electroclash
what it is
electroclash is a playful, provocative dance music genre that fuses 80s synth pop and new wave with 90s techno and electronic beats. it puts personality and performance back into club music, trading techno's seriousness for humor, hooks, and theatrical showmanship.
what it sounds like
it sounds like vintage synthesizers and drum machines colliding with modern club production, cold and glossy but catchy. vocals are often deadpan, flirtatious, or processed through vocoders, delivered over punchy, retro electro rhythms.
where it came from
electroclash emerged in the late 1990s, pioneered by artists like miss kittin, fischerspooner, and dj hell's international deejay gigolos label in munich. it was a reaction against rigid techno formulas, bringing back the personality and pop sensibility of early electronic music.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make electroclash a playlist
turn these 34 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is electroclash?
electroclash is a playful, provocative dance music genre that fuses 80s synth pop and new wave with 90s techno and electronic beats. it puts personality and performance back into club music, trading techno's seriousness for humor, hooks, and theatrical showmanship. it sounds like vintage synthesizers and drum machines colliding with modern club production, cold and glossy but catchy. vocals are often deadpan, flirtatious, or processed through vocoders, delivered over punchy, retro electro rhythms.
Where did electroclash come from?
electroclash emerged in the late 1990s, pioneered by artists like miss kittin, fischerspooner, and dj hell's international deejay gigolos label in munich. it was a reaction against rigid techno formulas, bringing back the personality and pop sensibility of early electronic music.
What are good electroclash albums to start with?
Try April Mixtape 2 by Snow Strippers, Red Light - The 3rd Album by f(x), Haunted by laura les, and Light & Magic by Ladytron.
Who are some women making electroclash?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/electroclash/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making electroclash, from mainstream to underground.
artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20