Simpsonwave

Simpsonwave is a relatively new Internet-born musical genre that emerged in the mid-2010s. It combines music, video editing, and nostalgia to create a unique audiovisual experience. The genre is named after its prominent use of imagery and sounds from the popular TV show, The Simpsons. Simpsonwave has a history that can be traced back to the Vaporwave movement that emerged in the early 2010s. Vaporwave was a music genre that originated from Internet memes and was inspired by the soundtrack of 1980s and 1990s shopping mall and elevator music. It used slowed-down samples of pop music, chopped and screwed rap, jazz, funk, and lounge melodies, and retro-futuristic soundscapes. The genre's aesthetic was marked by VHS glitches, lo-fi sound, and pastel colors. Simpsonwave's creators, however, took Vaporwave's chill, dreamy, and nostalgic vibe and re-appropriated it with The Simpsons clips. The Simpsons is a long-running American sitcom that has been on the air since 1989. It is known for its irreverent humor, satirical social commentary, and memorable character designs. The show has become an iconic part of American culture and has inspired countless parodies, fan art, and memes. Simpsonwave producers took audiovisual clips from the show and edited them to give them a trippy, surreal, and immersive quality. They combined slowed-down, pitched-shifted, and heavily reverb-laden music with imagery of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, as well as the show's various locations, objects, and situations. The visuals are often layered, distorted, and manipulated to give them a glitchy, ethereal, and hypnotic effect. The music in Simpsonwave is a diverse mix of genres, such as ambient, drone, experimental, electronic, hip-hop, and pop. Simpsonwave tracks typically start with a familiar tune or sample, then gradually morph into a hypnotic loop of repeating melodies, drum beats, and atmospheric soundscapes. The music is often nostalgic and melancholic, evoking a sense of longing, sadness, or detachment. Simpsonwave videos became popular on YouTube and other social media platforms in the mid-2010s. They were initially created by independent artists, but later, more established music producers and labels such as Virtual Self, Flamingosis, and Dream Catalogue began experimenting with the genre. Simpsonwave quickly gained a cult following and became a meme in its own right. Today, Simpsonwave has evolved into a more sophisticated and diverse genre. It has inspired many sub-genres, such as Seinfeldwave, Spongebobwave, and even Politicowave. Simpsonwave has also been used as a tool for political satire and commentary, as well as a platform for remixing and re-imagining popular music.

Blank Banshee: A Canadian artist known for his dreamy and surreal electronic music, Blank Banshee often employs samples from 90s TV shows and movies, including The Simpsons. This has made his music a natural fit for the Simpsonwave genre, with tracks like "Teen Pregnancy" and "B:/ Start Up" becoming staples of the scene. Macintosh Plus: One of the pioneers of the vaporwave aesthetic, Macintosh Plus (real name Vektroid) has also found a place in the Simpsonwave scene. Her track "リサフランク420 / 現代のコンピュー" (often referred to as "The Simpsonswave song") samples the show's theme song and dialogue, creating an eerie and nostalgic atmosphere. 情報デスクVIRTUAL: Another project from Vektroid, 情報デスクVIRTUAL (Info Desk Virtual) features heavily distorted samples, glitchy beats, and a surreal, cyberpunk-inspired aesthetic. The track "東京テレビ区 / 戦闘する夜" (Tokyo Television District / Fighting in the Night) layers Simpson quotes over a heavy, industrial beat. t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者: A prolific producer in the vaporwave scene, t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者 (Telepath) has also contributed to Simpsonwave with tracks like "『愛してる』" (I Love You) and "The Origin of Love". These tracks feature hazy synths and samples from the show, creating a dreamy and nostalgic mood. Luxury Elite: A Florida-based producer, Luxury Elite combines vaporwave and synthwave influences to create a sound that's both nostalgic and futuristic. The track "around" features samples from a Simpsons episode where Marge visits a psychiatrist, creating a surreal and hypnotic atmosphere. Cosmic Cycler: A lesser-known Simpsonwave producer, Cosmic Cycler creates lo-fi tracks with distorted samples and hazy synths. The track "L I F E" features a sample of Homer singing the classic song "Bad to the Bone", adding a humorous touch to the dreamy soundscape. haircuts for men: A project from producer Jonathan Kawchuk, haircuts for men combines lo-fi beats with distorted, glitchy samples to create a sound that's experimental yet accessible. The track "a small good thing" features dialogue from the episode "Marge Be Not Proud", creating a melancholic yet nostalgic mood. Eyeliner: A New Zealand-based producer, Eyeliner creates playful and retro-futuristic synthwave music with a distinct 80s influence. The track "Dream" samples dialogue from the episode "Mr. Plow", adding a humorous touch to the dreamy and upbeat soundscape. VAPERROR: A Japanese producer known for his glitchy and frenetic approach to vaporwave, VAPERROR has also contributed to Simpsonwave with tracks like "ラブハーツ ラヴリークラッシュ" (Lovehearts Lovelycrash). This track features samples from the episode "Lisa's First Word", creating a nostalgic and chaotic soundscape. Disconscious: A producer from Scotland, Disconscious combines vaporwave and synthwave influences to create a sound that's both dreamy and dysphoric. Tracks like "Raptured" and "Enter Through The Lobby" feature distorted samples from Simpson episodes, creating a surreal and otherworldly atmosphere.

