Synthpop

Description

Pop led by a prominent, melodic synthesizer sound, often with reverberated drum machine patterns that create a distinct atmospheric feel commonly associated with the 1980s.

Other tropes include guitar licks, funky synth basslines, robotic vocals, ‘outrun’ style visual aesthetic.

Sparser and much less ‘wall-of-sound’ than the modern genre Electropop, much less EDM influence and barely any Hip Hop crossover. The genre is often described as colder, more atmospheric and somewhat mechanical.

Regardless, modern Synthpop often overlaps with Electropop due to modern production techniques and synthesisers that are less associated with the 1980s.

History

Electronic synthesisers became widely available in the mid-1960s, especially with the Minimoog and Prophet-5, which were widely adopted in Progressive Rock and Krautrock.

Electronic music slowly made its way into the mainstream with songs like Popcorn, and electronic acts began to create renditions of pop songs with synths and sequencers. New Wave, Minimal Synth developed alongside this burgeoning scene that drew upon Moogsploitation, Progressive Electronic and Krautrock.

Synths and drum machines were incorporated into tracks, blending punk and new wave sensibilities with electronic sounds, whilst the accessibility of Dance and Pop sounds gradually led Synthpop to be recognised a genre in its own right.