Electropop Music History: 4 Notable Electropop Artists

Electropop, or electronic pop, is a hybrid of two music genres: electronic and pop. The subgenre fuses synthesizer-fueled electronic music instrumentation with the radio-friendly sound and hook-heavy songwriting of pop music. Emerging from the United Kingdom in the early ‘80s, electropop has cycled in and out of the mainstream and has heavily influenced the works of pop stars like Britney Spears and Madonna.

Electropop first emerged from the United Kingdom in the early 1980s, though its history begins a decade or so earlier:

• Origins: Electropop’s roots begin in the 1970s when musicians like Germany’s Kraftwerk, French composer Jean-Michel Jarre, and Yellow Magic Orchestra from Japan began composing and performing pop and dance music with electronic instruments. Their music influenced many up-and-coming music artists in the early 1980s, including UK New Wave acts like Gary Numan and Soft Cell and the New York-based hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. Critics initially referred to the sound of these bands as synth-pop, a label that later came to refer to more polished-sounding pop and rock music by bands like Depeche Mode and Eurythmics.
• Breakthrough: The British band Human League was the first electropop group to score a chart-topping hit with their 1981 single “Don’t You Want Me.” Their success paved the way for other groups to experiment with electropop songs. British acts like A Flock of Seagulls and New Order made up the first wave of electropop artists. US performers like Madonna would soon follow their lead.
• Mainstream and decline: For a brief period, electropop enjoyed mainstream popularity thanks to Madonna’s Like a Virgin-era recordings and Pet Shop Boys songs. But its success proved short-lived; by the early ‘90s, various forms of electronic dance music (EDM), including house and techno, overtook electropop and synth-pop on the dancefloor and charts.
• Revival: EDM also helped revive electropop in the late 2000s. Dance music subgenres like electro house and electroclash began freely mixing dance beats and pop hooks with synthesizers. The popularity of the new subgenres gave rise to a second wave of electropop artists and inspired pop star Britney Spears, whose 2007 album, Blackout, had a strong electropop sound. Lady Gaga’s 2008 debut album, The Fame, signaled a full-fledged electropop revival. K-pop groups like Girls’ Generation carried forward the sound, along with Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and the indie-pop band Passion Pit.

Several characteristics define the electropop genre, including:

1. 1. Influences: Electropop draws upon a diverse array of musical influences. Electronic and pop music are the two primary influences, but pop-friendly hip-hop and R&B elements are also audible in its sound palette. R&B is particularly notable in electropop songs by performers like Britney Spears, Robyn, and Kylie Minogue.
2. 2. Instruments: Synthesizers and drum machines dominate electropop’s sound, though acts occasionally use traditional electric instruments like guitar and bass. Electropop artists may also employ software like sequencers or samplers.
3. 3. Sound: Some listeners conflate electro-pop and synth-pop, but their sounds are very distinct. Electro-pop has a warmth and edge to its production and recording that stands apart from synth-pop’s polished and spare sound. Electro-pop songs also have an uplifting quality drawn from their pop roots that is missing in icier, more downtempo synth-pop.

There are many notable artists in the electropop genre. Among them are:

1. 1. Calvin Harris: Scottish DJ, singer, and songwriter Calvin Harris often folds electropop into his signature blend of funky nu-disco and EDM. A Grammy and Brit Award winner, Harris entered the music history books with his 2012 album, 18 Months, which surpassed Michael Jackson for the most Top 10 singles generated by an album. Two years later, he became the first artist to place three Top 10 singles on the US Electronic/Dance chart.
2. 2. Chvrches: Like Calvin Harris, the trio Chvrches hail from Scotland and are also passionate about mixing electropop with indie pop and electronic dance in their music. Their four studio albums have consistently landed in the Top 10 on the UK and Scottish charts, while their 2015 sophomore release, Every Open Eye, cracked the US Top 10.
3. 3. Dua Lipa: Former model turned singer-songwriter Dua Lipa has taken electropop to some of its highest peaks over her career. After scoring a Top 10 US album with her self-titled 2017 debut, Dua Lipa collaborated with Calvin Harris on chart-topping 2018 single “One Kiss.” She scored worldwide success with her second LP, Future Nostalgia, which earned her a Grammy and four Top 10 singles, including “Don’t Stop Now.”
4. 4. Ladytron: The quirky English band Ladytron freely mixes rock, post-punk, and synth-pop into their infectious take on electropop. Though well-loved in the UK, their music has fared better on the US charts: Their self-titled 2019 album reached No. 10 on the US Indie chart, while 2011’s Best of 00-10 broke into the Top 20 on the dance album charts. The band has also produced remixes for artists like Christina Aguilera and Nine Inch Nails.

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