1. フェイス - ＧＬＯＲＩＡ 2. V A P O R G R A P H I C S - 花の鼻 (Hana no Hana) 3. HOME - Resonance 4. コンシャスTHOUGHTS - Skyward Dreams 5. Lindsheaven Virtual Plaza - Summer Night 6. 18 Carat Affair - Modus Operandi 7. Vaperror - Acid Arcadia 8. Saint Pepsi - Mr. Wonderful 9. ESPRIT 空想 - summer night 10. Golden Living Room - Processing Plant District 11. s a k i 夢 - 恢复 12. YUNG BAE - Suede 13. MACINTOSH PLUS - リサフランク420 / 現代のコンピュー 14. Luxury Elite & Saint Pepsi - Luxury Elite // Saint Pepsi - Late Night Delight 15. telepath & VHSテープリワインダー - 彼女は夜に訪れる 16. Hong Kong Express - 浪漫的夢想 17. Dan Mason ダン·メイソン - Summer Love 18. Eyeliner - Toy Doggy 19. 猫 シ Corp. - New Japan Blue Airlines 20. t e l e p a t h - バーチャルダイバー 21. Skylar Spence - Can't You See 22. FM Skyline - Deluxe Memory Suite 23. Catsystem Corp. - Late Night Stereo 24. bl00dwave - Loveliness 25. 2814 - 真夜中のコンビニ

One notable book that features a discussion on Simpsonwave is "The Avant-Garde Isn't" by Mark Fisher. In the book, Fisher discusses the internet's impact on cultural production, particularly the way in which people are creating and sharing music online. He writes, "The internet is like a folding universe, where the meme, the track, the blog post, and the open thread all constantly exchange material and form, spawning new kinds of art and new kinds of discourse." Fisher notes that Simpsonwave is a prime example of this phenomenon, showcasing the way in which subcultures can emerge and evolve within online spaces. Music journalist David Turner has also written about Simpsonwave, describing it as "an internet meme that's taken on a life of its own." In an article for The Fader, he notes that the genre has become a "closely guarded secret" among its fans, with many feeling a sense of ownership over the movement. Turner suggests that this is due, in part, to the way in which Simpsonwave combines elements of nostalgia and humor with more serious artistic endeavors. Another notable quote about Simpsonwave comes from YouTuber Frankjavcee, who is often credited with popularizing the genre. In an interview with Pigeons & Planes, he describes Simpsonwave as "an art form and a movement" rather than simply a musical genre. He notes that while the music is an important element of Simpsonwave, it is really the visuals and the entire aesthetic of the movement that make it so compelling. Finally, music critic Adam Harper has written about Simpsonwave in his book "Infinite Music: Imagining the Next Millennium of Human Music-Making." In the book, Harper discusses the way in which Simpsonwave reflects the cultural mood of the current moment, with its mix of nostalgia and melancholy resonating with many young people who feel disillusioned and disconnected. He writes, "Simpsonwave is a potent mix of humor and sadness that speaks to a generation that finds itself on the edge of a cultural abyss, staring into the void and wondering what comes next."

Culturally, Simpsonwave reflected the aesthetics of vaporwave, a style of music and art that first emerged in the early 2010s. Vaporwave was characterized by its sampling of music and imagery from bygone eras, particularly from the cheesy elevator music and corporate logos of the 1980s and '90s. Simpsonwave continued this tradition but added a new layer of irony by using a cartoon series from the same era. Technologically, Simpsonwave was made possible by the widespread availability of digital audio workstations, video editing software, and online distribution platforms. With these tools, artists could easily manipulate and mix audio and visual content to create an immersive and surreal experience that resonated with their audience. Although Simpsonwave originated on social media platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud, it gained broader recognition when music journalists and critics began writing about it. Several prominent online music publications, such as Pitchfork and Resident Advisor, ran articles and features on Simpsonwave, which helped raise its profile and bring it to wider audiences. Notable record labels that featured Simpsonwave included Dream Catalogue, a UK-based label that specialized in vaporwave and related genres, as well as Sunset Grid, a label from Australia that focused on lo-fi and chillwave. These labels gave Simpsonwave artists a platform to release their music, and many became associated with the labels' brand identities. One of the most significant figures in the development of Simpsonwave was the YouTube user Lucien Hughes, who created the first Simpsonwave video in 2015. Hughes' video combined visuals from The Simpsons episode "Bart Gets an F" with a slowed-down version of the song "Resonance" by HOME. The video, which was later deleted, was a viral hit and helped establish the visual aesthetic of Simpsonwave. Another influential figure in the Simpsonwave scene was the artist Vektroid, who was also known for her work in vaporwave and related genres. Vektroid released several Simpsonwave tracks on her Bandcamp page, including "VIRTUAL new dreams™," which was one of the earliest Simpsonwave tracks to incorporate dialogue from The Simpsons. Her use of dialogue, both as a source of music and as a means of storytelling, was a defining characteristic of the genre.