Decoding The Vaporwave Movement

Synthesizing Nostalgia

The inception occurred on digital forums and social spaces, particularly Tumblr and Reddit. Vaporwave gained a very dedicated following and has now evolved into a global phenomenon. But what is it exactly? What is vaporwave, its cultural impact and influences?

Well, vaporwave has been described as a subgenre of electronic music that combines elements of genres like chillwave, ambient, R&B and smooth jazz. It is characterized by its dreamy atmosphere and slowed-down, often distorted sound that creates a nostalgic, kind of otherworldly feeling.

This genre is well known for its huge reliance on sampling. Artists often take little snippets from popular songs, corporate music and elevator music, manipulating them with the intention to create a surreal and sometimes unsettling listening experience. This sampling culture is a nod to the rise of consumerism in the 80s and 90s, with the use of familiar, cheesy commercial jingles and tunes.

It’s clear that vaporwave is deeply rooted in nostalgia, specially for the aesthetics and sounds of the that era, incorporating references to retro technology like VHS tapes, those old popular floppy disks, old computers etc. This movement often critiques the excess and superficiality from that time, but also romanticizes it in a dreamlike manner.

Another notable influence of vaporwave has been its connection to Japanese culture. Many artists incorporate Japanese characters, themes, or…