Gary Numan is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who became a pioneer of electronic music in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His signature sound is characterized by heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals, often coupled with dystopian or science fiction themes. Numan's most notable works include the hits "Cars" and "Are Friends Electric?", both of which helped to establish him as a leading name in the New Wave genre. His innovative use of electronic instruments and futuristic themes significantly influenced the development of electronic music.