chillwave

Chillwave is a loosely defined microgenre of indie electronic music that arose in the late 2000s. It is defined by hazy, lo-fi production, vintage synth textures, and dreamlike melodies that evoke 1980s pop and new wave. The sound tends to be melodic and atmospheric rather than dancefloor-oriented, with vocals often treated to heavy reverb or kept deliberately subdued.

Origins and notable artists: It emerged from online music blogs and the broader blog house milieu around 2009–2010. The term was popularized in online music journalism, though its exact origins are disputed. Early central figures include Washed Out (Ernest Greene), Neon Indian (Alan Palomo), and Toro y Moi (Chaz Bundick). Albums from 2009–2011, such as Neon Indian's Psychic Chasms (2009), Washed Out's Life of Leisure (2011), and Toro y Moi's Causers of This (2010) helped define the sound. Other associated acts include Memory Tapes, Seek Magic (2009), and Small Black.

Aesthetics and influences: The chillwave palette draws on 1980s synth-pop, dream pop, shoegaze, and ambient textures, with lo-fi recording, tape hiss, chorus effects, and analog synths; drum machines or sampled percussion produce a laid-back tempo. The movement overlapped with the broader lo-fi indie and synth-driven pop.

Reception and legacy: Critics had mixed reactions; some praised its nostalgic mood and accessibility, others dismissed it as a fad or a derivative trend. By the early 2010s the term had waned in prominence, but its aesthetics persisted in related genres, influencing later vaporwave and retro-inspired pop.