5 styles
Music family
Post-Punk, New Wave & Goth
After punk: cold post-punk, stylish new wave and dark goth.
Post-punk slowed punk's energy down and cooled it, adding synths and space; darkwave and gothic rock pushed darkness and romance further.
What they share
- Melodic high-register bass
- Cold guitars and synths
- Deep baritone vocals
How to choose
- A cold city nightPost-Punk
- Synths and a dark dance floorDarkwave
- Gothic romanceGothic Rock
- Gloom in grey apartment blocksRussian Post-Punk / Doomer
- Synth-driven '80s styleNew Wave
Starter prompt
Post-punk, 135 BPM, melodic high-register bassline, chorus-drenched cold guitar, tight drum machine, deep baritone vocals, cold urban nightA general starting point for this family; swap in a specific style’s keywords for sharper results.
Side by side
| Style | Era | BPM | Mood | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Punk | Late 1970s | 90–150 | Melancholy & lonelyRebellious & boldCity night | Night drives & city walks · Memories & farewells |
| New Wave | Late 1970s–1980s | 110–150 | NostalgicGroove & energyBright & sweet | Night drives & city walks · Party & dance floor |
| Darkwave | Early 1980s | 90–130 | Dark & heavyCity nightMelancholy & lonely | Night drives & city walks · Horror & thriller |
| Gothic Rock | Late 1970s | 90–140 | Dark & heavyMystic & ritualMelancholy & lonely | Horror & thriller · Stage & idols |
| Russian Post-Punk / Doomer | 1980s · late 2010s–present | 120–150 | Dark & heavyMelancholy & lonelyCity night | Everyday & school · Night drives & city walks |
All styles
- Post-Punk
Punk opened the door; post-punk began asking what else might lie beyond it.
- New Wave
Punk energy with synth gloss: short, sharp and stylish; much of the 1980s sound starts here.
- Darkwave
Not making darkness louder, but giving loneliness a pulse it can keep up.
- Gothic Rock
Puts shadow, theatre and bodily rhythm into the same song.
Russian Post-Punk / DoomerCold drum machine, synths and a deep, flat male voice: sitting alone on the roof of a grey apartment block.