Synthwave’s name can be misleading, as the music has very little in common with new wave, which is a rock-based genre that evolved out of punk acts of the ‘70s and flourished in Britain and North America in the ‘80s. Smaller elements like ‘80s jingles for television commercials, VHS production companies, and nightly news programs also played a role in the genre’s genesis. Early Synthwave artists put a retro-synth spin on these sounds while borrowing inspiration from ‘80s Euro disco, funk, and electro, as well as soundtracks for movies, television, and video games. Musically, Synthwave’s origins are tied to dance genres of the mid ‘00s, specifically house and nu disco. It also extends to ‘80s horror movies, which themselves frequently contained themes of science and technology. This aspect is expressed through synthwave producers’ interest in science fiction, computers, neon lights, and futuristic supercars. The second core conceptual element of Synthwave involves the ‘80s ubiquitous love affair with science and technology. The songwriting captures an idealized mental image of the ‘80s it’s the musical manifestation of a vintage postcard that says “Come to L.A.” in pink letters above an image of a crowded beach with people on surfboards and roller skates. This vision frequently orients itself on images of coastal US cities like Miami and Los Angeles, replete with palm trees and oceanside sunsets.

The first conceptual aspect of Synthwave is a romanticized vision of carefree summer days spent on the boardwalk, at the beach, or at the video arcade. Conceptually, this interest in the past manifests itself in two significant, and often interrelated, forms. Synthwave is a distinctly modern music genre begun in the mid 2000s as an homage to the pop culture sounds and imagery of the 1980s and early 1990s. So, what is Synthwave? What is Synthwave Music?Īlthough it’s a common assumption for new fans to make, Synthwave is not a general or broad term for synthesizer music, and despite the genre’s retro stylings, does not include music from the ‘80s or other decades of the 20th century. As the genre pulls in new producers and fans from diverse music styles, and older fans become increasingly disenchanted with the traditional sound of the genre, it becomes more relevant than ever to discuss the nature of the music, where it has come from, and most importantly, where it is heading. Synthwave music has undergone a rapid and far-reaching transformation, both in terms of style and overall quality.

Miami nights 1984 early summer songs