Synthwave is a retro-inspired genre of electronic music and visual culture that looks back to the sounds and popular imagery of the 1980s. Its musical roots are associated with synthesizers, drum machines, and the dramatic, cinematic feel of electronic film soundtracks from that era. The wider aesthetic often combines nostalgia for early digital culture with futuristic themes, imagining the future through a distinctly retro lens. Synthwave can range from bright, energetic electronic pop to darker, more atmospheric moods, while retaining its connection to synthesized sound and 1980s-inspired style.