What is New Wave music?
Q: What is New Wave music?
A: New Wave music is a style of rock music that developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was inspired by the punk rock movement and combines elements of punk, funk, disco, ska and pop.
Q: How does New Wave differ from Punk Rock?
A: Whilst maintaining the rebellious and energetic side of punk rock, New Wave was less raw and aggressive than Punk Rock. Additionally, it had simpler melodies and catchy hooks which made it more pop-based than Punk Rock.
Q: What instruments were used in New Wave music?
A: New Wave music was very electronic in nature, making strong usage of synthesizers as well as other instruments such as guitars or drums.
Q: How did MTV help to make New Wave popular?
A: When MTV started broadcasting in 1981, many New Wave bands had their music videos played on television which helped to increase its popularity. A well-known example is Whip It by Devo.
Q: Was there a visual aesthetic associated with New Wave?
A: Yes, there was a strong visual aesthetic associated with the genre which included colourful fashions worn by artists during performances or when appearing on TV shows or videos.
Q: Did all artists within the genre have similar styles?
A: No, although they were all part of the same genre they varied greatly in style ranging from pure rock to synthpop to reggae-influenced music.
