No Wave was a short-lived but influential offshoot of punk rock centered in New York City during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The term No Wave was partly a satiric wordplay rejecting the commercial elements of the then-popular New Wave genre, and also a declaration of the music's experimental nature: No Wave music belonged to no fixed style or genre.
In many ways, No Wave is not a clearly definable genre. There is, for example, no fixed harmony as in most rock music and blues music. There are some elements common to many No Wave performers, including abrasive atonal sounds, strong emphasis on repetitive rhythm, and more emphasis on mood and texture than on conventional melody. Lyrics often focused on nihilism and confrontation, or were puzzlingly abstract.
Performers classified as No Wave generally had little music style in common: Various groups drew on such disperate styles as funk, jazz, blues, heavy metal, aleatoric music and punk rock. Mars, Swans and The Static, experimented with extremely loud, droning music that was frequently characterized by repetitive drumbeats and explicitly nihilistic lyrics.
No Wave had an important impact on noise and industrial bands who formed after, like Big Black, Helmet, and Live Skull. Sonic Youth emerged from this scene by creating music-as-art that eventually reached mass audiences and critical acclaim.
In many ways, No Wave is not a clearly definable genre. There is, for example, no fixed harmony as in most rock music and blues music. There are some elements common to many No Wave performers, including abrasive atonal sounds, strong emphasis on repetitive rhythm, and more emphasis on mood and texture than on conventional melody. Lyrics often focused on nihilism and confrontation, or were puzzlingly abstract.
Performers classified as No Wave generally had little music style in common: Various groups drew on such disperate styles as funk, jazz, blues, heavy metal, aleatoric music and punk rock. Mars, Swans and The Static, experimented with extremely loud, droning music that was frequently characterized by repetitive drumbeats and explicitly nihilistic lyrics.
No Wave had an important impact on noise and industrial bands who formed after, like Big Black, Helmet, and Live Skull. Sonic Youth emerged from this scene by creating music-as-art that eventually reached mass audiences and critical acclaim.
The fact that Big Black and Sonic Youth came from this genre is alone enough reason to respect this long lost music form.
by Goobster February 17, 2005
A form of experimental rock music from the late 70s early 80s originating in the underground music scene of New York. Styles ranged from screaming girls and offbeat drums, to synthesizers and Irish men screaming about being molested in Catholic school.
Now days, no wave has a different meaning. It is music that is shittily played and uses keyboards and tries to sound as much like some band from back in the day as possible.
Now days, no wave has a different meaning. It is music that is shittily played and uses keyboards and tries to sound as much like some band from back in the day as possible.
by Dee Lauris September 30, 2004
No-wave is a genre of music that's name takes the mickey out of the stereotyping that occurs every day, mainly within the teen popular culture. An example of this stereotyping is:
Mark: what's with Matt these days he's listening to a lot of Senses Fail and Hawthorne Heights?
Mike: yeh it's all just a load of emo shit
Mark:...mmmmmmmm... so true
This stereotyping occurs because these bands, however good or bad they are, can so easily defined as a certain style. Styles such as metal, punk, classic rock,new-wave jazz, r&b and emo are commonly discussed, which actually gets REALLY annoying. So anyway, No-Wave is a name used for a hard-to-define, broad genre of music that came about in NYC late 70's-ish. Bands such as Sonic Youth, Fugazi and Helmet are commonly known as typical No-Wave bands and have been very successful because of their open minded approach to rock music.
Mark: what's with Matt these days he's listening to a lot of Senses Fail and Hawthorne Heights?
Mike: yeh it's all just a load of emo shit
Mark:...mmmmmmmm... so true
This stereotyping occurs because these bands, however good or bad they are, can so easily defined as a certain style. Styles such as metal, punk, classic rock,new-wave jazz, r&b and emo are commonly discussed, which actually gets REALLY annoying. So anyway, No-Wave is a name used for a hard-to-define, broad genre of music that came about in NYC late 70's-ish. Bands such as Sonic Youth, Fugazi and Helmet are commonly known as typical No-Wave bands and have been very successful because of their open minded approach to rock music.
by so sonic you could call it Youth May 26, 2005
by Dexterway April 08, 2017
To click, bond, or connect. To work smoothly, and well. This word originated from the idea of being on the same “wavelength” as someone.
by Hope_7 March 11, 2022
by sixsound January 04, 2016
1. TO BE AUTHENTIC, ORIGINAL & CREATIVE
2. TO STAY IN YOUR LANE & DO YOUR OWN THING
2. PAVING THE WAY FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW; OR CREATING A WAVE THAT OTHERS SEEMINGLY RIDE ON
2. TO STAY IN YOUR LANE & DO YOUR OWN THING
2. PAVING THE WAY FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW; OR CREATING A WAVE THAT OTHERS SEEMINGLY RIDE ON
> Drake's song, Portland: "Never let these niggas ride your wave"
> Ride your own wave, be yourself, ya feel me
> Ride your own wave, be yourself, ya feel me
by Bodygoalsaf May 12, 2017