With their debut single “Look Alike,” dark synthpop duo Cupid Spell arrive with a bold artistic statement that feels both unsettling and alluring. Formed in the summer of 2025 by Josh Kreuzman (known for his darkwave project Twice Dark) and Mandy Buffington, the Bloomington-based pair have crafted a track that doesn’t just nod to its influences but fully immerses itself in a cinematic world of mystery, duality, and dreamlike tension.
Created in honor of David Lynch, “Look Alike” dives deep into the thematic terrain of duality, duplicity, and the blurred edges of human identity. The track even features a sample of Lynch himself, drawn from his Number of the Day series, which echoes throughout the piece like a cryptic narrator guiding listeners into an alternate reality.
Musically, the song pays homage to the dreamlike sonic landscapes of Angelo Badalamenti and Julee Cruise, familiar to fans of Twin Peaks. Swelling synths, moody atmospheres, and eerie textures form the foundation, while Josh and Mandy weave a sound that feels cinematic and immersive. The result is music that both honors Lynch’s aesthetic and expands it into something new and personal.
At its core, “Look Alike” is about the tension between who we are and who we appear to be. The song poses the unsettling question: Are you really you? Cupid Spell explore this through both their lyrical approach and their layered production style. The contrast between lush, dreamy synths and darker undercurrents mirrors the theme of duality itself — a musical representation of light and shadow coexisting within the same frame.
Josh and Mandy’s partnership feels essential to the track’s success. Josh brings his background in darkwave, known for shadowy textures and electronic grit, while Mandy infuses the music with a sense of mystery and narrative depth.Together, they’ve created Cupid Spell as a vehicle to explore themes of love, loss, and enigma beyond their individual projects.
That this project began as a contribution to Lover’s Eye Press’s 10th issue — a folio dedicated to David Lynch — shows their intent: Cupid Spell isn’t chasing trends, they’re crafting art that stands in dialogue with cinema, literature, and avant-garde sound design.
While “Look Alike” is the duo’s first release, it’s already clear that Cupid Spell is working with a long-term vision. They plan to release a series of singles through 2025 and 2026, each likely to expand on the rich palette of ideas showcased here. If their debut is any indication, listeners can expect more music that blends atmosphere with emotional weight, standing at the crossroads of pop structure and experimental art.
“Look Alike” is more than just a dark synthpop track — it’s a piece of sonic storytelling. With its hypnotic production, Lynch-inspired surrealism, and thematic exploration of duality, the song invites listeners into a dream where nothing is quite what it seems.
For fans of darkwave, synthpop, or the ethereal worlds of Angelo Badalamenti and Julee Cruise, this single will feel like home, though one where the shadows linger and the questions never quite find answers. Cupid Spell have made a striking entrance with “Look Alike” — a debut that not only honors its inspirations but carves out a space of its own in the contemporary dark synth landscape.
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