What is Lo-fi Music?

Lo-fi music became a major genre during the global lockdowns of 2020. Many people found themselves stuck home all day, trying to find the motivation to work, study and do chores. There was also more time to kill, so people found themselves online more.

It’s no surprise then that lo-fi music boomed in popularity at this time.

 But what exactly is lo-fi music?

The Characteristics Of Lo-Fi Music

Lo-fi is short for ‘low fidelity’, which means a lower quality reproduction of sound. It’s the opposite of hi-fi, or ‘high fidelity’. Hi-fi is clear, quality sound which closely reproduces the original source.

Because sound is of lower quality in lo-fi music, it will include audio distortions. For example, background noise and phonic imperfections such as tape hiss and background static of old vinyl.

Lo-fi as a production value became popular in the 90s, when hip-hop and indie artists chose it for reasons of style and economy. A great example of this is the song ‘Loser’ by Beck, which was recorded in a kitchen, and reached the Billboard top 10 in 1994.

These days, when people refer to lo-fi, they usually mean ‘lo-fi hip hop’. This is a form of downtempo electronic music that has been popularised online. It contains hip-hop beats and samples, and similar chord progressions to jazz music.

There is often an overlap between lo-fi music and related genres such as chillwave and house music. The overall effect is a relaxed, dreamy sound with retro elements.

The Origins of Lo-Fi Music

The birth of lo-fi hip hop is often credited to chillhop artist Nujabes, and the hip-hop pioneer J Dilla.

If you were wondering why so many lo-fi channels use anime for their visuals, this too can be credited to Nujabes. He worked on the soundtrack for anime series Samurai Shamploo, and anime has remained associated with lo-fi ever since.

The emergence of lo-fi hip hop as we now know it began in 2013, with the debut of livestream channels on YouTube. These channels enabled artists to create what are essentially radio stations, with a never-ending flow of music.

Many lo-fi artists also began curating playlists, and you can find many examples of these on YouTube and Spotify.

In 2015, the Lofi Girl YouTube channel was born (originally known as ChilledCow). Their lo-fi hip hop radio station is the most successful lo-fi livestream ever. The channel now boasts several livestreams and playlists, with over 2 billion views and over 15 million subscribers to date.

Why Is Lo Fi Music So Relaxing?

Lo-fi music is often considered relaxing due to its combination of slow tempos, repetitive loops and ambient sounds. There are also no lyrics to distract you.

Samples are often taken from old films. This gives lo-fi a cosy, nostalgic vibe, ideal to relax to or as ‘bedroom music’.

Lo-fi music is also considered good for focus. It can make excellent background music for study, reading and chores.

I personally like to use it for focus during simple, repetitive tasks, or for when I’m working at my desk but starting to get tired. I find it can help with focus during these times.

Many lo-fi playlists on YouTube and Spotify place emphasis on creating a ‘safe space’ for the listener. They whisk you away you to secret, serene environments or moments in time, whether that’s an evening in a cosy bedroom, or deep in a mysterious forest.

There is also often a crossover between lo-fi and other relaxing content or hobbies. For example, many lo-fi channels contain remixes and visuals from nostalgic films and video games.

So, you could listen to lo-fi music while cute critters from Animal Crossing relax in a coffee shop in the visuals. What could be more lovely than that?

Conclusion

Many people work and study from home these days, sometimes without a dedicated workspace or office. Lo-fi music helps create a kind of cocoon that reduces outside distractions and, due to its downtempo, calming properties, helps reduce anxiety.

The retro hip-hop beats and sound effects amplify the feeling of comfort and nostalgia – feeing the need as we sometimes do for a nostalgic, safe space to retreat.

The world can be crazy, after all. Lo-fi music can help to provide a safe place to relax and focus.