Music / Styles A–Z / Electronic and new · 32 of 35
Synth-pop
Synth-pop, also called techno-pop, puts the synthesizer at the centre of the song. It rose in Germany, Japan and the UK between 1977 and 1980 and broke through after Gary Numan in 1979.
- Where and when
- Germany, Japan and the UK, 1977–1980
- Tempo
- Not stated in our sources
- Played on
- Synthesizers, drum machines such as the TR-808, voice
- Lesson
- Electronic and new →
What it is
Synth-pop, also called techno-pop, puts the synthesizer at the centre of the song. It became prominent in Germany, Japan and the UK between 1977 and 1980, prefigured by Kraftwerk, progressive rock and disco, and broke through in the UK charts after Gary Numan's success in 1979.
For the producer. Yellow Magic Orchestra brought the TR-808 to popular music. The sequencer is the rhythm section; write the bass and arpeggios as patterns and let the voice carry the melody.
The records that made it
From the lesson Electronic and new, where the sources are listed · links open a search
- AutobahnKraftwerk · Reached number 11 in the UK.
- 1977I Feel LoveDonna Summer · Produced by Giorgio Moroder; set the programmed beat.
- 1978Yellow Magic OrchestraYellow Magic Orchestra · Their self-titled album.
- 1978Being Boiledthe Human League
Synth-pop in this month’s records
New releases the press we read wrote about, tagged synth-pop on MusicBrainz · updated with every build
Album · 11.06 · electroclash · electronicPEACE + WARbassvictim
Album · 10.30 · industrial metal · industrial rockHate to Go - Take Out or DeliveryMinistry
Single · 10.27 · synth-pop · indie popOverthinkerCHVRCHES
Single · 10.15 · pop · dance-popBlue MoonZara Larsson
Album · 10.09 · pop · electropopShe’s the BestTroye Sivan
Album · 10.09 · dance-pop · electropopPITCOINPitbull