Synth-pop emerged in the late 1970s, when compact synthesizers and drum machines became affordable, and flourished in the 1980s. Its essence is to transfer the whole palette of the pop song (melody, bass, drums, colours) into the hands of electronic instruments, creating the era's characteristic bright, “neon” sound.
The genre's pioneers were Kraftwerk, and mass popularity was brought by Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, and Yazoo. Synth-pop combined danceability with memorable melodies and often melancholy, intellectual lyrics. It fundamentally changed the sound of world popular music and remains influential to this day — its aesthetic is actively revived by contemporary artists worldwide, including on the Ukrainian electronic scene.
