Synthwave splits into upbeat and dark camps, both evoking the 1980s aesthetic

Synthwave is an umbrella genre drawing primary influence from 1980s movies and video games, characterized by 80s drums with massive reverb, filter-sweeping analog synths, and pulsating basslines. It contains many named subgenres (Vaporwave, Outrun, Retrowave, Chillwave, Dreamwave, Darksynth) — some interchangeable, some umbrella terms. A practical categorization splits them into two broad camps: upbeat (heavy 80s nostalgia, organic feel) and dark (heavier, more aggressive). The genre’s signature visual is a neon-magenta arcade aesthetic. Because Synthwave is a heavily coded genre where every sound must fit the era, choosing a specific camp and a reference track before producing constrains sound choices and speeds decisions.

Examples

Upbeat: The Midnight (Nocturnal album — Shadows, Souvenir). Dark: Perturbator, Carpenter Brut. Outrun is often used as an umbrella for driving/racing-themed Synthwave.

Assessment

Name three Synthwave subgenres and describe one production or aesthetic difference between upbeat and dark Synthwave. Choose a reference track and identify which camp it belongs to.