In response to a plethora of questions about "vaporwave that sounds like [insert artist]" or music that achieves a certain aesthetic, I have created this: a breakdown of vaporwave and its various subcategories and aesthetics. This list also includes music either inspired by vaporwave or an influence itself. Not meant to be exhaustive but a primer essentially.
UPDATE (1/20/2015): Added a long-overdue "vaporhop" section, removed some "fringewave" and added formal entries.
UPDATE (10/13/2014): Overhauled "segahaze" with new releases, rearranged some releases, added "Signalwave" as a new subgenre.
UPDATE (8/12/2014): Retermed "broperwave" as "future funk", mostly due to the derogatory nature of "broperwave" and dwindling use.
CONCERNS Q: Why isn't [blank] on this list?
A: I'm open to suggestions however these are the most explicit examples for each subgenre, with some gems sprinkled in.
Q: Saint Pepsi/Blank Banshee/Etc. isn't vaporwave, why are they on the list?
A: Artists that have questionable vaporwave credentials are put under appropriate subgenres. While there is a lot of doubt about many artists, they are notable enough to be included. Note however that I do explicitly state my reasoning for their inclusion and they don't necessarily have to be vaporwave to be here.
Q: Where can I find links to these?
A: vaporwav.es is the archive for most vaporwave releases, you can find most of these releases on there. Any that aren't, can be found easily by googling. They are all available on Bandcamp or SoulseekQT. If that fails, message me and I'll help you out.
Q: Some of these subgenres don't have that many artists in them, why include them?
A: There's actually a great deal in all of them, believe me. I have limited about five releases to each subgenre for the purposes of brevity.
Q: Are these made-up?
A: Muzakcore and fringewave are just easier titles to identify certain types of music. Segahaze, eccojams, and others have been in use. They simply escape the nomenclature because vaporwave is a good catch-all term.
Eccojams predate the vaporwave genre and in truth, it is more of a method than a subgenre. Nevertheless, given that it is the production style of choice for most vaporwave, the two have almost become synonymous.
Eccojams are sample-based tunes, in the vein of chopped and screwed music like DJ Screw. The name comes from Chuck Person's (Daniel Lopatin alias, of Oneohtrix Point Never fame) Eccojams Vol. 1) Originally coined as "echojams", the name was changed up to connect Ecco the Dolphin, reflected in the cover art for the cassette.. Samples run the gamut from smooth jazz to dance-pop music. Pure eccojams were "popular" before the coining of the vaporwave genre but have been subsumed into the larger vaporwave umbrella.
Eccojams predate the vaporwave genre and in truth, it is more of a method than a subgenre. Nevertheless, given that it is the production style of choice for most vaporwave, the two have almost become synonymous.
Eccojams are sample-based tunes, in the vein of chopped and screwed music like DJ Screw. The name comes from Chuck Person's (Daniel Lopatin alias, of Oneohtrix Point Never fame) Eccojams Vol. 1) Originally coined as "echojams", the name was changed up to connect Ecco the Dolphin, reflected in the cover art for the cassette.. Samples run the gamut from smooth jazz to dance-pop music. Pure eccojams were "popular" before the coining of the vaporwave genre but have been subsumed into the larger vaporwave umbrella.
The album/mixtape that is considered to have started vaporwave as a whole. Seapunk also claims it as an influence. Conceived as a simple release by Oneohtrix Point Never, repurposing lyrics and sounds made popular by artists like Fleetwood Mac and Ian Van Dahl. Essential eccojams release and sincerely regarded by vaporwave fans as a whole as one of, if not the best vaporwave release (perhaps a bit unfairly).
The album/mixtape that is considered to have started vaporwave as a whole. Seapunk also claims it as an influence. Conceived as a simple release by Oneohtrix Point Never, repurposing lyrics and sounds made popular by artists like Fleetwood Mac and Ian Van Dahl. Essential eccojams release and sincerely regarded by vaporwave fans as a whole as one of, if not the best vaporwave release (perhaps a bit unfairly).
One of the more popular Beer on the Rug releases, The Pathway Through Whatever is an eccojams delight delivered by the label founder of Exo Tapes. Mediafired utilizes a ping-ponging of samples from Kate Bush and Nirvana, offering one of the "strictest" eccojams releases to date. Somewhat overlooked in the general scheme of vaporwave, this release is an essential follow-up listen to Eccojams Vol. 1.
