Synth-pop
Roots · 1979 · 105 to 135 BPM · also known as Synthpop, Electropop, New Romantic
Synth pop rewrote pop music entirely on synthesizers in England and Germany between 1978 and 1984: unstoppable melodies played on visibly artificial machines, a cold kind of romanticism, and the song format kept intact. Bands like Depeche Mode, Human League and Soft Cell were the generation that proved machines could make people cry. Synth pop is the melodic root of italo disco, freestyle, minimal wave and everything in dance music that has stayed sung rather than instrumental.
17 reference tracks
- Gary Numan: Cars (1979)
- Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Enola Gay (1980)
- The Human League: Don't You Want Me (1981)
- Depeche Mode: Just Cant Get Enough (1981)
- Soft Cell: Tainted Love (1981)
- Yazoo: Only You (1982)
- The Weeknd: Blinding Lights (2019)
- Dua Lipa: Physical (2020)
- Sam Smith (12) Feat. Kim Petras: Unholy (2022)
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone: Fortnight (2024)
- Chappell Roan: Good Luck, Babe! (2024)
- The Weeknd: Less Than Zero
- The Weeknd: Best Friends
- Soft Cell: Forever The Same
- The Weeknd: Dancing in the Flames
- Soft Cell: Martin
- Soft Cell: Down In The Subway
At a glance
- Tempo: 105 to 135 BPM
- First appeared: around 1979
- Machines: Roland Juno-60, Roland Juno-106, Yamaha DX7, Roland TR-808, LinnDrum, Fairlight CMI
- The sound: LinnDrum et TR-808, Séquenceurs MIDI précoces, Fairlight (frange riche)
- Labels: Mute, Some Bizzare, Virgin, ZTT, Italians Do It Better, XO
- Key artists: Depeche Mode, The Human League, Soft Cell, Yazoo, OMD, New Order (charnière)
Producing Synth-pop
Synth pop kept the pop song format at 100 to 135 BPM, centered near 120, the beat machine quantized while the sung melody carries the expression, and the verse chorus structure forcing an energy shift every eight bars. A LinnDrum or TR-808 supplies the beat, kick on one and three or every beat for dance tracks, snare or clap on two and four, eighth note hats with an open hat on the last upbeat. The bass is played on synth, usually a Juno, a sawtooth plus sub oscillator through a filter with a fast envelope, changing note every two to four bars to follow the chords. A DX7 supplies snappy FM basses and bell like electric pianos, joined by chorused pads, plaqué chords, dotted eighth delays on the leads, and a bright plate reverb on the vocal.
The full production course, in French: tempo, drums, bass, sounds, arrangement, mix, plugins and machines, and a step by step start.
Frequently asked
What is Synth-pop?
Synth pop rewrote pop music entirely on synthesizers in England and Germany between 1978 and 1984: unstoppable melodies played on visibly artificial machines, a cold kind of romanticism, and the song format kept intact. Bands like Depeche Mode, Human League and Soft Cell were the generation that…
What tempo is Synth-pop played at?
Between 105 and 135 BPM.
Who are the key Synth-pop artists?
Depeche Mode, The Human League, Soft Cell, Yazoo, OMD, New Order (charnière).
