New Wave is an overarching description used during the late 70s for the music that emerged after punk rock. It spun off from the raw edginess, and brashness of that style to a basicall pop sound. What separated New Wave from other popular music at the time was that it held on to the vitality and never may care attitude of the punksters but it added a bit more flair with electronics, some style, and artiness all put into the mix. And it wasn't all in one package. There was a wide swath of sound that ran around and it spawned which included more complexity in lyrics and sound.