The Blindboy Podcast A history of the synthesiser in pop music with Martyn Ware
11 snips
Mar 31, 2026 
Martyn Ware, founding member of The Human League and Heaven 17 and a pioneer of synth-based pop, shares stories from Sheffield to studio. He recalls Kraftwerk and Eno influences, the shift from live shows to video, early synth tech and studio tricks, and how environment and politics shaped music. Short, vivid anecdotes trace the birth of synth pop and its wider cultural impact.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Use Music To Recover From Burnout
- Use creative flow as a recovery tool for neurodivergent burnout by engaging in hours-long solitary music-making to restore executive function.
- Blindboy describes two hours of synthesizer playing as enough to regain focus, confidence, and ability to handle daily tasks.
How Sheffield DIY Culture Invented Synth Pop
- Martyn Ware helped pioneer synth-pop by using cheap accessible synths and studio experimentation in Sheffield's DIY scene rather than waiting for elite instruments.
- He and Phil Oakey learned from middle-class record collections, BBC Radiophonic Workshop visits, and early affordable synths like the Korg 700S.
Use Video To Reach Audiences Without Touring Debt
- Prefer recording and video innovation over costly touring when starting out; make videos to service global audiences and avoid debt from constant roadwork.
- Martyn says MTV-era videos let them reach territories simultaneously without touring expenses.