synth punk
what it is
Electro Punk (also known as synth punk / synthpunk, electropunk, electro-punk, elektropunk) is an umbrella term that describes the combination of electronic music with the attitude of punk music. Due to the predominant use of guitars in punk’s rock music roots, the use of synthesizers was controversial within the punk scene even though the punk music culture collectively embraced an anti-establishment political stance. It was very rare, particularly in USA, for punk musicians to use synthesizers or keyboards at all to make punk music, let alone replacing the guitars with them.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make synth punk a playlist
turn these 26 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is synth punk?
Electro Punk (also known as synth punk / synthpunk, electropunk, electro-punk, elektropunk) is an umbrella term that describes the combination of electronic music with the attitude of punk music. Due to the predominant use of guitars in punk’s rock music roots, the use of synthesizers was controversial within the punk scene even though the punk music culture collectively embraced an anti-establishment political stance. It was very rare, particularly in USA, for punk musicians to use synthesizers or keyboards at all to make punk music, let alone replacing the guitars with them.
What are good synth punk albums to start with?
Try Year of the Snitch by Death Grips, The Second Album + the First Rehearsal Tapes by Suicide, Virtue by The Voidz, and The Ugly Art by Machine Girl.
Who are some women making synth punk?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/synth-punk/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making synth punk, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20