Synth Pop and Popular Culture
What is Synth Pop ?
Synthpop is a genre of popular music and subgenre of new wave and electronic music that rose to popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is defined by its use of synthesizers, drum machines, and other electronic instruments, as well as its focus on danceable beats and memorable melodies. Synth Pop heavily influenced by funk and soul music.
Who were the main Synth Pop protagonists ?
Depeche Mode are one of the most influential and successful synthpop bands of all time, with a career that spans several decades. Pet Shop Boys a British synthpop duo who rose to prominence in the 1980s and continue to be active today, known for their innovative and danceable pop music. English band New Order formed from the ashes of Joy Division. New Order blended post-punk with synthpop to create their own unique sound. Singer songwriter, and musician Gary Numan rose to prominence in the late 1970s with his distinctive use of synthesizers and futuristic themes. British synth pop band OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) rose to prominence in the early 1980s and are known for their upbeat, danceable pop music.
These are just a few of the many important synthpop artists who helped to shape the genre and continue to inspire new generations of musicians.
Depeche Mode’s lush electronic sound and emotionally charged anthem ‘Enjoy The Silence’ reflects on the longing for peace and solitude in a chaotic world
How has Synth Pop continued to evolve ?
Synthpop was a major influence on other genres, including dance music and alternative rock and has continued to evolve and influence popular music throughout the years, even though its peak of popularity was in the 1980s. Some notable ways it has continued include the revival in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with artists such as Ladytron, The Faint, and Fischerspooner incorporating its elements into their music.
Many original synthpop (legacy) artists, such as Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, and Erasure, have continued to release music and tour, maintaining the genre's popularity and relevance.
New generations of artists have also been inspired by synthpop, keeping the genre alive and incorporating it into their own styles, such as CHVRCHES, M83, and Ellie Goulding.
Here & Now artist and modular synth collector David Baron shares new music from his synth pop duo SOLARI
What are Synth Pop’s lasting impacts on Popular Culture ?
Synth Pop has been used extensively in film soundtracks, such as in "Drive" (2011) where the music was created by Cliff Martinez and Kavinsky. Video games such as the soundtrack to "Hotline Miami" (2012) features a mix of synthpop and electronic music, which contributed to its retro atmosphere. Synthpop has been used in various advertisements, such as Apple's commercial for the iPod mini (2004), which features the song "How Bizarre" by OMC. The Netflix series "Stranger Things" (2016-present) features a synthpop soundtrack that pays homage to the genre's heyday in the 1980s. And continues in Pop Music with many contemporary pop artists incorporating elements of Synth Pop into their music, such as Lorde, Dua Lipa, and The 1975.
