Synthwave

Synthwave is an electronic music microgenre that sources its primary aesthetic from 1980s film soundtracks, video games, and pop culture. It is constructed from a sonic palette of analog synthesizers, prominent lead melodies, and arpeggiated basslines, often layered over drum machine patterns with gated reverb. The genre emerged in the mid-2000s, pioneered by acts like *Kavinsky* and *Justice*, who merged French house with a retro-futurist sensibility. It evolved from niche online communities into a broader cultural phenomenon, influencing film scores, advertising, and mainstream pop artists such as *The Weeknd*, solidifying its identity through a distinct visual language of neon grids and chrome logos.