Darkwave Artists You Need to Hear

If you've ever found yourself dancing alone in your room to a drum machine and a sad synth line at 2 a.m., congratulations, you're a darkwave person. Darkwave artists take the gloom of goth and put it on a dance floor, with cold synths, deep vocals and basslines that grab you by the collar.

Here's a guide to the pioneers who built the sound and the modern artists who made it huge again.

What darkwave sounds like

Darkwave is the electronic branch of goth. It came out of new wave, synthpop and post-punk in the early 1980s, especially in Europe. Expect:

• Synths and drum machines front and center.
• Deep or detached vocals, often in a language other than English.
• Big, melodic basslines, sometimes on a real bass guitar.
• A mood that's cold, romantic and danceable all at once.

It sits close to coldwave, minimal synth and post-punk, and plenty of artists move between them. Our guide to goth music genres maps out how they all connect.

The pioneers

These artists built darkwave in the 1980s and 1990s. They're the foundation for everything that came after.

Clan of Xymox

The Dutch band led by Ronny Moorings released their debut on the legendary 4AD label in 1985 and became a cornerstone of the genre. They're still making music, decades later. Start with their self-titled debut.

Xmal Deutschland

This Hamburg band mixed icy guitars, synths and Anja Huwe's commanding German vocals. Fetisch (1983) is the place to start.

Kirlian Camera

Italian veterans who have been making dark, cinematic electronic music since the early 1980s, and a big influence on the European scene.

Siglo XX

A Belgian band with a tense, driving sound that sits between post-punk and darkwave. A favorite with DJs who love deep cuts.

Asylum Party

From France's coldwave scene, Asylum Party made melancholy, jangly songs that still sound fresh today.

The Frozen Autumn

An Italian duo from the 1990s who kept darkwave romantic and synth-heavy during a decade when guitars were winning.

Want the guitar side of this era? See our list of the best goth bands.

The modern favorites

Darkwave had a massive revival in the 2010s and 2020s. Streaming, TikTok and a new wave of club nights brought these artists to a huge new audience.

Molchat Doma

The Minsk trio became a global phenomenon when "Sudno (Boris Ryzhy)," from their 2018 album Etazhi, went viral on TikTok in 2020. Their cold, Soviet-era-inspired sound and Russian vocals have since filled venues around the world. They're now based in Los Angeles.

Lebanon Hanover

Larissa Iceglass and William Maybelline formed the duo in 2010 and played their first show in Berlin. Their stark, minimal songs are modern club classics, and they're signed to the Greek label Fabrika Records.

She Past Away

Formed in Bursa, Turkey, in 2006, She Past Away sing in Turkish over driving basslines and drum machines. Their debut album Belirdi Gece (2012) brought them fans worldwide. If you've been to a goth night recently, you've danced to them.

Boy Harsher

Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller started in Savannah, Georgia, and are now based in Massachusetts. Their sound is dark, hypnotic and very danceable. In 2022 they released The Runner, an album that soundtracks their own horror short film.

Drab Majesty

The LA project of Andrew Clinco, who performs as the androgynous character Deb Demure, joined by Mona D. Shimmering guitars, synths and a very cool stage look. Start with Modern Mirror (2019).

Kælan Mikla

This Icelandic trio from Reykjavík makes eerie, witchy darkwave sung in Icelandic. Robert Smith of The Cure invited them to play the Meltdown festival he curated in London in 2018, and to his band's Hyde Park show that summer.

Twin Tribes

A duo from Brownsville, Texas, formed in 2017 by Luis Navarro and Joel Niño Jr. They mix darkwave and post-punk with a strong love of The Cure and Depeche Mode. Start with Ceremony (2019) or Pendulum (2024).

Selofan

Greek duo Joanna Pavlidou and Dimitris Pavlidis make theatrical, cold, synth-heavy music. They also run Fabrika Records, which has been home to a lot of great darkwave.

Hante.

The solo project of Paris-based musician Hélène de Thoury, who is also one half of the duo Minuit Machine. Her songs mix darkwave with powerful synth melodies.

Ultra Sunn

A Brussels duo, Sam Huge and Gaelle Souflet, who bring EBM and classic Belgian new beat energy to darkwave. Made for stomping.

Cold Cave

Wesley Eisold's project blends darkwave, synthpop and post-punk with a romantic, gloomy edge. Start with Cherish the Light Years (2011).

How to build a darkwave playlist

Want to make the perfect mix? Try this structure:

1. Open with a slow-burner: something moody from Lebanon Hanover or Kælan Mikla.
2. Build up the tempo: She Past Away, Twin Tribes, Molchat Doma.
3. Peak with the bangers: Boy Harsher, Ultra Sunn.
4. Throw in classics: Clan of Xymox or Xmal Deutschland to keep it grounded.
5. Cool down: Drab Majesty or Cold Cave to finish.

Where to hear darkwave live

• Goth and darkwave club nights: most big cities have at least one. Check socials before going.
• Festivals: Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig is the big one. Our Leipzig WGT guide explains what it's like.
• Small venue tours: many of these artists tour often, and seeing them in a small room is magic.

Keep discovering

If darkwave is your thing, you'll love our list of new goth bands and our guide to post-punk bands, which covers the guitar side of the same family.

And if you want to swap recommendations, Alt Chat is full of goth and darkwave fans. Every profile can have an Anthem, so you can find someone whose profile plays a She Past Away song and start the conversation right there.

FAQ

What is darkwave music?

Darkwave is the synth-driven, electronic side of goth. It grew out of new wave and post-punk in the 1980s and features drum machines, cold synths, deep vocals and danceable rhythms.

Who are the most popular darkwave artists right now?

Molchat Doma, Lebanon Hanover, She Past Away, Boy Harsher, Drab Majesty and Twin Tribes are some of the biggest modern names, and many of them tour worldwide. Kælan Mikla and Selofan are also scene favorites.

What's the difference between darkwave and synthwave?

Synthwave is retro, neon and inspired by '80s movie soundtracks and video games. Darkwave is rooted in goth and post-punk, so it's moodier, colder and usually has vocals with a gothic feel.