🎧 15 Artists M83 Fans Should Hear Next

a large group of people at a concert

What are some similar artists to M83 that fans of synth pop music might enjoy? Start with CHVRCHES for sparkling hooks, The Midnight for neon-lit synthwave, Beach House for dreamy atmosphere, and Tycho for cinematic instrumentals. They don’t copy M83’s sound; they each capture a different part of its magic.

We’ve found that the best next listen depends on which M83 you love: the rush of “Midnight City,” the slow emotional swell of “Wait,” or the hazy textures of Digital Shades Vol. 1. Pick your favorite mood, and you’ll have a much better compass than simply searching for “bands that sound like M83.”

Key Takeaways

  • For catchy synth pop: Try CHVRCHES, Passion Pit, or The Naked and Famous.
  • For nostalgic night-drive sounds: Start with The Midnight, Kavinsky, or College.
  • For dreamy atmosphere: Explore Beach House, Washed Out, or Chromatics.
  • For cinematic instrumentals: Give Tycho or Tim Hecker a listen.
  • There’s no single M83 clone: The closest match depends on whether you love the hooks, nostalgia, dreamy vocals, or expansive soundscapes.

Table of Contents

⚡ Quick Tips and Facts: Finding Your Next M83 Fix

The first thing we’d ask is: which M83 are you chasing? The neon rush of “Midnight City,” the slow-motion emotion of “Wait,” and the hazy instrumental drift of Digital Shades Vol. 1 all point toward different musical neighborhoods. Start with our M83 artist guide, then use the mood map below to find your next listen.

If you love… Try… Start with…
Huge, glossy synth-pop hooks CHVRCHES, The Naked and Famous “The Mother We Share,” “Young Blood”
Night-drive synthwave The Midnight, Kavinsky, College “Sunset,” “Nightcall,” “A Real Hero”
Dreamy, hazy atmosphere Beach House, Washed Out, Air “Myth,” “Eyes Be Closed,” “La femme d’argent”
Cinematic builds and instrumental space Tycho, Tim Hecker “Awake,” “Virgins”
Playful, high-energy electronic pop Passion Pit, Empire of the Sun “Sleepyhead,” “Walking on a Dream”
Shadowy, intimate electrop Purity Ring, Chromatics “Fineshrine,” “Cherry”

A useful distinction: similar doesn’t always mean sonically identical. Some artists share M83’s synth textures; others share the scale, nostalgia, or sense of building toward a movie-sized moment. For more synth-forward listening, browse our modern synth pop and 80s synth pop guides.

  • ✅ For pop songs first: CHVRCHES, Passion Pit, The Naked and Famous.
  • ✅ For cinematic nostalgia: The Midnight, College, Kavinsky.
  • ✅ For dream-pop haze: Beach House, Washed Out, Air.
  • ✅ For instrumental atmosphere: Tycho, Tim Hecker, M83’s own Digital Shades Vol. 1.
  • ❌ Don’t expect every recommendation to sound like “Midnight City.” M83’s range is unusually wide; a band can match one side and miss another completely.

🌌 M83’s Sound: Dream Pop, Synth Pop, and Cinematic ‘80s Nostalgia

M83’s music is a meeting point for synth pop, dream pop, shoegaze, ambient electronics, and widescreen indie rock. The result can feel like an ‘80s coming-of-age film remembered through a fogy window: bright synthesizers up front, a soft-focus vocal, and then a drum hit big enough to shake the credits loose.

The band’s official M83 discography makes the range easy to hear across albums. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming leans into expansive pop, while Digital Shades Vol. 1 is more ambient and instrumental. Saturdays=Youth offers a particularly good middle ground, pairing nostalgic synths with accessible songwriting.

The ingredients that make an artist “M83-like”

M83 quality What it sounds like Artists to try
Big, glowing synths Bright chords, arpeggios, and broad electronic textures CHVRCHES, The Midnight
Dream-pop blur Reverb-softened vocals and guitars that feel like part of the atmosphere Beach House, Chromatics
Cinematic build A small idea gradually swells into an emotional climax Tycho, Tim Hecker
Nostalgic ‘80s color Retro drum sounds, synth bass, and night-drive moods College, Kavinsky
Pop songwriting inside the haze Memorable choruses with plenty of space around them Passion Pit, The Naked and Famous

That cinematic quality can matter more than the specific synth patch. In a Beats Per Minute discussion of M83, Colin Joyce describes M83 and Tim Hecker as working in “entirely different realms” while sharing a cinematic approach: music that opens up a space and creates a world. That’s a helpful distinction. Hecker isn’t a straightforward synth-pop substitute, but his work may click if what you love is M83’s sense of scale and immersion.

