New Wave Artists, Scenes & Connections

Explore how Kraftwerk, Punk, David Bowie, and Roxy Music in the 70s informed different branches of new wave in the 80s, including Human League, Talking Heads, Duran Duran, Ultravox, and more.

Four modern albums from new wave bands Squeeze, Billy Idol, Joe Jackson, and Men Without Hats form an unexpected emotional arc - from entrapment and survival to catharsis and hope - offering a revealing snapshot of how new wave artists navigate uncertain times.

Exploring '80s German new wave through Schilling, Alphaville, and Nena -where cold electronics, cinematic pop, and quirky hooks take shared roots in different directions.

New wave never disappeared - it evolved. Explore how 2020s artists like Chappell Roan, Yard Act, Magdalena Bay, and Nation of Language carry '80s emotional DNA forward.

See how Los Angeles shaped new wave through Wall of Voodoo, Berlin, and the Motels - capturing sprawl, façades, and isolation inside the city in the '80s.

See how new wave lived on through producers in the '90s: from Trevor Horn to Ric Ocasek and beyond. They shaped major albums even after the genre faded at the end of the '80s.

Watch a young new wave fan take shape as dad shares how songs from Men without Hats, Falco, and Split Enz get little ones loving ’80s new wave songs.

Explore how Del Shannon’s use of the Musitron synth and minor-chord melancholy in the '60s foreshadowed new wave’s electronic heart and influenced acts like Depeche Mode in the '80s and '90s.

Discover which '80s new wave archetype fits you: punchy Power Pop & Skinny Tie Brigade to quirky Art-Pop Eccentrics and glamorous New Romantic Synthpop stars.

Explore the contrast between post-punk’s brooding mood and mainstream new wave’s glamour in the '80s by comparing bands like the Cure, Joy Division, Duran Duran, and Blondie.

Looking at Canada’s vibrant '80s new wave scene: from Toronto clubs to Montreal art basements, through influential acts like Martha and the Muffins and Men Without Hats.

Explore how Australasia’s new wave scene - from Split Enz and Men at Work to INXS - turned local swagger into global style and memorable hooks in the '70s and '80s.

Discover how minority voices shaped new wave’s sound and spirit in the '80s: from Adam Ant’s Romani roots to Oingo Boingo’s Latino rhythms and culture.

Explore the 2000s new wave comebacks  - how the new wave revival brought the sound back into fashion and boosted '80s icons like Duran Duran.

Explore the gay and queer influence in new wave music, from queer icons and club culture to songs like Johnny Are You Queer? that reshaped identity and expression in the ’80s.

Learn how synthpop’s electronic sound and hypnotic rhythms set it apart in the '80s from broader new wave like Blondie and the Cars in this deep style comparison.

Explore how Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, and the Bravery helped revive new wave’s '80s sound in the 2000s and kept its spirit alive.

Our expert look at the 2025 Rock Hall of Fame nominees - comparing '80s new wave artists Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol & Joy Division/New Order on hits, influence, and Hall odds.

See how women like Debbie Harry, Tina Weymouth, the Go-Go’s, and Cyndi Lauper reshaped new wave and '80s music, expanding its sound, style, and cultural impact.

A head-to-head look at Oingo Boingo and Devo - two distinct '80s new wave innovators - exploring their styles, influences, and contributions.