Photo by Alec Favale on Unsplash
Mayday Parade, a pop-punk band from Tallahassee, FL, really blew up the scene in 2007 with their release of A Lesson in Romantics. I slept on this band back then but the song “Jamie All Over” caught my ear a few years ago and I became a “late to the party” fan. The song “Miserable at Best” places me right back into my wallflower days in high school. I play it frequently on my “Emo Ballads” playlist without an ounce of shame.
On March 8, Mayday Parade released a collaborative 5-track EP of lofi versions of their most popular songs with producer Less Gravity. Aleks!, a pop punk artist from Finland who also makes lofi music, contributes to the first track. The band Yellowcard (another pop punk/emo band from way back when) released their album, A Hopeful Sign, in February. This is a collab project with ambient rock duo Hammock, which features slower, reimagined versions of Yellowcard's most beloved songs.
Are you noticing a trend here? I first picked up on it in 2021 with The Juliana Theory’s A Dream Away – a reimagining of my favorite album of theirs Emotion is Dead – and my first thought when hearing the news of it was “Why? Who wants that?” Emotion is Dead is such a hard-hitting album for me, why would I want it stripped, slowed down, or changed at all in any way?! Well, I listened to it and it was absolutely gorgeous so I learned for myself the appeal of softer and more mellow versions of these tracks. There’s something new and different about them now and I appreciate the work put into every song.
I’ll tell you who really wants this chill-er music. Gen Z wants these more relaxed tracks, and I have an idea as to why. (I’ll get to that later though.) First, let’s take a look at what is considered “Rock Music” today. I’m not going to get into sub-genre debates because I have no interest in that, but there is a pretty standard definition of what makes “Rock” rock and if you look at the Billboard charts today most people of a certain age (myself included) are going to listen to the “Top Rock” songs with widened eyes wondering where the hard edges are. We might hear songs and think this is what we called “Indie Rock” ten years ago. We’ll hear songs from artists who are also on the “Top Country” charts. We’ll hear all kinds of soft, “strange”, ambient music we don’t even know where to place but we would definitely refrain from calling it “Rock.”
About a year ago, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins (along with many other artists since) lamented the lack of innovation in today's rock music and placed most of the blame on streaming culture. No one is standing out anymore. Bands are getting lost in the fray of “too much” just like any other art form. It’s difficult for me to keep up with what’s “hot” in general when it comes to music, so I'm enjoying delving into the local Michigan scene. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to listen to “mainstream” music any less. I’ll always find the trajectories of what’s trendy to be fascinating. Things just move so fast and I'm never going to be able to listen to absolutely everything. In my opinion, young people have always dictated what is considered to be “popular music” no matter the genre, and that’s just the way things are.
Some would argue that softer reimaginings and lofi versions of rock songs aren’t “innovative” enough, but it’s definitely working for Gen Z. I think it’s because this generation was born into an already overstimulated world and perhaps they just don’t want to rock as hard as previous generations did. When Rock & Roll first formed, teenagers wanted to make noise and rebel against a society they viewed as being uptight. As the decades went on, rock expanded into even louder territory. The youth of today navigates toward music that chills them out. Soundtracks that relax them. Beats to study to, or fall asleep and dream of a different world to. Lofi reimagining of rock music also allows for exposure to the original versions, and like branches on a tree, can be followed right down to the roots.
The definition of "lofi" has slightly changed over time. I'd still count it as “low fidelity”, stripped down, and "raw", but gone are “imperfections” in the recordings to enhance the abstract feel of a song. It no longer sounds like some of the music that I was into in the1990s such as the shoegaze band Swirlies as an example. (“Low fidelity” itself is believed to have originated with The Beach Boys in the 60s which influenced a lot of later music.) The lofi of today still keeps the DIY aspect, but is marked by downtempo electronic hip-hop beats with a relaxed quality. It relies heavily on sampling and drum loops, but above all has to embody a "chill" vibe. I also feel like some of the new lofi I've listened to sounds like a grainy filter is placed over it, like I'm hearing it in the distance in a dream. If I were to visualize it as a film, it would be on an old school VHS tape. I happen to like the "nostalgic" vibe some of it can trigger within me. It feels old school while being very much new school. Whether the music is labeled “chill”, “chillwave”, “vaporwave”, “dream pop”, “lo-fi beats”, “lo-fi hip-hop”, or “bedroom pop” each sub-genre shares similar aspects and you’ll notice the effect it has on you if you’re into it.
Personally, I like to put this kind of music on when I need to nap or relax. When I need something quieter. When I need background music that’s not going to drown out conversations. I see the appeal even if it’s not my general “go-to” musical taste. I’m also really into Sparrow Sleeps lately. They transform the best of hardcore, punk, pop-punk, and pop into lullaby versions so those of you with music-loving little ones can put them down for a midday snooze while catching some zzz’s yourself, all while enjoying the melodies of your favorite generally upbeat songs. (I’m a grown-up and these albums will knock me right out.)
Music evolves as people evolve and relaxation is something that human beings often don’t allow themselves much of. Revisiting favorite music from another time is wonderful, and if bands I love want to do that, and reimagine their harder songs with softer sounds, I’m all for it. Sometimes the vocals are kept in and sometimes not so there’s something for everyone’s preference. (I have a hard time not singing along to my favorite jams even if the tempo has changed.) There’s a reason why Lofi is the YouTube generation’s favorite genre. If you're intrigued and haven’t given any of it a listen yet, I recommend going for it. You just might find something you can unwind to.
Jennifer Patino lives in Traverse City and loves music. Check out her blog at thistlethoughts.com