One of the more popular Beer on the Rug releases, The Pathway Through Whatever is an eccojams delight delivered by the label founder of Exo Tapes. Mediafired utilizes a ping-ponging of samples from Kate Bush and Nirvana, offering one of the "strictest" eccojams releases to date. Somewhat overlooked in the general scheme of vaporwave, this release is an essential follow-up listen to Eccojams Vol. 1.
One of the various aliases of vaporwave noteworthy Vektroid, Black Horse is a somewhat straightforward eccojams release. It is in the vein of Vektroid's previous release Part One. The sampling is more blatant, and the release as a whole is overlooked compared to the rest of the New Dreams Ltd. chronology but is no less important to listen to for the eccojams enthusiast.
I should note that this has a sister album released at the same time: MIDI Dungeon. While Black Horse is more eccojamy, MIDI Dungeon is ambient and vocals are absent, precluding it from the general understanding of eccojams.
One of the various aliases of vaporwave noteworthy Vektroid, Black Horse is a somewhat straightforward eccojams release. It is in the vein of Vektroid's previous release Part One. The sampling is more blatant, and the release as a whole is overlooked compared to the rest of the New Dreams Ltd. chronology but is no less important to listen to for the eccojams enthusiast.
I should note that this has a sister album released at the same time: MIDI Dungeon. While Black Horse is more eccojamy, MIDI Dungeon is ambient and vocals are absent, precluding it from the general understanding of eccojams.
Another Vektroid, facetiously labeled as the Initiation Tape Part One. There was never a tape release, and it is the only part (if one does not consider Initiation Tape [Isle of Avalon Edition] a successor). It is Vektroid most straightforward eccojams release, most closely aligned with Eccojams Vol. 1 in tone. The samples are pretty obvious here but it stands apart from other vaporwave in its aesthetic. Very catchy, an infectious listen if not unsettling to a degree.
Another Vektroid, facetiously labeled as the Initiation Tape Part One. There was never a tape release, and it is the only part (if one does not consider Initiation Tape [Isle of Avalon Edition] a successor). It is Vektroid most straightforward eccojams release, most closely aligned with Eccojams Vol. 1 in tone. The samples are pretty obvious here but it stands apart from other vaporwave in its aesthetic. Very catchy, an infectious listen if not unsettling to a degree.
A Siddiq release that is apparently not in the RYM database, Arnecia Hawkins blends vaporwave and elements of hip-hop to culminate in a smooth, basketball-themed, eccojam mix. Pushes the limits of vaporwave with the experimentation of the beat alongside screwed tunes but an enjoyable eccojam nonetheless. There are other hip-hop esque eccojams releases worth checking out as well, this one just happens to be about the best.
A Siddiq release that is apparently not in the RYM database, Arnecia Hawkins blends vaporwave and elements of hip-hop to culminate in a smooth, basketball-themed, eccojam mix. Pushes the limits of vaporwave with the experimentation of the beat alongside screwed tunes but an enjoyable eccojam nonetheless. There are other hip-hop esque eccojams releases worth checking out as well, this one just happens to be about the best.
SEGAHAZE
Segahaze is another informal subgenre of vaporwave at least partly rooted in Eccojams: Vol. 1 because of the invocation of the video game aesthetic. Similarly, segahaze invokes sound and imagery associated with early 90s video games (for example, games found on the Sega Genesis and Saturn). Like most vaporwave subgenres, this aesthetic has significant overlap but there have been a number of artists and releases that fall distinctly within this realm.
Distinct from post-internet vaporwave in that segahaze is not explicitly unsettling and not as screwed as eccojams. Segahaze bears a more ambient quality.
Segahaze is another informal subgenre of vaporwave at least partly rooted in Eccojams: Vol. 1 because of the invocation of the video game aesthetic. Similarly, segahaze invokes sound and imagery associated with early 90s video games (for example, games found on the Sega Genesis and Saturn). Like most vaporwave subgenres, this aesthetic has significant overlap but there have been a number of artists and releases that fall distinctly within this realm.
Distinct from post-internet vaporwave in that segahaze is not explicitly unsettling and not as screwed as eccojams. Segahaze bears a more ambient quality.
