Synthwave article
Synthwave for Newcomers: Where to Start
Forget the subgenre charts and the essential-albums lists — here's exactly where a total newcomer to synthwave should actually start.
Forget the subgenre charts and the "essential albums" lists for a minute. If you're brand new to synthwave, all you actually need is a handful of tracks and the confidence to trust your own ears. Here's exactly where to start.
Start With One Song
Kavinsky's "Nightcall." That's it, that's the entry point. It's the track most people already half-recognise from Drive, it captures the whole neon-and-nostalgia mood in under four minutes, and if it clicks, you're in. If it doesn't quite land, don't panic — synthwave has plenty of range, and one song was never going to represent all of it.
Then Try Two Very Different Directions
Once "Nightcall" has you curious, branch out fast rather than diving deeper into more of the same:
- The Midnight – "Sunset." Proper songwriting, saxophone, real emotional weight. If you want songs over pure vibes, this is your lane.
- Perturbator – "Future Club." Darker, harder, genuinely a bit menacing. If "Nightcall" felt too soft, this is the opposite end of the spectrum.
Between those two, you've already covered most of the emotional range synthwave has to offer.
You Don't Need the Subgenre Vocabulary Yet
Outrun, dreamwave, darksynth — ignore all of it for now. These labels are useful once you're a few weeks in and want more precise recommendations, but they're actively unhelpful on day one. Just listen and notice what you're drawn back to. The vocabulary will make sense once you've actually heard enough to hang it on something.
Common Newcomer Worries, Sorted
| The worry | The honest answer |
|---|---|
| "I don't know enough 80s music to get this." | You don't need to. Synthwave is a modern genre inspired by that era, not a history exam. |
| "There's too much to listen to, where do I even start?" | Three or four tracks is plenty for week one. Depth comes later, naturally. |
| "I can't tell the subgenres apart." | Nobody expects you to yet. Even long-time fans argue about the boundaries. |
| "Is this just nostalgia for people older than me?" | No — plenty of the audience and the artists themselves weren't even around in the 80s. |
Your First Week, Realistically
Play "Nightcall" a few times until it sticks. Add "Sunset" and "Future Club" once it does. Let a streaming algorithm loose after that and see what it throws up — some of it will land, some won't, and that's completely normal. This isn't homework; there's no test at the end, just a genuinely enjoyable rabbit hole if it's for you.
When You Want to Go Deeper
Once a handful of tracks have properly hooked you, that's the right moment to explore further, not before. Our subgenre breakdown makes far more sense once you have reference points in your ears, and our guide to essential artists will feel like recognising old friends rather than a wall of unfamiliar names. For the full picture of how this all fits together, our beginner's guide is worth a read too.
Honestly? The only wrong way to start is overthinking it. Press play on "Nightcall" and take it from there.
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