Vaporwave
In the realm of electronic music, one genre has emerged as a ode to both the past and the future – Vaporwave. Originating in the early 2010s, Vaporwave is a unique musical and visual art movement that combines elements of electronic music, sampling, and retro imagery to create a hypnotic experience that takes listeners on a nostalgic journey.
At its core, Vaporwave is a subgenre of electronic music, often characterised by its slowed-down, chopped-up, and pitch-shifted samples from various sources – 80s and 90s pop songs, old commercials, elevator music, and even weather reports. These fragments are manipulated and blended with modern electronic beats and synthesizers to create a dreamy, lo-fi soundscape that transports listeners to a surreal and utopian world.
One of the defining features of Vaporwave is its strong association with retro aesthetics, particularly from the 1980s and 1990s. The visuals that accompany Vaporwave music often showcase distorted and glitchy imagery, neon colours, palm trees, Greek statues, shopping malls, commercialism and old computer graphics – all evoking a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era of technology and consumer culture. This visual component is an essential part of the Vaporwave experience, and it extends beyond just the music, with artists often using album covers, music videos, and even websites to create an immersive multimedia experience.
Vaporwave can be seen as a form of cultural commentary and critique on consumerism, globalisation, and the relentless pursuit of progress. By remixing and recontextualizing the past, Vaporwave artists challenge the notion of progress as an inherently positive force and instead offer a bittersweet reflection on the consequences of rapid technological advancements.
Moreover, Vaporwave is more than just a musical genre; it has become a social and internet phenomenon. It thrives on online communities, imageboards, and social media platforms, where artists and fans come together to share and discuss the latest tracks, artwork, and memes related to the genre. This interconnected and collaborative nature has allowed Vaporwave to evolve and grow rapidly, spawning various sub-genres and spin-offs.
So what’s this site all about anyway?
Well, if you ever find yourself needing music for anything – a YouTube video, a podcast, a school project, a presentation, TV commercial or even a film – then browse, preview and download any of our tracks
3 x length variations
MP3 files (320kpbs)
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