Advertisement
Photo credit: Mariah Hamilton
__________________________________________________________________________________
The 1980s marked one of the most emotionally charged and sonically adventurous periods in alternative pop history. Bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode, New Order, and The Smiths reshaped popular music by pairing shimmering synths, chorus-washed guitars, and minimalist drum machines with deeply introspective lyrics. It was a decade where vulnerability met danceability — where heartbreak, longing, and existential reflection filled club floors as easily as they filled headphones.
These bands didn’t just write songs; they built emotional atmospheres. The Cure turned melancholy into cinematic beauty. Depeche Mode fused electronic innovation with spiritual and romantic tension. New Order blurred the line between post-punk and synth-pop, creating anthems that still echo through indie dance nights today. The Smiths, driven by poetic lyricism and jangly guitar work, gave a generation permission to feel openly and intensely.
The Modern Revival: Synths, Sincerity, and Emotional Storytelling
Modern alternative pop artists are revisiting the sonic textures of the ’80s while reframing them through contemporary themes of identity, mental health, empowerment, and digital-age relationships.
Bands like The 1975 embrace glossy synth production and introspective lyricism reminiscent of New Order and The Smiths. CHVRCHES carry forward Depeche Mode’s electronic pulse, combining soaring choruses with emotionally transparent songwriting. Meanwhile, MUNA channel the dance-floor catharsis of the ’80s while layering it with modern narratives of self-discovery and resilience.
Among these contemporary voices is GRAE, a Toronto-based alt-pop artist whose music captures the dreamy, nostalgic essence of new wave while remaining distinctly modern. Her shimmering production, melodic hooks, and emotionally candid lyrics reflect the spirit of the 1980s without imitation. Like her predecessors, GRAE uses pop structures to explore vulnerability — heartbreak, growth, memory, and self-reflection — crafting songs that feel both intimate and expansive.
Honest Lyrics and the Power of Nostalgia
What made the 1980s alternative scene so powerful was its emotional transparency. Beneath the synthesizers and reverb-drenched guitars were confessions — about love, alienation, faith, insecurity, and hope. The music industry during that era allowed space for experimentation and emotional risk-taking. It was a time when artists could be theatrical yet deeply personal, mainstream yet unconventional.
Today’s artists are tapping back into that balance. In an age dominated by fast content and fleeting trends, many modern alt-pop musicians are leaning into sincerity. Their lyrics feel diaristic. Their soundscapes feel intentional. Nostalgia is not just aesthetic — it’s emotional. The best of today’s revivalists aren’t merely borrowing vintage synth tones; they are reviving a mindset: that pop music can be vulnerable, poetic, and sonically adventurous all at once.
For listeners, this resurgence feels like rediscovering some of the best days in the music industry — when melodies lingered, lyrics mattered, and songs became emotional landmarks in people’s lives. The modern wave doesn’t replace the 1980s; it extends its legacy.
From The Cure’s moody romanticism to GRAE’s shimmering alt-pop confessionals, the thread remains the same: honesty never goes out of style, and nostalgia — when paired with innovation — continues to move generations forward.
Guitar Thrills Perspective
From a Guitar Thrills perspective, what first drew our attention to GRAE was the unmistakable pulse of 1980s alternative running through her sound. We’ve long championed the emotional depth and atmosphere crafted by bands like The Cure, New Order, Depeche Mode, and The Smiths — artists who fused shimmering instrumentation with deeply personal lyricism. In GRAE’s music, we hear that same balance of mood and melody: the glow of synth textures, the lift of a hook that lingers, and an emotional undercurrent that feels raw and unfiltered.
What resonates most is her ability to channel nostalgia without imitation. The alternative bands of the ’80s mastered the art of pairing danceable rhythms with introspection — making heartbreak cinematic and vulnerability anthemic. GRAE captures that tension beautifully. Her songs feel spacious yet intimate, bright yet reflective, echoing the emotional contrasts that made that era so influential. There’s a sincerity in her writing that mirrors the confessional tone that once defined the underground-to-mainstream crossover of alternative pop.
For us, GRAE represents a continuation of that legacy. She embodies the honesty, atmosphere, and melodic craftsmanship that defined some of the best days in the music industry — when lyrics mattered as much as production and when feeling something deeply was the point. In her work, we don’t just hear 80s influence; we hear a modern artist carrying that spirit forward with authenticity and heart.
ABOUT GRAE
GRAE is a Canadian alt-pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, Ontario, known for blending nostalgic 1980s new-wave influences with modern indie pop. She began writing songs at a young age, using music as a creative outlet for personal experiences and self-expression. GRAE first gained attention with her 2019 debut EP New Girl, followed by Permanent Maniac, which expanded her audience and showcased her emotionally honest lyrics and catchy melodies. In 2022, she released her debut full-length album Whiplash, further establishing her signature dreamy yet energetic sound. With millions of streams, playlist features, and growing international recognition, GRAE continues to emerge as a distinctive voice in contemporary alternative pop music.
INTERVIEW WITH GRAE AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: Many listeners hear echoes of 1980s alternative in your sound. Which artists or bands from that era have influenced you the most?
GRAE: The Cure, without question. I honestly think hearing them for the first time changed me as a human being. I will never forget sitting in my living room as a teenager and hearing “Just Like Heaven.” It felt like my entire world shifted in that moment. I dove deep into their discography after that, and what struck me most was Robert Smith’s ability to articulate sadness and inner reflection in a way that felt like poetry. I had never experienced that kind of emotional resonance from a band before. His lyricism and the emotional atmosphere they created influenced me greatly, especially during the Permanent Maniac and Whiplash era of my own music.