It is of little surprise that this Vektroid alias is one of the definitive segahaze releases. The first of the New Dreams Ltd. releases, Laserdisc Visions is almost exclusively gaming sounds, of note NiGHTS being sampled among others. The album art also invokes the segahaze aesthetic, at a time when the idea of vaporwave had yet to be termed and subsequently blown up. This release is often regarded alongside フローラルの専門店 (Floral Shoppe) as being an essential vaporwave release but it also stands definitively as a segahaze venture.
It is of little surprise that this Vektroid alias is one of the definitive segahaze releases. The first of the New Dreams Ltd. releases, Laserdisc Visions is almost exclusively gaming sounds, of note NiGHTS being sampled among others. The album art also invokes the segahaze aesthetic, at a time when the idea of vaporwave had yet to be termed and subsequently blown up. This release is often regarded alongside フローラルの専門店 (Floral Shoppe) as being an essential vaporwave release but it also stands definitively as a segahaze venture.
In this list-compiler's opinion, one of the best vaporwave projects out there is Amun Dragoon and alongside Laserdisc Visions, this release helped define the eerie unsettling aesthetic of segahaze. The aesthetic is expertly nailed to the point that listeners are still unsure just how much of it is sampled and how much is the recreation of ambient MIDI tracks that characterize the typical Japanese import RPG of the 90s. This release, as well as Mythril Nights are apt examples of the less blatant sampling side of vaporwave and the more ambient aesthetic.
In this list-compiler's opinion, one of the best vaporwave projects out there is Amun Dragoon and alongside Laserdisc Visions, this release helped define the eerie unsettling aesthetic of segahaze. The aesthetic is expertly nailed to the point that listeners are still unsure just how much of it is sampled and how much is the recreation of ambient MIDI tracks that characterize the typical Japanese import RPG of the 90s. This release, as well as Mythril Nights are apt examples of the less blatant sampling side of vaporwave and the more ambient aesthetic.
Very much a segahaze release. A lot of the samples come from video games (when it's not jazzy) and it definitely employs the eerie vibes captured in New Dreams Ltd. as well as ＵＮＬＩＭＩＴＥＤ ＤＲＥＡＭ ＣＯＭＰＡＮＹ. You may recall some of the more obvious samples and the ones foreign are quite the treat.
Very much a segahaze release. A lot of the samples come from video games (when it's not jazzy) and it definitely employs the eerie vibes captured in New Dreams Ltd. as well as ＵＮＬＩＭＩＴＥＤ ＤＲＥＡＭ ＣＯＭＰＡＮＹ. You may recall some of the more obvious samples and the ones foreign are quite the treat.
A 2014 vaporwave release, this is as close as it gets to segahaze. Purported to be the soundtrack for a defunct/never released Sega Dreamcast game, 快い亡霊 OST is a short, video game love-letter. Whether or not it's authentic or not, it is one of the more popular 2014 segahaze releases.
A 2014 vaporwave release, this is as close as it gets to segahaze. Purported to be the soundtrack for a defunct/never released Sega Dreamcast game, 快い亡霊 OST is a short, video game love-letter. Whether or not it's authentic or not, it is one of the more popular 2014 segahaze releases.
Very ambient in nature, and comparable to Amun Dragoon. New Nostalgia has a distorted quality to its vaporwave take that places the listener more so in the environment of a video game rather than observing it. Segahaze leanings but also touches upon several other approaches. See also: Welcome Home.
Very ambient in nature, and comparable to Amun Dragoon. New Nostalgia has a distorted quality to its vaporwave take that places the listener more so in the environment of a video game rather than observing it. Segahaze leanings but also touches upon several other approaches. See also: Welcome Home.
With an album cover like that, is the segahaze vibe in question? Lo-fi sample curating akin to Internet Club though less iconic and under-the-radar. Nevertheless, ULTRA ウルトラ helps substantiate the body of segahaze work with this release, an ambient ambulation of nostalgic proportions.
With an album cover like that, is the segahaze vibe in question? Lo-fi sample curating akin to Internet Club though less iconic and under-the-radar. Nevertheless, ULTRA ウルトラ helps substantiate the body of segahaze work with this release, an ambient ambulation of nostalgic proportions.
