The New Wave scene emerged from the ashes of the punk movement in the late ‘70s. Along with post-punk (and its various sub-genres), new wave artists took the punchy and aggressive sound of punk rock and made something new out of it.

Unlike most post-punk, which was often more introspective, emotional and artistic, new wave was born from a desire to make the music more accessible and commercial, with many artists incorporating synthesizers and disco influences into their sound, while still retaining the rhythm and drive of punk rock. Lyrical themes were no longer confined to social and political commentary, dealing with much broader and more complex themes.

Gradually, during the early-mid-‘80s, the punk ethos began to disappear from the music, and many synth-pop and post-disco bands began to be branded with the new wave label, while meanwhile other artists reacted to the genre’s new direction with more guitar-based pop music.

In the ‘90s and '00s, many artists of the NWONW (New Wave of New Wave) and Post-Punk Revival movements looked back to early new wave music for inspiration on expanding their sound.

Artists:

• Blondie
• Talking Heads
• New Order
• The Police
• Japan
• Duran Duran