A genre that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a poppier, art-school cousin of punk rock. New wave blended synthesizers, quirky rhythms, and fashion-forward visuals, producing stars who treated image as seriously as sound. Cyndi Lauper’s early career is a textbook example: bold colors, layered outfits, and irresistible hooks delivered with theatrical flair and total confidence.