MALLSOFT
To quote from the Mallsoft facebook page: "Mallsoft is distinct from its cousin Vaporwave by using ethereal, vague music that is very easily looped as ‘background’ music. The genius of mallsoft is that it’s not meant to be paid attention to, it’s not distinct. It’s meant to be left on repeat while the ‘listener’ does other things. The repetition of the music eventually forces its way into the listener’s mind subconsciously, to be recalled at later date as a memory of something that may or may not have happened. Mallsoft is the ultimate commentary on our ADD, twitter-obsessed generation that can’t focus on one task at a time, much less an entire album."
As distinct as mallsoft is argued by listeners, the concept of ambient commentary about consumer culture is not new and mallsoft fits easily within the spectrum of vaporwave.
To quote from the Mallsoft facebook page: "Mallsoft is distinct from its cousin Vaporwave by using ethereal, vague music that is very easily looped as ‘background’ music. The genius of mallsoft is that it’s not meant to be paid attention to, it’s not distinct. It’s meant to be left on repeat while the ‘listener’ does other things. The repetition of the music eventually forces its way into the listener’s mind subconsciously, to be recalled at later date as a memory of something that may or may not have happened. Mallsoft is the ultimate commentary on our ADD, twitter-obsessed generation that can’t focus on one task at a time, much less an entire album."
As distinct as mallsoft is argued by listeners, the concept of ambient commentary about consumer culture is not new and mallsoft fits easily within the spectrum of vaporwave.
Regarded as the archetypal mallsoft album. Disconscious offers what sounds like a cross between mall field recordings as well as reverby retro grooves. The track "Enter Through the Lobby" received much attention as mallsoft began burgeoning into its own identity. Any foray into mallsoft requires this release.
Regarded as the archetypal mallsoft album. Disconscious offers what sounds like a cross between mall field recordings as well as reverby retro grooves. The track "Enter Through the Lobby" received much attention as mallsoft began burgeoning into its own identity. Any foray into mallsoft requires this release.
Another prolific and sprawling producer within mallsoft, although as of late it seems the excursion into borderline scary mall exploration has been redirected for Hantasi. His first release, Vacant Places stands not only as an "important" part of mallsoft but a rather solid vaporwave album as well. You'd be hard pressed to find genuinely creepier ambient for the retrofuture of mallsoft than this release.
Another prolific and sprawling producer within mallsoft, although as of late it seems the excursion into borderline scary mall exploration has been redirected for Hantasi. His first release, Vacant Places stands not only as an "important" part of mallsoft but a rather solid vaporwave album as well. You'd be hard pressed to find genuinely creepier ambient for the retrofuture of mallsoft than this release.
A small EP by perhaps one of the first to conceive mallsoft, Cereal offers a straight-forward, unambigious example of the subgenre. Weaves out of the muzak tunes to occasionally offer a setting for its listeners. Requires more exposure for those interested in mallsoft.
A small EP by perhaps one of the first to conceive mallsoft, Cereal offers a straight-forward, unambigious example of the subgenre. Weaves out of the muzak tunes to occasionally offer a setting for its listeners. Requires more exposure for those interested in mallsoft.
Comprised of two large tracks that lean more on the mixtape side than on the composition of an actual album. Absurdly atmospheric, but as opposed to the sometimes clinical reality of mallsoft, Lindsheaven Virtual Plaza explores the more general vaporwave idea of a pseudo-dystopic consumer culture.
Comprised of two large tracks that lean more on the mixtape side than on the composition of an actual album. Absurdly atmospheric, but as opposed to the sometimes clinical reality of mallsoft, Lindsheaven Virtual Plaza explores the more general vaporwave idea of a pseudo-dystopic consumer culture.
Part parody, part narrative, 슈퍼마켓Yes! We're Open feels like a mishmash of many subrealms of vaporwave. Self-professed as "aislegaze", this album is very much in the vein of mallsoft with its dreamy emphasis on the consumer experience. Little known, yet worth listening/investigating.
Part parody, part narrative, 슈퍼마켓Yes! We're Open feels like a mishmash of many subrealms of vaporwave. Self-professed as "aislegaze", this album is very much in the vein of mallsoft with its dreamy emphasis on the consumer experience. Little known, yet worth listening/investigating.
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