🎧 15 Similar Artists to M83 for Synth-Pop Fans


Video: You & Me Always 💜 Synthpop Mix | ft. CHVRCHES, M83, The Weeknd, Future Islands + More.








These recommendations cover catchy synth-pop, dream pop, synthwave, French electronic music, and ambient soundscapes. We’ve included a first-track suggestion for each, because an artist’s most famous song isn’t always the best doorway into their sound.

1. CHVRCHES: Bright Synth Hooks and Big Choruses

Best for: fans of M83’s pop songwriting and bright electronic lift.

Scottish band CHVRCHES favors crisp production, strong melodic hooks, and prominent synthesizers. They’re more direct and compact than M83’s most sprawling tracks, but they share the knack for making electronic pop feel emotionally oversized. Start with “The Mother We Share” or “Clearest Blue.” For more female-fronted electronic pop, explore our female synth-pop artists guide.

  • You’ll like: Immediate choruses and polished synth arrangements.
  • Difference: Less shoegaze haze; more sharply defined pop structure.
  • Try first: “The Mother We Share.”

2. The Midnight: Neon-Soaked Synthwave

Best for: the night-driving, nostalgic side of “Midnight City.”

The Midnight build songs from retro synths, saxophone color, glowing melodies, and cinematic longing. Their sound sits closer to synthwave than M83’s shifting indie-electronic blend, but fans looking for neon-lit nostalgia should feel at home. The band’s official site is a good place to explore their releases.

  • You’ll like: Big atmosphere and a strong sense of place.
  • Difference: More deliberately retro and genre-specific.
  • Try first: “Sunset.”

3. Empire of the Sun: Psychedelic Electrop Spectacle

Best for: colorful hooks, theatrical delivery, and eccentric electronic pop.

Empire of the Sun turn synth-pop into a technicolor spectacle. Their music is often more playful and stylized than M83’s, but both acts know how to make a pop song feel like it’s happening on a giant screen. Start with “Walking on a Dream” for the instant hook, then try “We Are the People” for a softer, more wistful mood.

  • You’ll like: Big melodies and vivid production.
  • Difference: More theatrical, with a stronger glam-pop streak.
  • Try first: “We Are the People.”

4. Purity Ring: Dreamy, Shadowy Electrop

Best for: listeners who like M83’s softer, stranger, more atmospheric moments.

Purity Ring combine delicate vocals, intricate electronic production, and a shadowy dream-pop mood. They’re more intimate and beat-driven than M83, but the enveloping production can scratch a similar itch. The duo’s releases and background are available through 4AD.

  • You’ll like: Strange, beautiful textures and hushed vocals.
  • Difference: More minimal, darker, and less stadium-sized.
  • Try first: “Fineshrine.”

5. Beach House: Hazy Dream Pop Atmosphere

Best for: M83 fans who want the dream-pop haze more than the dance beat.

Beach House are built around soft-focus vocals, keyboard textures, and slow-burning songs. They don’t chase M83’s maximal electronic rush; instead, they let the atmosphere do the heavy lifting. Their official site is a useful starting point for albums and tour information.

  • You’ll like: Immersive, patient songs with a dreamy pull.
  • Difference: More restrained and less overtly electronic.
  • Try first: “Myth.”

6. Washed Out: Warm Chillwave and Nostalgia

Best for: soft-focus synths and gently sunlit nostalgia.

Washed Out’s chillwave sound leans into blured vocals, relaxed rhythms, and warm electronic textures. The music is less dramatic than M83, but it shares a fondness for atmosphere and memory-soaked production. Visit Washed Out’s official site for releases and news.

  • You’ll like: Easygoing, hazy electronic pop.
  • Difference: More relaxed; fewer explosive crescendos.
  • Try first: “Eyes Be Closed.”

7. College: Retro Electronic Soundtracks

Best for: instrumental synth nostalgia and soundtrack-like moods.

French producer College is an inviting pick for listeners who want retro electronic melodies without needing a vocal hook. The track “A Real Hero,” made with Electric Youth, has a cool, cinematic restraint that contrasts nicely with M83’s larger emotional swells. Find College releases through Bandcamp.

  • You’ll like: Clean retro synths and filmic atmosphere.
  • Difference: More minimal and soundtrack-oriented.
  • Try first: “A Real Hero” with Electric Youth.

