Synthwave
Synthwave, or retrowave, is a retro-futuristic genre characterized by its shimmering, often melancholic synth melodies, driving drum machine rhythms, and a generally instrumental, ambient soundscape, all crafted with iconic 1980s synthesizers like the Roland Juno-6 and Yamaha DX7. Emerging in the early 2010s, it's deeply rooted in a nostalgic appreciation for 1980s film soundtracks, video games, and electronic music, blending those classic sounds with modern production techniques. Key artists include Kavinsky, Perturbator, and Lorn. Its pervasive aesthetic has significantly influenced visual media, from film to video games.
More about Synthwave
Synthwave, also known as retrowave, is an electronic genre born in the early 2010s from a deep and deliberate nostalgia for the sonic and visual aesthetic of the 1980s. Far from mere imitation, it represents a creative and often melancholic reinterpretation of a fantasised decade, conjuring the soundtracks of action films, science fiction movies, and video games of the era to build a coherent, immersive retro-futuristic universe. The Netflix series Stranger Things and films like Drive played a powerful role in popularising this aesthetic with a global audience during the 2010s, bringing the genre from online forums and SoundCloud to mainstream cultural consciousness.
Musically, Synthwave is defined by vintage synthesizers such as the Roland Juno-6, Yamaha DX7, or Oberheim OB-Xa, expansive and atmospheric pad layers, shimmering arpeggios, and classic 80s drum machine rhythms. Tempos are often slow to moderate, creating a nocturnal, contemplative atmosphere occasionally tinged with urgency or danger — evoking a long night drive under the neon glow of a vast city. The majority of productions are instrumental, letting the sonic landscapes speak for themselves in a way that invites deep listening and vivid imagination.
On FestT, PERTURBATOR (5 festivals) is one of the genre's most iconic figures, fusing synthwave with industrial metal through a dark, cinematic vision. KAVINSKY (2) brought the genre to wider audiences via the Drive soundtrack. Dagny (9) and Nation of Language (6) explore crossroads between synthwave and melodic pop. MASTER BOOT RECORD (5) pushes the genre towards metal and chiptune with remarkable originality.
Present in 37 festivals on FestT, Synthwave has spilled well beyond music to influence cinema, video games, and visual branding. Fans of Ambient, Chiptune, or Electronica will find here an accessible gateway into a neon-and-chrome parallel world where nostalgia and futurism coexist in perfect, melancholic tension and every track tells a story without words.