Chillwave

Chillwave is a subgenre of electronic music that emerged in the early 2010s. It is known for its dreamy, ethereal, and nostalgic sound, combined with lo-fi and retro production techniques. The origins of Chillwave can be traced back to the late 2000s, when a group of musicians started experimenting with lo-fi recording techniques, vintage synthesizers, and hazy, reverb-drenched vocals. These artists were inspired by a wide range of musical styles, such as shoegaze, ambient, funk, and 80s pop. They also drew influence from cultural touchstones like VHS tapes, old-school video games, and low-budget sci-fi movies. One of the key figures in the development of Chillwave was Ernest Greene, who recorded under the name Washed Out. In 2009, he released his seminal EP "Life of Leisure," which featured songs like "Feel It All Around" and "New Theory." These tracks became emblematic of the Chillwave sound, with their slow, languid rhythms, shimmering synths, and nostalgic melodies. Another important figure in the early days of Chillwave was Toro y Moi, the project of producer and songwriter Chaz Bear. His 2010 album "Causers of This" blended elements of funk, R&B, and electronica, creating a sound that was at once futuristic and retro. Other artists associated with the Chillwave movement include Neon Indian, Memory Tapes, Small Black, and Com Truise, among others. Despite its popularity among indie music fans and critics, Chillwave was somewhat short-lived as a distinct genre. Many artists associated with the sound quickly evolved their styles and moved on to other things. For example, Toro y Moi began incorporating more live instrumentation and psychedelic flourishes into his music, while Washed Out pursued a more polished, pop-oriented sound. Other artists shifted towards more experimental, electronic styles like vaporwave or future-funk. Nevertheless, Chillwave had a lasting impact on the broader music landscape. Its lo-fi production techniques and emphasis on atmosphere and mood helped to push electronic music in new directions, drawing on a wider range of influences and textures. Moreover, Chillwave was part of a broader wave of underground music that embraced DIY aesthetics, self-released albums, and experimental sounds. This ethos continues to influence alternative and indie music in the present day. In the years since its emergence, Chillwave has also become a subject of some critical controversy. Some have argued that the genre is nothing more than a marketing buzzword, designed to sell the same old sounds repackaged as something new and trendy. Others have accused Chillwave of being too homogeneous and derivative, lacking the kind of stylistic diversity and innovation that characterized earlier underground movements.

Toro y Moi: Chaz Bear's project Toro y Moi is often cited as one of the originators of chillwave. His blend of indie rock, funk, and psych-pop has influenced a new generation of musicians and helped elevate the genre to prominence. Neon Indian: The project of Mexican-American musician Alan Palomo, Neon Indian's 2009 debut album Psychic Chasms was a defining moment in chillwave's history. Palomo's lo-fi synths and dreamy vocals created a hazy, nostalgic atmosphere that captured the hearts of many. Washed Out: Ernest Greene's project Washed Out gained popularity after his song "Feel It All Around" was used as the theme song for the television show Portlandia. His signature sound is characterized by reverb-heavy vocals and ethereal synths. Small Black: Josh Kolenik and Ryan Heyner make up Small Black, a band known for their atmospheric and dreamy style. They often blend vintage synths with live instrumentation, creating a unique sonic experience. Memory Tapes: Dayve Hawk's project, Memory Tapes, combines elements of chillwave with shoegaze and electronic pop. His music often features heavily processed vocals, creating a surreal, dreamlike experience. Com Truise: Seth Haley's Com Truise project is known for its futuristic, sci-fi inspired sound. His retro synths and pulsing beats evoke memories of classic 80s sci-fi films, making for a thoroughly nostalgic experience. Wild Nothing: Jack Tatum's Wild Nothing project takes its cues from 80s new wave and shoegaze, but with a distinctly modern flair. His dreamy vocals and jangly guitars make for a sound that's both nostalgic and forward-thinking. Teen Daze: Jamison Isaak's Teen Daze project is often described as "warm" and "gentle." His music features a lot of acoustic instruments and his vocals are often whispered, creating a very intimate listening experience. Sun Glitters: Victor Ferreira's Sun Glitters project creates a soundscape that is both ethereal and energetic. His music often features glitchy beats, shimmering synths, and heavily treated vocals. Millionyoung: Mike Diaz's Millionyoung project creates dreamy, psychedelic pop that's perfect for a lazy day spent daydreaming. His music often features samples from old songs and films, making for a delightfully nostalgic experience.