8. Kavinsky: Dark, Cinematic Synthwave

Best for: the cool, nocturnal side of retro electronic music.

Kavinsky’s synthwave is darker, more driving, and more overtly soundtrack-inspired than much of M83’s catalog. “Nightcall” is an obvious entry point, but its slow-burn mood is a useful reminder that cinematic doesn’t have to mean huge and loud. Explore his music through Kavinsky’s official site.

  • You’ll like: Moody night-drive energy and retro electronic production.
  • Difference: More focused on synthwave’s ‘80s film language.
  • Try first: “Nightcall.”

9. Tycho: Expansive Instrumental Electronica

Best for: atmospheric builds without a big vocal centerpiece.

Tycho make melodic, spacious instrumental electronic music that can appeal to the listener who treasures M83’s wordless passages and cinematic arcs. The sound is generally cleaner and more serene than M83’s denser, shoegaze-tinged work. Explore the Tycho discography.

  • You’ll like: Layered instrumentals, warm production, and steady momentum.
  • Difference: More relaxed and less dramatic.
  • Try first: “Awake.”

10. Air: Elegant French Electronic Pop

Best for: refined electronic textures and dreamy French pop.

Air offer a more understated, elegant, and softly surreal take on electronic pop. Their approach is less explosive than M83’s, but the space, tone, and melodic patience make them an excellent neighboring listen. The Air official site is the home base for their catalog.

  • You’ll like: Warm keyboards and sophisticated, unhuried arrangements.
  • Difference: More lounge-like and less guitar-heavy.
  • Try first: “La femme d’argent.”

11. The Naked and Famous: Euphoric Indie Electrop

Best for: big indie-electronic choruses and emotional release.

The Naked and Famous fuse indie-rock energy with synth-pop brightness. Their breakout track “Young Blood” carries the kind of collective, arms-in-the-air lift that often brings people to M83 in the first place. Browse the band’s official site.

  • You’ll like: Sweping choruses and energetic arrangements.
  • Difference: More band-oriented and less ambient.
  • Try first: “Young Blood.”

12. Passion Pit: Playful, High-Energy Synth Pop

Best for: buoyant melodies and densely layered pop production.

Passion Pit deliver bright synths, high-pitched vocals, and restless pop energy. They’re less cinematic than M83, but their arrangements can be gloriously packed, like someone let a confetti cannon loose inside a keyboard shop. Start with “Sleepyhead” or “Take a Walk,” and explore the band’s releases via Frenchkiss Records.

  • You’ll like: Busy, catchy songs with plenty of color.
  • Difference: More playful and rhythmically restless.
  • Try first: “Sleepyhead.”

13. MGMT: Psychedelic Indie Pop and Synths

Best for: synth pop with a psychedelic, unpredictable edge.

MGMT move between earworm pop, oddball psychedelia, and reflective electronic rock. The connection to M83 is less about identical sounds and more about a willingness to make pop feel surreal and emotionally expansive. The band’s official site provides album and tour information.

  • You’ll like: Catchy melodies with a left-field streak.
  • Difference: More eccentric and less consistently dream-pop oriented.
  • Try first: “Electric Feel.”

14. Chromatics: Dreamy, Nocturnal Synth Pop

Best for: slow, shadowy synth pop with a cinematic feel.

Chromatics pair cool vocals, patient beats, and dusky synthesizers. Their mood is often more nocturnal and restrained than M83’s, making them a strong fit for fans who like the melancholic side of “Wait” or “Kim & Jessie.” Check the group’s catalog and label updates through Italians Do It Better.

  • You’ll like: Slow-burn electronic pop and mody atmosphere.
  • Difference: More subdued and less likely to erupt into a huge climax.
  • Try first: “Cherry.”

15. The Japanese House: Intimate, Atmospheric Electrop

Best for: reflective songwriting wrapped in soft electronic production.

The Japanese House make intimate, layered pop with synth textures, processed vocals, and a hazy emotional center. It’s a smaller-scale sound than M83’s most monumental tracks, but the dreamy production and melodic detail make a natural bridge. Explore releases through The Japanese House’s official site.

  • You’ll like: Close-up vocals and thoughtful, atmospheric arrangements.
  • Difference: More personal and less cinematic in scale.
  • Try first: “Saw You in a Dream.”

