New Wave (music)

New Wave (music)
Name	New Wave
Cultural origins	Late 1970s, United Kingdom, United States, Australia
Instruments	Electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, drum kit, saxophone, piano
Popularity	Late 1970s–mid 1980s; revived interest from 1990s onward

New Wave (music) was a broad genre and cultural movement that emerged in the late 1970s as a parallel and reactionary current to punk rock across United Kingdom, United States, Australia and West Germany. It combined elements of punk rock, electronic music, pop music, art rock and reggae with an emphasis on stylistic eclecticism, visual presentation and studio experimentation. New Wave influenced mainstream charts, independent labels, music videos on MTV and international popular culture through the 1980s and beyond.

Origins and Influences

New Wave arose from late‑1970s scenes centered in London, New York City, Manchester, Los Angeles and Sydney where bands associated with CBGB, Roxy Music, The Roxy, The Blitz Club and independent labels such as Stiff Records, Rough Trade, Factory Records, Sire Records and ZE Records coalesced. Early progenitors drew on The Velvet Underground, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, The Stooges, Roxy Music and Brian Eno while responding to socio‑political conditions in postindustrial United Kingdom and late‑Cold War United States. Influences included electronic pioneers like Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder, dub and reggae practitioners such as Lee "Scratch" Perry and King Tubby, and art‑school networks linked to Goldsmiths, University of London and Rhode Island School of Design. Movements and events that shaped the scene included the decline of Glam rock, the rise of DIY zines such as Sniffin' Glue, and seminal releases by labels like Island Records and Polydor Records.

Musical Characteristics and Subgenres

Sonically New Wave encompassed crisp, staccato guitar lines reminiscent of The Police, melodic bass work akin to Magazine, synth textures derived from Kraftwerk and programmed rhythms related to Cabaret Voltaire. Production techniques borrowed from Brian Eno and Trevor Horn emphasized studio as instrument, integrating drum machines like the Roland TR-808 and synthesizers such as the Yamaha DX7 and Minimoog. Vocal styles ranged from detached irony associated with Talking Heads to theatrical delivery linked to Kate Bush and Peter Murphy. Key subgenres include synth‑pop (bands on Mute Records and Factory Records), post‑punk (circles around Rough Trade and Mute), new romanticism (clubs like Billy's and The Blitz Club nurturing acts), power pop (bands influenced by Big Star and The Beatles), and ska revival tied to 2 Tone Records and acts from Coventry. Crossovers with industrial music involved entities like Throbbing Gristle and Alien Sex Fiend, while jangle pop connected to R.E.M. and The Smiths.

Key Artists and Bands

Artists associated with New Wave spanned diverse geographies and aesthetics: Blondie, Duran Duran, The Police, Talking Heads, Devo, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, XTC, The Human League, Ultravox, Gary Numan, Pet Shop Boys, The Jam, Adam and the Ants, Tears for Fears, Joy Division, New Order, Simple Minds, Echo & the Bunnymen, Squeeze, Billy Idol, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, Soft Cell, Heaven 17, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, A Flock of Seagulls, Men at Work, INXS, Split Enz, The Cars, Talking Heads', The Go‑Go's, Blondie', Bauhaus, Culture Club, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Bronski Beat, The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, The Clash (crossover material), Patti Smith (influence), and Bryan Ferry (continuity from glam). These acts released landmark albums on labels including Sire Records, Charisma Records, EMI, Warner Bros. Records and Virgin Records and worked with producers such as Steve Lillywhite, Martin Hannett, Mutt Lange and Daniel Miller.

Cultural Impact and Reception

New Wave permeated fashion, film and television, influencing designers like Vivienne Westwood and Jean‑Paul Gaultier, film soundtracks for Blade Runner and Pretty in Pink, and television rotations on Top of the Pops and Saturday Night Live. Clubs such as The Blitz Club and venues like CBGB became cultural hubs fostering scenes documented by magazines including NME, Melody Maker, Rolling Stone and Spin. Critical reception varied: some critics in The New York Times and The Guardian praised innovation, while others accused acts associated with major labels like EMI and Capitol Records of commercializing punk aesthetics. Political engagement appeared through benefit concerts like those organized alongside Live Aid veterans and lyrical references to events such as the Falklands War and socio‑economic shifts in Britain and America.

Commercial Success and Mainstream Crossover

By the early 1980s New Wave achieved major chart success in markets including United States Billboard 200, the UK Singles Chart and the ARIA charts through bands like Duran Duran, The Human League, Madness and Men at Work. The advent of MTV amplified acts with visually distinctive videos such as those produced by directors like Michel Gondry and David Fincher, while merchandise, endorsement deals and arena tours expanded corporate partnerships with promoters like Bill Graham Presents and multinational labels including Sony Music Entertainment. Compilation series such as Now That's What I Call Music! and chart exposure on Billboard Hot 100 facilitated crossover to mainstream pop audiences, though tensions persisted between indie scenes tied to Factory Records and major‑label commercial strategies.

Legacy and Contemporary Influence

New Wave's legacy endures across contemporary indie, electronic and pop music through artists, festivals and revived interest in analog synthesizers and post‑punk aesthetics. Bands and producers cite influences spanning New Order, Talking Heads, Kraftwerk and David Bowie while labels such as Sub Pop and Domino Recording Company have reissued seminal records. Revivals in the 1990s and 2000s—observable in scenes around Brooklyn, Berlin and Los Angeles—produced bands integrating synth‑pop, post‑punk and dance elements; contemporary acts and producers reference legacy producers like Martin Hannett and Trevor Horn and employ vintage gear from manufacturers like Roland and Moog Music. Academic curricula at institutions like Goldsmiths, University of London and exhibitions at museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum explore New Wave's visual and sonic heritage, underscoring its ongoing role in global popular culture.

Category:Music genres