Synthesizers

A Synthesizer is an electronic instrument that can generate, modify, and recreate the sound of musical instruments. It can manipulate sounds to give any effect desired. The first synthesizer was built in 1955, although it didn't become relevant until the 1960s. The instrument had a huge influence on music in this era and has until today. The Monkees, the Doors, Simon and Garfunkel, Yes, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles were some of the first bands to heavily utilize the synthesizer in the late 60s.

Synthesizer from 1960

Top 5 Early Synthesizer-Based Songs:

1. The Who- Baba O-Riley (aka Teenage Wasteland)

2. Pink Floyd- Eclipse

3. White Noise- My Game of Loving

4. United States of America- Heresey

5. The Doors- Strange Days

The genre of synthpop emerged in the 70s as a division of New Wave. Synthpop music is based solely on the sounds of the synthesizer. David Bowie, Devo, and A Flock of Seagulls are known as Synthpop musicians. 

Synthesizer Today

Synthpop wasn't as popular in the 90s because of the popular Grunge Rock genre that surfaced. In the last 10 years, there has been a resurgence of synthesizer use in Hip-Hop, Electronica, and Indie Rock. Take a listen to Crystal Castles- Magic Spells for an updated listen to Synthpop/Experimental.