Vaporwave Music is a genre of music that emerged in the early 2010s, characterized by its nostalgic, dreamy, and often surreal aesthetic. It draws heavily from 1980s and 1990s pop culture, corporate music, and digital-era artifacts, recontextualizing them into a unique and sometimes ironic art form. Vaporwave heavily relies on sampling older music, especially smooth jazz, lounge music, elevator music, R&B, and early electronic or synth-pop. Tracks are often slowed down, pitched, or looped to create a hypnotic, otherworldly effect.


It often feels dreamy, melancholic, or eerily nostalgic. This is enhanced by effects like reverb and distortion, giving the music a distant, vapor-like quality. Common themes include consumerism, corporate aesthetics, retrofuturism, and the emptiness of modern life. It's often a critique or satirical commentary on capitalism and materialism. The genre emerged online, with early pioneers like Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) under his alias Chuck Person and his album Eccojams Vol. 1. Other notable artists include Macintosh Plus, Saint Pepsi, and Luxury Elite.


Vaporwave grew as an internet subculture, flourishing on platforms like Tumblr, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp. Its nostalgic yet critical approach to capitalism and digital life resonated with younger audiences, making it a cornerstone of online aesthetics. Vaporwave is less about commercial success and more about creating an atmosphere inviting reflection, irony, and a longing for a bygone era—or at least an idealized version of it.