New Wave Era
tagStarted 1978Peak 1980-1985Last big hit 1987
Located in 1 route
Punk's energy reupholstered for the pop charts: clipped guitars, bright synthesizers, drum machines, twitchy danceable rhythms and arty, often quirky vocals. Sleek and angular yet hook-driven, it embraced studio technology and MTV visuals — skinny ties, neon and nervy modernity replacing punk's grime with stylized new-pop sophistication.
History
Coined to market post-punk acts to radio around 1978, new wave broke wide with the synth-pop and MTV boom of the early 1980s. Blondie, Talking Heads, the Cars and Devo bridged art-school edge and chart pop until later-decade tastes absorbed it into mainstream pop and dance.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_wave_music
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/new-wave-ma0000002684
- https://www.britannica.com/art/new-wave-music