Alt-Synth Pop
tagStarted 2008Peak 2012-2017Last big hit still active
Located in 2 routes
Art-leaning synth pop that bends the form with unconventional sound design: granular vocal chops, glitchy textures, woozy detuned pads, and skittering programmed rhythms. Hooks remain but arrive through indie-electronic experimentation, blending dream-pop haze, witch-house chill, and avant production with pop accessibility.
History
Grew from late-2000s indie acts who treated synths as an experimental canvas rather than retro homage. Grimes' Visions (2012) and Purity Ring's Shrines (2012) fused pop melody with leftfield electronic production, while Phantogram and Austra pushed atmospheric, texturally adventurous synth pop through the 2010s blog and festival circuit.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimes
- https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16235-visions/
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/purity-ring-mn0002970288