Synthwave Artists Earning Icon Status for Their Retro Futuristic Sounds

The Rise of Synthwave Music

A new musical genre emerged in the mid 2000's that took inspiration from the synthesized and electronic sounds of 1980s film, video games, and pop music. This style, now known as synthwave, has seen a cult-like rise in popularity over the past decade. Characterized by its retro and nostalgic tones, synthwave evokes the computerized beats from the dawn of the digital music revolution while also feeling futuristic. As this unique sound captures the ears of more listeners, the artists behind synthwave are earning icon status.

Early Synthwave Pioneers

The development of affordable music synthesizers in the 1970s and 80s opened new possibilities for pop musicians to experiment with computerized sounds. Genres like disco, new wave, and electronic dance music paved the way for the birth of synthwave. Groundbreaking bands like Depeche Mode and composers like Vangelis and John Carpenter created seminal synth-centric movie soundtracks and singles.

In the 21st century, artists began channeling these retro-futuristic tones. Musicians like Mitch Murder, Power Glove, and Lost Years crafted songs that sounded both nostalgic for the 80s and yet entirely fresh. Overseas interest in this style of music exploded, giving rise to record labels like Rosso Corsa Records dedicated solely to synthwave.

The Synthwave Sound Evolves

The 2010s saw the synthwave genre expand with new branches like darksynth, dreamwave, and vice wave emerging - each with their own unique spin but retaining the core synthesized beats. Artists continued to drive innovation, such as Miami Nights 1984 integrating funk elements and The Midnight fusing in more traditional pop/rock structures into the music.

French house duo Daft Punk paved the way for other masked DJs like Dead Astronauts and Meteor to gain fame solely through their synthwave productions. Pop culture phenomenons like the series Stranger Things incorporated thick synthwave-inspired soundtracks, further amplifying public interest.

A New Generation of Synthwave Icons

As synthwave entered the 2020s, breakout stars ascended to headline festivals, tour internationally, and even top electronic music charts. Musicians originally niche are now becoming mainstaged with millions of passionate fans.

Carpenter Brut

The anonymous French artist known as Carpenter Brut embodies the synthwave genre for many listeners. Wearing leather and an eye-catching sunglasses/skimask combo on-stage, Carpenter Brut channels horror movie vibes into pulsating, heavy sounds. Their live shows are legendary, fueled by adrenaline and nostalgia. After gaining a huge YouTube following with singles like "Turbo Killer", Carpenter Brut has gone on to release 3 EPs that each shot to #1 on electronic charts in Europe. Major labels have taken note, but Carpenter Brut continues to directly connect with fans.

The Midnight

Songwriting duo Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle formed The Midnight in Los Angeles, fusing synthwave and sax-laden funk pop for a distinctly emotional sound. After their breakout album Endless Summer topped several Billboard charts, they began selling out tours across America. While the band appeals to fellow millennials longing for 80's nostalgia, their anthemic songs about love and loss connect universally. With close engagement on social media, The Midnight's fan community keeps growing exponentially - as evidenced by their latest record The Years kicked off #1 on iTunes Dance.

Timecop1983

Dutch musician Jordy Leenaerts produces transportive synthwave as Timecop1983 - named for the Jean-Claude Van Damme film. His dreamy, ethereal melodies evoke both 1980s sci-fi but also emotive melancholia. He's found ardent fans across continents, touring Japan, North America and extensively throughout Europe. Timecop1983 made history when his 2020 album Night Drive became the first crowdfunded synthwave album to break onto the Dutch Top 40 charts ever. He has expanded to collaborate with underground rapper Little Cloud and remains dedicated to pushing synthwave sounds in new directions.

The Future of Synthwave

The 2020s appear ripe for even more synthwave musicians and producers to gain massive followings, tour the world, and warp both mainstream and underground music spaces. New artists borrow elements from metal, hip hop, avant garde, and of course pure 80s electronic inspiration to drive fresh sounds. Based on fan fervor at festivals like Outland Toronto and Synthetic Summer Atlanta, synthwave is likely to launch even more headliner-worthy icons this decade.

FAQs

What are the characteristics of synthwave music?

Synthwave features heavy use of synthesizers to create retro-sounding electronic beats reminiscent of '80s film, video games, and dance music. The genre evokes nostalgia for the sounds of the 1980s while also feeling futuristic.

Who started the synthwave genre?

Early pioneers in the 2000s like Mitch Murder, Power Glove, and Lost Years crafted the first synthwave tracks. They drew inspiration from synth-heavy bands like Depeche Mode and composers like Vangelis and John Carpenter's movie soundtracks from the '80s.

Where is synthwave most popular?

Synthwave originated overseas, especially in Europe, but has spread worldwide over streaming and social media. North America and Asia host popular synthwave festivals. Scenes thrive in L.A., Miami, Toronto, Amsterdam and Tokyo in particular.

What other subgenres build off synthwave?

Darksynth features more sinister tones while Dreamwave is more ethereal. Vaporwave also samples from '80s muisc but in a chopped and screwed hybrid style. New subgenres continue to emerge by fusing synthwave with metal, rap, techno and more.