🔎 Choose Your Next Listen by M83 Mood

Your M83 reference point What you may be looking for Try these artists
“Midnight City” Neon synths, punchy rhythm, big melodic payoff The Midnight, Kavinsky, CHVRCHES
“Wait” or “Outro” Slow builds, emotional release, widescreen atmosphere Tycho, Beach House, Tim Hecker
“Kim & Jessie” Dreamy indie-pop vocals and nostalgic songwriting The Naked and Famous, Chromatics, The Japanese House
“Teen Angst” Dense guitars, shoegaze blur, rising intensity Beach House, Tycho, Tim Hecker
Digital Shades Vol. 1 Ambient drift and instrumental immersion Tim Hecker, Tycho, Air

For the “Midnight City” Rush: Huge Hooks and Saxophone Energy

Try The Midnight first if you want neon nostalgia with a big chorus, then Kavinsky if you prefer a darker, more soundtrack-like drive. CHVRCHES are the better choice when the hook matters more than the retro styling.

A listener on the ResetEra “Midnight City” recommendation thread is asking the same essential question many fans ask: what comes after that instantly recognizable synth rush? The page currently presents a security-verification screen, so we can’t responsibly attribute any specific recommendations or quotes to its posters. Our picks here are based on the artists’ released music, not on unseen forum comments.

For “Wait” and “Outro”: Slow-Building, Emotional Soundscapes

For patient, atmospheric listening, try Tycho for melodic instrumentals, Beach House for dream-pop intimacy, and Tim Hecker for more abstract sound design. These aren’t interchangeable: Tycho is the most approachable, Beach House the most song-centered, and Hecker the most challenging.

For “Kim & Jessie”: Dreamy Indie-Pop Storytelling

If the vocal melody and nostalgic songwriting matter most, start with The Naked and Famous, Chromatics, or The Japanese House. Each keeps the song in focus, but the emotional temperature differs: euphoric, nocturnal, and intimate, respectively.

For Instrumental, Cinematic, and Ambient Moods

M83’s ambient side deserves its own lane. Digital Shades Vol. 1 is often described as drone-heavy and enveloping in the Beats Per Minute discussion; the trade-off is that some listeners may find it more like a sequence of atmospheric interludes than a set of conventional songs.

That discussion also compares M83’s “Birds” from Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts to a Tim Hecker piece with its vocal sample removed. Treat that as a critical comparison, not a claim that the artists sound alike. Hecker’s music is much more abstract, but his spatial, cinematic approach may appeal if you love M83’s atmosphere more than its pop hooks.

The abstract visualizer for “Xoh” by Xoh, featured in the article video, is a very different kind of visual world: neon pink symmetry, shimmering particles, a blue horned creature, and a circular equalizer motif. It’s a useful reminder that electronic music’s atmosphere can come from visual imagination as much as from retro synths.

✨ Where to Go After “Midnight City”: A Starter Listening Path

Here’s a simple, low-pressure route for listeners who know “Midnight City” but haven’t explored much beyond it. Take it in order, or skip straight to the sound you already know you want.

  1. Start with The Midnight’s “Sunset.” It keeps the night-drive nostalgia but leans harder into synthwave.
  2. Follow with CHVRCHES’ “The Mother We Share.” This shifts the focus to clean, immediate synth-pop songwriting.
  3. Try College and Electric Youth’s “A Real Hero.” The arrangement is cooler and more restrained, with a distinctly cinematic feel.
  4. Move into Beach House’s “Myth.” The synth rush gives way to dream-pop atmosphere.
  5. Finish with Tycho’s “Awake.” You get melodic electronic momentum without a vocal-led chorus.

Why this sequence? It starts close to the bright, hooky part of M83, then gradually moves toward mood, space, and instrumentals. If you want an even more direct pop trail, browse our iconic synth-pop songs.

💿 Essential Albums and Songs to Try First

Artist Recommended starting point Why it fits
CHVRCHES “The Mother We Share” Crisp synth pop with a memorable chorus
The Midnight “Sunset” Neon nostalgia and cinematic scale
Beach House Bloom Dreamy songwriting and immersive atmosphere
Washed Out “Eyes Be Closed” Warm, hazy electronic pop
College “A Real Hero” with Electric Youth Restrained retro soundtrack mood
Kavinsky “Nightcall” Dark, nocturnal synthwave
Tycho Awake Spacious instrumental electronica
Air Moon Safari Elegant electronic pop and soft-focus textures
The Naked and Famous “Young Blood” Euphoric indie-electronic release
Chromatics “Cherry” Slow, shadowy synth-pop atmosphere
Purity Ring “Fineshrine” Dreamy, intricate electronic production
M83 Saturdays=Youth A strong entry point to M83’s nostalgic pop side
M83 Digital Shades Vol. 1 Instrumental, ambient M83

These are starting points, not homework. If one track doesn’t click, try another mood from the same artist; a band’s hit single doesn’t always represent its full range.