1. "Midnight City" - M83 2. "Feel It All Around" - Washed Out 3. "You & Me" - Disclosure feat. Eliza Doolittle 4. "Geothermal" - Com Truise 5. "Zebra" - Beach House 6. "Talamak" - Toro y Moi 7. "Daydream" - Tycho 8. "Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)" - Unknown Mortal Orchestra 9. "Loud Places" - Jamie xx feat. Romy 10. "Genesis" - Grimes 11. "Get Free" - Major Lazer feat. Amber Coffman 12. "The Wilhelm Scream" - James Blake 13. "New theory" - Washed Out 14. "Mykonos" - Fleet Foxes 15. "Heart Skipped a Beat" - The xx 16. "Sunken Ships" - Giant Claw 17. "Soma" - The Strokes 18. "Keep You Close" - The Stickmen 19. "The Less I Know The Better" - Tame Impala 20. "Slow Life" - Grizzly Bear 21. "I Melt With You" - Modern English 22. "Seconds" - Ghost Loft 23. "Lists, Plans" - C418 24. "Helplessness Blues" - Fleet Foxes 25. "Fake Empire" - The National

In his book, Nothing Was the Same: A Brief History of the Chillwave Music Phenomenon, author Andrew Ryce contextualizes Chillwave within the broader context of internet culture. He argues that the genre's popularity was largely due to the way it was created and shared online, with artists often uploading music to blogs and social media sites. "Chillwave was a product of the internet, born out of the web's boundless capacity to consume and disseminate information," Ryce writes. Other scholars have explored Chillwave's place within popular music more broadly. In his book The Cultural Logic of Contemporary Capitalism, theorist Fredric Jameson argues that Chillwave represents a "nostalgia for a lost future." According to Jameson, the genre's use of 80s samples and dreamy synths reflects a longing for a more utopian future that was imagined in the past but never realized. "The nostalgia film is about the impossibility of living in a world gone," Jameson writes, "and about our incapacity to mourn the loss except in the form of a certain slightly hysterical conviviality." Notably, some musicians associated with the genre are critical of the term Chillwave itself. In an interview with The Guardian, musician Toro Y Moi (who is often cited as a pioneer of the genre) expressed frustration with the label. "I never really identified with that term," he said. "I never really thought it made any sense. At the time, it was just a tag on a blog. It was never meant to be an actual genre or anything." Despite its detractors, Chillwave continues to inspire new artists and influence contemporary music. In a 2017 article for The Fader, writer Aimee Cliff argued that the music of artists like Mark Redito and Japanese Breakfast represented a new wave of musical experimentation that drew on the nostalgia and dreamy soundscapes of Chillwave. Cliff writes, "Perhaps more than any of its breakout stars could have guessed at the time, Chillwave was a sound so good that it's continued to provide inspiration years after the fact. And in 2017, it's having a comeback in ways that even its pioneers couldn't have expected."

From a social perspective, the mid-to-late 2000s marked a period of unprecedented connectivity, with social media platforms like Myspace and Facebook enabling users to connect with like-minded individuals from around the globe. This newfound sense of interconnectedness helped to incubate subcultures and micro-scenes, including the Chillwave scene, which was largely propagated through online networks. Coupled with this was the democratization of music production, which saw the rise of affordable, user-friendly production tools like Ableton Live, GarageBand, and Logic Pro. This allowed a generation of musicians to experiment with sound and produce music in their own homes, without the need for expensive studio time. Perhaps most crucially, however, was the renewed interest in 80s nostalgia, which had been simmering since the early 2000s but came to the fore around 2007-2008. This nostalgia manifested in various forms of cultural output, from fashion to film to music, with the sounds of new wave, synthpop, and other 80s genres being reappropriated and reimagined for a contemporary audience. The Chillwave scene was characterized by a distinct aesthetic, which drew heavily on this 80s nostalgia. The music was characterized by hazy, lo-fi production values, dreamy synths, and reverb-drenched vocals, with many artists drawing influence from the likes of Cocteau Twins, Brian Eno, and early-era Madonna. Notable record labels played a significant role in promoting the genre, with labels like Carpark Records, Mexican Summer, and Gorilla vs. Bear all playing a key role in curating and championing Chillwave acts. Music journalists and bloggers were also instrumental in spreading the word, with outlets like Pitchfork, Stereogum, and The Quietus providing crucial coverage and reviews of new releases. However, the Chillwave scene was not without its critics, many of whom saw the genre as a facile and insubstantial form of music. This critique was echoed by some within the scene itself, who took issue with the genre's tendency towards nostalgia and pastiche, and the broader implications of this for notions of authenticity and originality.