vaporwaves

Vaporwave is a microgenre of electronic music and an internet-based visual art style that emerged in the early 2010s. It is characterized by its nostalgic and often melancholic evocation of 1980s and 1990s consumer culture, technology, and early internet aesthetics. Musically, vaporwave often samples and manipulates existing musical material, particularly smooth jazz, lounge music, R&B, and elevator music, slowing them down and applying effects like reverb and echo to create a dreamy, hazy atmosphere.

The visual component of vaporwave is equally important, drawing inspiration from early computer graphics, classical sculpture, Japanese characters, and the user interfaces of old operating systems and websites. Common motifs include glitch art, neon colors, Roman busts, palm trees, and corporate logos from the era. The overall aesthetic aims to evoke a sense of artificiality, irony, and critique of consumerism, often with a surreal or dreamlike quality.

Vaporwave is primarily an internet phenomenon, disseminated through platforms like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and YouTube. While initially niche, it has influenced subsequent musical genres and visual trends, demonstrating a significant impact on contemporary internet culture. The genre's themes often explore feelings of alienation, nostalgia for a past that may not have been experienced directly, and a commentary on the commodification of culture and information. Its experimental nature and reliance on sampling have also led to discussions about copyright and artistic appropriation.