🎹 What Makes These Artists Sound Like M83?

Think of similarity as a Venn diagram, not a photocopier. One artist may share the synth palette, another the cinematic build, and another the dream-pop vocals.

Shared trait How to recognize it Closest matches in this list
Synth-pop hooks A melody that sticks after one listen CHVRCHES, Passion Pit
Cinematic scale A track gradually opens into a larger emotional space The Midnight, Tycho, Tim Hecker
Dream-pop atmosphere Reverb and soft textures blur the edges of the song Beach House, Chromatics
Retro nostalgia ‘80s-inspired synth tones and night-drive pacing Kavinsky, College, The Midnight
Shoegaze density Layers of guitars and synths build into a wall of sound M83, with neighboring dream-pop and post-rock artists
Ambient drift A focus on texture and immersion more than conventional verse-chorus writing Tim Hecker, Tycho, Digital Shades Vol. 1

The Beats Per Minute feature emphasizes that M83 can be heard through several overlapping styles: shoegaze, post-rock, ambient electronic music, and accessible synth-pop. That explains why recommendations can disagree without being wrong. A fan focused on “Midnight City” may want CHVRCHES or The Midnight; a listener drawn to “Safe” may find Tim Hecker more relevant.

📻 Build a Dream-Pop and Synthwave Playlist

Want a playlist that moves from bright pop into late-night atmosphere? Try this sequence:

  1. M83 — “Midnight City”
  2. CHVRCHES — “The Mother We Share”
  3. The Naked and Famous — “Young Blood”
  4. The Midnight — “Sunset”
  5. College with Electric Youth — “A Real Hero”
  6. Kavinsky — “Nightcall”
  7. Washed Out — “Eyes Be Closed”
  8. Beach House — “Myth”
  9. Chromatics — “Cherry”
  10. Tycho — “Awake”

Playlist tip: Put the punchiest tracks near the beginning, then let the tempo and vocal intensity fall gradually. That arc makes the shift from synth-pop to dream pop feel intentional rather than like your streaming app changed the station mid-chorus.

For a broader route through the genre, pair this list with our modern synth-pop and 80s synth-pop collections.

✅ Quick Tips for Finding More M83-Like Music

people performing on stage with lights in front of crowd

Step 1: Pick the part of M83 you want more of

Write down one track that represents your taste. “Midnight City” points toward synthwave and pop hooks; “Wait” points toward slow-building atmosphere; “Kim & Jessie” points toward dreamy indie-pop.

Step 2: Choose one shared quality

Search by mood or musical feature, not only by “sounds like M83.” Useful terms include:

  • Cinematic synth pop
  • Dream pop with synthesizers
  • French electronic pop
  • Nostalgic synthwave
  • Ambient electronic soundscapes
  • Shoegaze-influenced indie electronic

Step 3: Try one song before committing to an album

Start with the recommended track in the artist list. If the sound is close but the mood feels off, try another artist from the same table rather than deciding the whole subgenre isn’t for you.

Step 4: Let the edges of the genre surprise you

M83 fans often arrive through synth pop and stay for shoegaze, post-rock, or ambient electronica. The Beats Per Minute discussion is particularly useful for understanding that wider range. And if your favorite thing is a huge chorus, there’s no shame in choosing CHVRCHES over abstract ambient music. Your playlist, your rules.

Jacob
Jacob

Jacob is a music producer and award-winning sound designer leading the editorial vision at Synth Pop™, the destination for news, insights, and recommendations across synth-pop and electronic music. He oversees artist features, concert and tour coverage, deep-dive histories, and playlist-ready song spotlights—bringing a studio-honed ear to every story and championing the next wave alongside the icons.

In the studio, Jacob crafts records and immersive soundscapes for film, games, and interactive experiences; in the magazine, he translates that same precision into clear, gear-savvy writing that helps listeners hear what makes a track tick—arrangement, synthesis, and mix decisions included. When he’s not editing or producing, you’ll find him digging for rare drum machines, designing chorus-soaked patches, or scouting emerging scenes for tomorrow’s headliners.

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