Ah, synthwave. Just hearing that word instantly transports me back to a time of neon lights, arcade machines, and wild aspirations of a tech-fueled future. Did you ever get the feeling that maybe you were born in the wrong era? Every time I hear a s…
Ah, synthwave. Just hearing that word instantly transports me back to a time of neon lights, arcade machines, and wild aspirations of a tech-fueled future. Did you ever get the feeling that maybe you were born in the wrong era? Every time I hear a synthwave track, I’m filled with a nostalgia for an era I never truly experienced, but somehow deeply long for. And, you know, Oldschool Johnny used to say the same thing. He'd always tell me, "Man, the '80s was where it's at!"
Synthwave, often also termed as retrowave or outrun, is more than just music. It's a subculture, an aesthetic, a feeling. Stemming from inspirations in the 1980s, it’s a blend of the decade's pop culture, the birth of electronic music, and the burgeoning computer revolution. The synthesis of all these influences gives synthwave its distinct sound—a mishmash of futuristic synths, nostalgic rhythms, and an unmistakable '80s vibe.
So, why the '80s? What’s the magic behind that decade? The 1980s was a revolutionary time. Technological advancements were taking giant leaps. Video games made their mark, personal computers started appearing in households, and electronic music was becoming mainstream. Movies like Blade Runner and Tron painted pictures of futuristic landscapes complemented by synthesizer-heavy soundtracks. Meanwhile, series like Miami Vice showcased flashy neon aesthetics, fast cars, and pastel suits.
Retrowave nostalgia takes these elements and amplifies them. It's about celebrating and reliving the imagined atmosphere of that decade—a fusion of both its realities and the fictional worlds of its pop culture. The feeling is encapsulated in the synthwave music we hear, the visuals of sunsets over digital horizons, and the fantasies of driving down neon-lit streets in supercars.
Now, while the ‘80s were the origin, the real rise of synthwave as a genre happened in the 2000s. Artists began to experiment by recreating '80s sounds with modern equipment. The tracks were characterized by power..
