Synth Funk
Located in 4 routes
Synth Funk is funk rebuilt with synthesizers, drum machines, talkboxes, and glossy studio electronics. It can be smoother than electro-funk and more R&B-facing, but it shares the same love of programmed bass, claps, keyboard hooks, and futuristic body music. The sound is central to boogie, Minneapolis funk, post-disco, and modern funk revival.
History
The style grew as funk and R&B bands absorbed affordable synths, LinnDrum/808 programming, and post-disco club formats. Zapp, D-Train, The System, Midnight Star, The SOS Band, Dazz Band, Mtume, Cameo, Prince, The Time, Kashif, Cherrelle, Roger, and Klymaxx made electronic funk a mainstream 1980s language. Hip-hop, electro, freestyle, new jack swing, G-funk, house, and modern funk all took pieces of its bright machine groove.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- More Bounce to the Ounce(1980) — ZappSpotifyYouTube
- You're the One for Me(1981) — D-TrainSpotifyYouTube
- You Are in My System(1982) — The SystemSpotifyYouTube
- No Parking on the Dance Floor(1983) — Midnight StarSpotifyYouTube
- Just Be Good to Me(1983) — The SOS BandSpotifyYouTube
- Joystick(1983) — Dazz BandSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- synth-funk and boogie histories
- AllMusic artist histories
- Discogs release listings
- funk/electro collector guides