Synthwave

# Synthwave: the eighties, rebuilt

Synthwave is nostalgia you can hear. Analogue synthesizers, gated reverb drums, arpeggiated basslines and saturated pads recreate the sound of eighties film scores and arcade cabinets — but produced to modern standards. The result is instantly recognisable and carries a strong emotional charge for anyone who grew up with it.

What defines the genre?

A steady four-on-the-floor pulse, wide stereo pads, bright lead synths and drums drenched in reverb. Tempo usually sits between 80 and 120 BPM. Harmonically the genre leans on minor keys with major lifts, which is why it can feel melancholy and triumphant within the same track.

Subgenres and where they fit

- Outrun: driving, neon, night-time — automotive, motion graphics
- Darksynth: aggressive and distorted — horror, action gaming
- Dreamwave: soft, romantic, hazy — fashion, lifestyle, coming-of-age
- Cyberpunk: industrial textures — science fiction, technology

Licensing synthwave

Synthwave works in retro games and indie titles, science fiction and cyberpunk content, automotive and motorsport, fashion campaigns, Twitch and YouTube branding, and anything set at night. Its strong identity makes it a good choice when a production needs to feel distinctive rather than neutral.

All synthwave at Ashfallmusic is royalty free and fully cleared — licensed once for worldwide use, with no ongoing fees to any collecting society.