Minimal Wave

Minimal wave, a genre that emerged in the late 1970s and flourished in the early 1980s, is characterized by its stark, synthesized soundscapes, driving rhythms, and introspective, often melancholic lyrics. Born from the intersection of post-punk's experimental ethos and the burgeoning electronic music scene, minimal wave's DIY ethos and lo-fi production aesthetic set it apart from more polished synth-pop and new wave styles. Notable for its use of simple, repetitive melodies and primitive drum machines, minimal wave's sonic landscape is marked by a sense of tension and urgency, reflecting the era's social and economic anxieties. This genre's cultural significance lies in its early adoption of electronic music's democratizing potential, empowering artists to create music outside traditional studio systems. Minimal wave's influence can be seen in subsequent genres like industrial, techno, and darkwave, and its distinctive sound continues to inspire contemporary artists.

Latest Minimal Wave Release
undefined album image
Once in a while
Single - Released May 16, 2025

RecentMusic users are tracking 123 Minimal Wave artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 1,490 releases .

Join them and feed your new music addiction, and add the Minimal Wave artists you love!

Get Started Browse Releases
Agent Side Grinder
Aimai Ai
Alessandro Adriani
Angrama
Anthe
Armich
Ascetic
Astronaut Husband
Automelodi
BLACK WATER COMPLEX
Bag People
Bagjuice
Berblan
Blebla
Brø
Buzz Kull
Child Actress
Clahx
Cosmetics
Dactes
Daniel Miller
Danvhefner
De Van
Deux
Diaz Pora
Dirty Jens
Double H
Dracas
ELEFAN
Exyz
FKN DUDE
Geneva Jacuzzi
George Kranz
Gwendoline
Half Quickie
ITS ADN
Ikona
Imelda Amazone
Incorrect Waves
Jim Radical
John Foxx
KLÄMP
Keela Kee
Kontravoid
LOBELO
La Famiglia Pig
Lebanon Hanover
Linea Aspera
Little Nemo
Lord Johwn
M10
MIROLYBOVA
Marridon
Martin Dupont
Menavor
Miroff
Mistra
Motel Transylvania
Máklikőr
NAMONE
NEW WAVE DUO
Nouvelle Phénomène
Opera Multi Steel
Ophi Ma
Oppenheimer Analysis
PAVLO
Paradox Obscur
Pipe Bega
Police Des Moeurs
Pyatiletka
Qual
Rika Bender
Robert Görl
Rue Oberkampf
Saeko Killy
Saint Demarcus
Selfishadows
Sixth June
Sorry For Laughing
Ssleeping Desiress
Stone Flexance
TRIP RGAZZI
Techniques Berlin
Tel No Div
Twice Dark
Twilight Ritual
Velvet Condom
VerDor
Veronal
Warm Graves
Xeno & Oaklander
Zanias
chicasoviética
iYA
staeB naibaF
Élan Vital
ÖSTKUSTEN
ЄЎ
Наследие Большевиков
ТЯЖЁЛАЯ АТЛЕТИКА
Lebanon Hanover
Miroff
MIROLYBOVA
ТЯЖЁЛАЯ АТЛЕТИКА
Exyz
Grauzone
Linea Aspera
Kontravoid
Armich
Geneva Jacuzzi
John Foxx
Lord Johwn
Buzz Kull
Gwendoline
Martin Dupont
Máklikőr
Paradox Obscur
Pyatiletka
Deux
Malaria!
Ssleeping Desiress
Nouvelle Phénomène
TRIP RGAZZI
Dactes
Rue Oberkampf
Trisomie 21
Zanias
Velvet Condom
George Kranz
PAVLO
Qual
Robert Görl
Xeno & Oaklander
Keluar
Élan Vital
Oppenheimer Analysis
Agent Side Grinder
Saint Demarcus
Half Quickie
Severed Heads
Daniel Miller
Sixth June
Eleven Pond
Pipe Bega
Techniques Berlin
Astronaut Husband
Cosmetics
Autumn
Police Des Moeurs
Marridon
Berblan
Kitchen and the Plastic Spoons
Little Nemo
NAMONE
Automelodi
Ophi Ma
Dirty Jens
M10
La Famiglia Pig
NEW WAVE DUO
Iron Curtain
Alessandro Adriani
Staccato
Stone Flexance
Motel Transylvania
Selfishadows
Blebla
Brø
Kontroll Csoport
Moderne
Aimai Ai
Twice Dark
Saeko Killy
KLÄMP
Mistra
999
Ascetic
Rika Bender
Opera Multi Steel
Jim Radical
Twilight Ritual
Bagjuice
Pepsy
De Van
BLACK WATER COMPLEX
Warm Graves
VerDor
Наследие Большевиков
Double H
Menavor
Dracas
Neveresque
ELEFAN
iYA
Bag People
Cheweengum
chicasoviética
Foolk
Minox
Clahx