No wave is an avant-garde music genre that emerged in the late 1970s in New York City. It is characterized by its rejection of traditional musical structures and conventions, often incorporating dissonance, noise, and unconventional instrumentation. Artists associated with no wave sought to challenge the norms of both punk and mainstream music, creating a raw and experimental sound. Key figures in the no wave movement include bands like The Contortions and DNA, as well as influential artists such as James Chance and Arto Lindsay. The genre is closely linked to the visual art scene, with connections to Andy Warhol and the Lower East Side art community, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to creativity.