Guitar Thrills: Bands like The Cure and New Order mastered the balance between melancholy and melody. How do you approach creating that emotional contrast in your own music?
GRAE: It is not something I consciously try to do. My emotional state at the time shapes everything. If I am in a darker or more melancholic place, the melodies naturally reflect that. They might feel slower or build gradually, almost like an emotional release unfolding over time. If I am in a happier or more energized state, that inspires songs like “Permanent Maniac” or “All I Wanna Do Is Scream I Love You” where the energy is immediate and upbeat. So the contrast between melancholy and melody is instinctual for me. It is simply a reflection of where I am emotionally when I am writing.
Guitar Thrills: The 80s alternative scene was known for honest, vulnerable lyricism. How important is emotional transparency in your songwriting process?
GRAE: It is everything. I take my songwriting seriously, and I feel like it is my duty to be emotionally honest. I have always said I want my music to feel like a friend to someone, something they can lean on during a hard day. If I am honest about my own darkness, sadness, heartbreak, or confusion, maybe someone else can feel less alone in theirs. Sometimes people are afraid to say certain things out loud, and I feel like I can advocate for those feelings through my songs. Writing is therapy for me. I don’t want to lie to myself in my art, because how can you truly move on or fully process something if you are not honest with yourself first?
Guitar Thrills: When you are building a track, do you start with atmosphere, like a synth texture or guitar tone, or with a lyrical idea?
GRAE: Almost always with lyrics. Sometimes I walk in with a fully formed idea, and sometimes it is just a song title that feels compelling and I build from there. Words can be difficult to articulate in everyday conversation, but songwriting feels different. It is as if everything I could not quite say suddenly finds its way into melody and structure. I do not always know how it happens. It just naturally comes together. For me, everything begins with what I need to express. The production and atmosphere come afterward to support that emotional core.
Guitar Thrills: There is a nostalgic quality in your music that feels both retro and modern. How do you avoid sounding derivative while still honoring your influences?
GRAE: I never go into the studio trying to imitate anyone. Of course I am inspired by The Cure. Certain tempos, emotional tones, or atmospheric elements might inspire me, but it is never about copying. What makes a Grae song a Grae song comes down to my voice, the harmonies I am drawn to, the way I phrase things, and most importantly, my lived experiences. I cannot copy Robert Smith because I have not lived his life. My perspective, my heartbreak, and my nostalgia are uniquely mine. Influence is natural. Individuality comes from truth.
Guitar Thrills: Artists like Depeche Mode blended electronic elements with emotional depth. How do you strike that balance between production and storytelling?
GRAE: Production is an emotional tool. It can make something feel intimate, explosive, fragile, or intense. Sometimes stripping production back allows the lyrics to breathe and the vocal to feel more vulnerable. Other times layering instrumentation can make a song feel bigger and more overwhelming in the best way. I always want the production to reflect or amplify the emotional core of the song. It is not separate from the storytelling. It is part of it.
Guitar Thrills: What role does nostalgia play in your creative process? Is it something intentional, or does it naturally emerge?
GRAE: I always say if nostalgia were a disease, I’d be dying from it. It’s genuinely just who I am. I tend to romanticize the past, even moments that might not have felt perfect when I was living them. I see things through rose colored glasses in hindsight. That part of me absolutely fuels my creativity. Nostalgia sparks ideas, melodies, and lyrics constantly. It is not something I force. It naturally emerges because it is woven into my personality.
Guitar Thrills: The alternative bands of the 80s often turned vulnerability into anthems. Do you see your music as cathartic for listeners?
GRAE: I know for a fact my music is cathartic for me. I have had listeners tell me they were listening to my music during some of the darkest moments of their lives, which is both heart wrenching and beautiful. I have a fan I call one of my Permanent Maniacs named Ashley who told me how much “Forget You” meant to her and even tattooed the lyrics. Moments like that are surreal. Music has always gotten me through hard times, so if my honesty can do that for someone else, that means everything to me.
Guitar Thrills: How do you translate the layered, atmospheric feel of your recordings into a live setting?
GRAE: Right now I perform with a full band, myself on guitar, bass, another guitarist, and drums, along with some tracks. Beyond the instrumentation, when I sing these songs live, I am brought right back to the moment I wrote them. Even songs from years ago can feel incredibly present because sometimes I am living through similar emotions again. That energy does not disappear. I think audiences can feel that it is not just a performance, it is me reliving and reprocessing those moments in real time. I also love extending certain parts and building audience participation into the set. It keeps the emotion alive.
Guitar Thrills: If you could collaborate with any 80s alternative artist, who would it be and why, and what kind of song would you want to create together?
GRAE: It would absolutely be Robert Smith. I would love to create something that captures that signature 80s melancholy, reflective, poetic, and emotionally deep, while also blending both of our perspectives in a way that feels fresh and unexpected. “Just Like Heaven” inspired “Permanent Maniac,” so creating something that carries that nostalgic magic while merging our worlds would feel like a full circle moment.
Conclusion
In speaking with GRAE, what becomes clear is that her connection to 1980s alternative music goes beyond sonic influence — it’s rooted in mindset. Like The Cure, New Order, and Depeche Mode, she understands that atmosphere and honesty must coexist. The shimmer of synths, the pulse beneath the melody, and the emotional weight of a lyric all work together to create something lasting.
GRAE represents a new generation of artists who aren’t simply reviving the sound of the ’80s but reinterpreting its emotional courage for today. Her music reminds us that some of the best moments in the industry came from artists who weren’t afraid to feel deeply and say so out loud. In carrying that spirit forward, she proves that nostalgia isn’t about looking back — it’s about building something meaningful from what once moved us most.
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Download Digital Copy 
