When I think of the 1980s, my brain immediately rings with electronic piano keys and sparkling digital guitar chords. But what exactly are those sounds? And how did they define an entire decade of culture?
The journey of electronic music began at the turn of the 20th century with the invention of the telharmonium, a 7-ton instrument that conducted electricity via telephone receivers to create sound. Though very impractical in size, this instrument provided the basis for the first synthesizer developed by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1955. Dubbed the Mark II, it was programmed using paper punchcards and revolutionized the future of music production.
A decade later, electrical engineer Robert Moog introduced a synthesizer that represented a musical keyboard. Rather than using vacuum tubes (like the previous instruments), the Moog Modular Synthesizer harnessed the connection of control-voltage technology through short cables that could be plugged in and out as the user preferred. It was favored by the most famous musicians of the decade such as The Beatles, the Grateful Dead, and The Doors.
Several other brands made vital contributions to the early renditions of this instrument but everything shifted when Yamaha entered the market in 1974. With the introduction of the SY-1, users were able to manipulate sound velocity and after-touch sensitivity with the keys. By providing the inspirational basis for brands such as Sequential Circuits and Oberheim, further improvements to the synthesizer were made to the instrument’s accessibility, portability and sound range. This digital revolution gave birth to synth-pop, a genre defined by its sleek, futuristic aesthetic and infectious energy.
What once began as a minimalistic – almost sterile – sound in the 70s was transformed in the 1980s to embody the new preference for vibrance and excitement. Three-minute tracks harnessed digital tempos and drum beats to accentuate lyrics emphasizing themes of romance, escapism or inspiration. While the synthesizer was heavily criticized as a soulless form of expression, young listeners loved it. And so did widely successful artists from the likes of Depeche Mode, Duran Duran and New Order who used the synthesizer to produce some of the most popular dance-pop tracks of all time.
Nowadays, electronic instruments dominate the music industry. Virtual synths and drum machines are at the core of music production, shaping genres from K-pop to soul. Yet, it all sources back to the birth of synth-pop and the dawn of the digital age- journeys that still progress over a century later.
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