BLINDED BY THE RETRO, What sound aesthetics reminiscent of the 1980’s reveal in the personas of The Weeknd and Charli XCX
This essay examines the effect of eighties synth-pop influences on modern day pop music production. The study analyzes retro aesthetics in the music of Charli XCX and The Weeknd, with the aim to gain a deeper understanding of the effect the 1980’s have on mainstream pop music. Synthesizers, drum-machines, rhythm, vocals, effects and timbre of these songs are analyzed to reveal how retro sound aest