Electropop
tagStarted 1980Peak 2008-2013Last big hit still active
Located in 2 routes
A punchy, hook-first strain of synth pop with thick distorted bass synths, snapping drum-machine claps, and big sing-along choruses. Brighter and more aggressive than classic synthpop, it favors crunchy sawtooth leads, vocoder accents, and a glossy, maximal sheen built for radio and the dancefloor alike.
History
The term goes back to early-80s acts blending synthpop with harder electronic textures, but it crystallized in a late-2000s revival when British and Scandinavian artists fused 80s synth sounds with club-ready production. La Roux, Robyn, and Goldfrapp drove a wave of female-fronted electropop that dominated alternative charts around 2009-2012.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electropop
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/la-roux-mn0001012391
- https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13207-la-roux/