Source: theguardian.com
Synthesizer pop or better known as synth-pop is a type of music that is very dominant with the use of a synthesizer. Sometimes the use of a synthesizer can replace the entire instrument that is commonly used.
In the mid-1960s the use of synthesizers has begun to be used, one of which is The Beach Boys. Their use doesn’t really change their own music. In 1968 there was finally one synthesizer record released, the song called “Switched On Bach” by Wendy Carlos and used the synthesizer moog.
In the 1970s, appeared a new music called “Krautrock” in Germany. Krautrock is a dish of disharmony but innovative music. One of the famous bands to popularize this type of music is Kraftwerk. They are musicians who can develop a form of synth pop music style. After that, synth pop music began to develop in many countries.
In the early 1980s there were British electronic bands who also played and popularized synth pop music, namely Depeche Mode. One of the singles entitled “Just Can’t Get Enough” which was released in 1981. As time went on their music became more and more melancholic and dark. After that, many English bands emerged that played synth pop, but also used other instruments. Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Tears For Fears and Thompson Twins are some examples of these bands.
Source: pitchfork.com
In 1984 appeared a new type of pop music known as eurodisco. Eurodisco is a type of music that is difficult to separate from synth pop. In 1986 synth pop music began to weaken and only music based on synthesizers was called synth pop.
In the 2000s it began to grow again. This is because many musicians are adopting music with synthesizers. One of the return points is when several songs that use synthesizers are sold in the market. La Roux and Lady Gaga are some of the musicians who use synthesizers in their songs that sell well in the market. Until now synth pop is still growing because of the many songs with this type of music on the market. Synth pop has also developed into other music genres and one of the best known is Electronic Dance Music or EDM.
The beginning of electronic music in Indonesia dates back to 1963, when Slamet Abdul Sjukur released the song Latigrak which combines ballet and gamelan compositions. Then he just started to rewrite his second electronic composition in 1984 entitled Astral. He is the first Indonesian musician to pursue electronic music even before the introduction of synthesizers in Indonesia.
After that, electronic music was said to have entered the second wave in the 1970s, where many Indonesian musicians made electronic music albums. In that year electronic musical instruments such as synthesizers were easily accessible. Batas Echo (1978) by Harry Roesli, Saluang Pekan Komponis I (1979) by Otto Sidharta, and Dilarang Bertepuk Tangan di Dalam Toilet by Sapto Raharjo which was released in 1980 are some examples of works of that era. Otto Sidharta and Sapto Rahardjo can be called as representatives of the third wave in the 1980s.
Source: medcom.id
The 1990s was called the fourth wave where many young Indonesian artists were interested in electronic music. Eventually they explored and eventually set up a syndicate. One example is Performance Fucktory which was founded in Yogyakarta in 1997. Its founders were Marzuki Mohammad, Kus Widananto, Ari Wulu, Ugoran Prasad, and Yosef Herman Susilo. From here emerged the first electronic music festival in Indonesia in 1999, namely Parkinsound. Parkinsound is always growing from year to year before finally stopping after the last one was held in 2004. This is because Juki and his friends realized that they were an artist and not a concert promoter.
Currently, electronic music is popular in Indonesia and enjoyed by many people. One of the most prominent types of music is Electronic Dance Music or EDM. And this phase is called the fifth wave. Mantra Vutura and Weird Genius are examples of electronic musicians from Indonesia. Even Weird Genius has made Indonesia proud to the world through one of his songs entitled Lathi.
