025 and 2026 include The Milky Way, Spirit Of The Times, and Be Like A River, which was featured by the scene publication Sonic Seducer on the CD Cold Hands Seduction.
Collaboration with Ian Little
Ian Little, a veteran producer of the 1980s era, has had a significant influence on the sound of Heartbeat Designers since 2023.
He produced and edited key tracks such as:
- Fame — Ian Little Radio Remix / Edit from the album Open Sesame
- further edits and remixes in 2024 and 2025, including Jump On The Bandwagon, Eternity, Only Do What You Like, Age-Old Wisdom, Groove feat. Winnie Ama, Water Seeps Away and Giants feat. Winnie Ama in its Heart Mix and Soul Mix versions
Little also contributed ideas to EPs such as Kingsgate Place and Gaining Momentum.
Together with studio owner John Robinson, Ian Little mixed and mastered many of the band’s songs at Clique Productions Studios in Kingsgate Place, London. This cooperation combined a professional 1980s aesthetic with modern dance energy and helped the band gain a foothold in the UK.
At the beginning of the collaboration in 2023, Ian Little commented enthusiastically:
“Fame is what is currently enriching the British music market. Together with John Robinson I produced a danceable single mix of a first-class song by the Heartbeat Designers […] Fame will go through the roof all over the world, I’m sure. We Brits know how to make electronic music successful.”
On LinkedIn, he added:
“I worked with a fantastic duo from Germany. The band also brought in some new and exciting people to mix the track, so there are versions in different genres.”
William Forrester described Fame as a return to the roots of synthpop:
“With Fame, we are returning to the roots of synthpop. The song has an almost incantatory atmosphere.”
The following productions were deliberately developed with Little and Robinson in London.
Collaboration with Winnie Ama
Northern Irish disco-soul artist Winnie Ama, who is of Ghanaian origin and has previously appeared on world tours with Macy Gray and Sister Sledge, collaborated with Heartbeat Designers in 2024 and 2025 on the songs Groove feat. Winnie Ama and Giants feat. Winnie Ama.
The Northern Irish ice hockey team Belfast Giants regularly played Giants in their stadium. The song was also broadcast on the BBC. Winnie Ama herself spoke proudly in the British press about the collaboration on Giants and the lyrical meaning the song had for her personally.
British press reactions were positive. One review described the track as follows:
“With Giants, Winnie Ama and Heartbeat Designers give us more than just a song; they create an anthem of strength, unity, and happiness that will connect with people both on dance floors and in everyday life.”
Collaboration with badidol
German music producer badidol remixed two Heartbeat Designers songs in 2024 and 2025. His versions of Anymore and Spirit Of The Times transformed the tracks into danceable dance-pop numbers.
Heartbeat Designers Live
Since 2025, Heartbeat Designers have regularly brought sound artist and DJ Dušan Veprek on stage for live concerts and festivals. He is mainly responsible for synth basslines and occasionally adds vocals and vocoder effects to the band’s music.
At some Heartbeat Designers shows, the opening act has included the two brothers of Eskaipe, who warmed up the audience with German rap before the main performance.
Style and Influences
The sound of Heartbeat Designers is deliberately inspired by British 1980s artists such as Depeche Mode, OMD, Duran Duran, Yazoo, Eurythmics, New Order, Erasure and Pet Shop Boys, as well as German bands such as Kraftwerk and Alphaville.
At the same time, their music is enriched with contemporary dance and electronic elements, giving the classic synthpop and new wave sound a modern polish.
Lyrically, the band deals with themes such as happiness, suffering, existence, fame and the human attempt to remain sovereign in an increasingly technological world. Heartbeat Designers have already released music in Dolby Atmos and place great emphasis on elaborate live shows featuring synthesizers, sampling and extensive visual effects.
John Boredom has described the creative process as follows:
“Every song is worth being unique. […] No assembly-line work! Rather, artistic creation with love for detail.”
Selected Discography
Studio Albums
- Casino Casino — 2022
- Open Sesame — 2023
- Triangular Universe — 2025
Important Singles and EPs
- Fame — 2023, Ian Little Radio Edit and remixes
- Kingsgate Place — 2024, produced and mixed by Little & Robinson
- Groove feat. Winnie Ama — Ian Little Edit / Remix
- Jump On The Bandwagon — Ian Little Edit / Remix
- Giants feat. Winnie Ama — Heart Mix / Soul Mix
- The Kingsgate Place Remixes — 2025
- Live@Blue Shell — EP, 2025
Achievements, Collaborations and Live Activities
- Chart success in the UK, including Top 20 Pop Chart placements and airplay
- DJ mixes by Blakk Habit, Cellardore and Dope Ammo
- Fame in the Ian Little Edit mastered in London by Streaky
- Fame in the Ian Little Edit remastered in Berlin by Eric Horstmann in Dolby Atmos
- Glastonbury Festival appearance in the UK with Dope Ammo
- Club gigs and festival appearances in the UK and Germany
- Radio performances in Germany, the UK and the USA
- Single Groove feat. Winnie Ama
- Various club mixes by badidol
- Single Giants feat. Winnie Ama
- Fan club: Become a Heartbeat Designer
Web Links
- Official website: heartbeatdesigners.com
- Instagram: @heartbeat_designers
- Streaming: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Boomplay, Tidal, iHeart, Pandora, Tesla, YouTube, SoundCloud and others.
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