Synth and Swagger - New Wave Articles - Collectible PDFs
About

Synth & Swagger
New Wave Music Lives On

Articles
Collectible PDFs
Video Comments
Explore a topic
Adam Ant Squeeze Fempowerment Oceania Canada Synthpop Oingo Devo Work/Labor Halloween

Squeeze: Hooks & Wit

Cover image for Squeeze: Hooks & Wit

Wit, wordplay, and heartbreak in perfect three-minute form. From “Cool for Cats” to “Black Coffee in Bed,” Squeeze spun everyday stories into pop poetry. This spotlight revisits their craft with fresh eyes—clever, catchy, and criminally underrated.

The Australia / New Zealand Wave

Cover image for The Australia / New Zealand Wave

From pub stages to global charts, Australasia’s new wave pulsed with grit and gloss. Split Enz, Men at Work, and INXS mixed sharp hooks with sly humor, while Icehouse and Pseudo Echo draped it all in sleek synth sheen. A celebration of how local swagger went worldwide—sun-bleached, stylish, and unmistakably ’80s.

Canada Rides the New Wave

Cover image for Canada Rides the New Wave

From Toronto’s icy clubs to Montreal’s art-school basements, Canada carved its own corner of the New Wave world. Martha and the Muffins, Spoons, and Men Without Hats fused wit, atmosphere, and melody that rivaled anything from London or L.A. This digital collector’s piece celebrates a scene both cool and quirky — proof that the Great White North glowed just as bright under the neon.

Oingo Boingo vs Devo

Cover image for Oingo Boingo vs Devo

From Toronto’s icy clubs to Montreal’s art-school basements, Canada carved its own corner of the New Wave world. Martha and the Muffins, Spoons, and Men Without Hats fused wit, atmosphere, and melody that rivaled anything from London or L.A. This digital collector’s piece celebrates a scene both cool and quirky — proof that the Great White North glowed just as bright under the neon.