Welcome to 80s New Wave Music, a growing documentary archive dedicated to the music that shaped my life.
Here I explore the world of early 1980s New Wave, Synthpop and the New Romantic movement, with a particular focus on the pioneering UK scene and the artists, albums and songs that defined it.
These documentaries combine careful research, musical analysis and, where it feels natural, my own memories of discovering this music as a teenager and why it has stayed with me for more than forty years.
Rather than simply telling the history, I want to understand what made this music so unique, why it still resonates today and why it continues to inspire listeners around the world.
Whether you've loved this music for decades or you're discovering it for the first time, I hope you'll enjoy the journey and share your own memories in the comments.
80s New Wave Music
NOW ONLINE: RYUICHI SAKAMOTO - PART ONE
My new documentary, Ryuichi Sakamoto: The Story of a Musical Visionary | Part One, is now available to watch.
This film takes me slightly outside the usual UK focus of the channel, but Sakamoto's connections to that musical world run surprisingly deep. Beginning with Yellow Magic Orchestra, the story follows his electronic experimentation and solo work, his collaborations with David Sylvian and Japan, and the unexpected journey that led to Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and "Forbidden Colours".
This isn't intended as a Yellow Magic Orchestra documentary. The focus is firmly on Sakamoto himself and the extraordinary curiosity that continually took his music in new directions.
Part Two will continue his story and move further into Sakamoto's remarkable life as a composer.
I hope you enjoy Part One. 😊
Where did you first discover Ryuichi Sakamoto, and which period of his music means the most to you?
22 hours ago | [YT] | 10
View 2 replies
80s New Wave Music
NEW MUSIC VIDEO: THE ORIGINS
I've just released The Origins, an original electronic composition I initially wrote as the background score for my documentary The REAL Origins of Synthpop (Before the Genre Even Existed).
The music was strongly inspired by Kraftwerk and the pioneering electronic sounds of the period, but is entirely composed and produced by me.
For this standalone version I've kept the original documentary visuals, so while the music now takes centre stage, the video still takes you on a journey through the pioneers and technology that helped shape electronic music, from Wendy Carlos and the early synthesizers to Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, Daniel Miller and the artists who followed.
And yes, that's Gary Numan looking rather magnificent on the thumbnail. 😊
I hope you enjoy The Origins.
Who would you consider the most important pioneer in the development of electronic music?
4 days ago | [YT] | 27
View 0 replies
80s New Wave Music
🎬 Watch Ryuichi Sakamoto Part One Now - Early Access
The new Ryuichi Sakamoto documentary is finished, and it's now available to watch on Patreon almost a week before its public release.
www.patreon.com/80sNewWaveMusic/posts/early-access…
Ryuichi Sakamoto: The Story of a Musical Visionary | Part One follows his journey from Yellow Magic Orchestra through experimental solo work, his collaborations with David Sylvian and Japan, and the remarkable story behind Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and "Forbidden Colours".
Paying Patreon members can watch it now as part of their membership. For anyone else who would simply like to see the documentary early, I've also made it available as a one-off $5 early access purchase.
Thank you, as always, for supporting 80s New Wave Music and helping me continue making these documentaries. 😊
6 days ago | [YT] | 35
View 0 replies
80s New Wave Music
COMING SOON: Ryuichi Sakamoto: The Story of a Musical Visionary | Part One
I'm currently working on the first part of a two-part documentary about one of the most remarkable and versatile musicians of his generation, Ryuichi Sakamoto.
This one takes me slightly outside the usual UK and early 80s focus of the channel, but for a very good reason. Sakamoto's connection to the music I normally cover runs surprisingly deep. His work crossed paths with Japan and David Sylvian, while Yellow Magic Orchestra became an important part of the electronic landscape that was developing alongside British new wave and synthpop. And quite simply, Sakamoto is a musician whose influence reaches far beyond nationality or genre.
Part One begins with Yellow Magic Orchestra and follows Sakamoto as he moves into increasingly experimental solo work, his collaborations with David Sylvian and Japan, and the unexpected journey that led to Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and "Forbidden Colours".
It's a story about a musician who never seemed interested in staying within boundaries, whether musical, cultural or technological.
What part of Ryuichi Sakamoto's musical life means the most to you, and where did you first discover his music?
1 week ago | [YT] | 137
View 8 replies
80s New Wave Music
My new documentary is now available!
Landscape are probably best remembered for Einstein A Go-Go, but behind that memorable hit was a fascinating British band with roots in jazz, a fiercely independent approach, and an early fascination with electronic music technology.
In this new video, I look back at the story of Landscape, from their beginnings in the 1970s to their transformation into an electronic pop band, chart success and eventual legacy.
For some of you this may bring back memories, while for others Landscape might be a new discovery. I hope you enjoy their story.
1 week ago | [YT] | 13
View 0 replies
80s New Wave Music
What a brilliant interview!
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 7
View 0 replies
80s New Wave Music
A new documentary is on the way!
Most people remember Landscape for Einstein A Go-Go, but there was so much more to this remarkable British band.
Long before electronic music became mainstream, Landscape were experimenting with computer sequencing, electronic drums and some of the latest music technology available, while combining it with exceptional musicianship and a sound that was entirely their own.
My next documentary explores the band's fascinating history, from their jazz roots to their chart success and lasting legacy.
What are your memories of Landscape? Was Einstein A Go-Go your introduction to the band, or did you discover them another way?
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 118
View 14 replies
80s New Wave Music
NEW MUSIC RELEASE
When I produce my documentaries, I also compose all of the background music myself.
I've now released the instrumental track from my latest Rediscovering documentary about Yazoo's Situation on Bandcamp. It's my own retro-inspired reinterpretation of this classic 12-inch single, recorded entirely from scratch with no AI, original recordings or samples.
If you enjoyed the music throughout the documentary, you can listen to the full version here:
80snewwavemusic.bandcamp.com/track/yazoo-situation…
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 28
View 0 replies
80s New Wave Music
NEW VIDEO
Why has one remix stayed with me for more than forty years?
In this new Rediscovering documentary, I explore François Kevorkian's remarkable remix of Yazoo's Situation. But this is much more than the story of a remix. It's also about hearing it for the first time on the dancefloor at Copenhagen's legendary Club Nice, and discovering how a great 12-inch single can completely transform the way we experience music.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 13
View 0 replies
80s New Wave Music
New Music Video
When I made my documentary about Japan's Tin Drum, I composed this piece as one of the background tracks.
Several viewers asked if they could hear it on its own, so I decided to release it as a standalone music video.
Visions of Silence is an original composition inspired by the atmosphere and mood of one of my favourite albums.
I hope you enjoy it.
#80snewwave #Japan #OriginalMusic
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 19
View 0 replies
Load more