Intertwined with the new romantics, synth pop was heavily influenced by the sleek sounds of Roxy Music and David Bowie as well as the electronic innovations of Kraftwerk. The music was typically created on synthesizers, exploiting its own artificiality by means of relentless, ominous droning and inert vocals. While most synth-pop acts enjoyed a hit or two, artists such as New Order, Depeche Mode, Devo, and Duran Duran gained considerable success; the latter's catchy, danceable hits took synth pop out of clubs and into arenas. By the mid-'80s, however, synth pop's heyday was waning, though the music did wonders for the beloved synthesizer, establishing that instrument's primary position in mainstream pop.

Notable artists: Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Thomas Dolby