What the fi?
If you don’t know what I am talking about, you are probably not an audiophile.
And no – lo-fi
An audiophile is not a person who prefers the company of stereo speakers.
But before giving any more peculiar terms, let’s find out what is Lo-Fi music.
What is lo-fi music?
Lo fi music music is actually the opposite of high-quality and high fidelity music (or just hi-fi), which is the type of production that is behind most of your favorite popular songs and music productions nowadays in lo-fi.
What does lo-fi stand for?
Lo fi, meaning low fidelity music, describes the degree of exactness when something is copied or reproduced. Usually, when we speak about music, low fidelity would mean bad quality, slow, repetitive tracks, sometimes with an audible hiss.
But not bad as in bad, but rather the good type of bad.
That is music specifically designed to have repetitiveness arranged to produce a unique track.
Where did lo-fi music come from?
Lo-fi music songs are often produced with sample selections by drum loop, or even with classic music variations.
And did you know that –
We can define lo-fi as chill study music – calming music tracks are actually a variety of lo fi music.
So next time when your friend has a lot of things on their mind, tell them to play some lofi chill beats and relax.
What genre is lo-fi?
Lo-fi can also be defined as a background element with an analog warmth, in which the genre is not designed to be the primary focus, but rather something to contribute to a certain action. This is similar to chamber pop, where the emphasis is on the audio, rather than the vocals.
How does lo-fi sound?
Lo-fi music is related to both R&B and jazz, since most lo-fi compositions have guitar, piano, bass, drums, and often trumpet samples.
If you are wondering about the lo-fi pronunciation, it’s pronounced “low-fai”, since it comes from low fidelity.
Why should you listen to lo-fi music?
And the Grammy goes to…lofi playlist Hip-Hop Anime Chillhop Beats to Study and Relax to.
But really.
Even though people make fun (and memes) out of others’ addiction to lo-fi, it’s worth it to give these lofi beats to study to a try.
And also, why not give it a Grammy as well?
It’s like having your own lofi hip hop background theme in your everyday life. Whether it’s going to be boss fight music or a laid-back track, it’s your own personal music video.
It stirs a certain feeling and it sparks different emotions, and music is meant for that. Sure – it may be branded as “music for work”, or as some people call it, “modern day elevator music”, but it is much more.
It creates a certain mood that some tracks with vocals do not. Even though it is repetitive, it doesn’t get annoying, since it’s just a lo fi background.
Lo-fi is passive.
It does not reach out or try to be any more than that. You can just enjoy it as a secondary presence, rather than a full-on concert you may want to perform when listening to a Lady Gaga song.
It’s a loop, and a contribution to you living in this exact moment.
And this is what makes it relatable.
For the ordinary person, it’s hard to relate to the glamour and posh lifestyle that are often described in pop and hip-hop music. Million dollar mansions, diamonds, fast cars.. It’s not something everybody can relate to, right?
Now let’s take a look at some chill lofi beats, running-river sounds, and laid-back piano instrumentals. They are much more familiar, relatable, and close to the casual listener. This creates environmental interference that almost everybody can relate to.
Lo-fi is something to help you live in the moment and get through your day. It is something to accompany you in the situations you experience every day.
And chances are – you have been listening to lo-fi music, without even realizing it.
For example, some of the calming music tracks you can hear in Taylor Swift’s new album – Folklore, are actually classified as Lo-Fi with a mix of piano tunes.
What service is best for lo-fi music?
Good old Youtube.
A simple question – a simple answer.
With a simple search, you can find tons of good lo fi music youtube channels, lofi hip hop radio, and plain lo fi radio channels. And if you do that, you can be sure that you will stumble upon the lofi hip hop girl, a notoriously famous lofi anime character.
And if you are a fan of the tape hiss of cassette culture – treat yourself to some of Nujabes’ albums.
Where is the lo-fi hip hop girl from?
She is actually from the Youtube channel @ChilledCow, and she is a famous lo fi art character that many cover art images in the genre use.
She is associated with studying and relaxing, so you may not find her in lo fi hip hop youtube channel, but rather in those meant for chill.
In conclusion
Try a lofi and chill session.
If you are the type of person that hates the static “noise” of silence, or if you need something to accompany you through your everyday life, why hesitate? If you hate to work or study in silence, go ahead and try some lofi study beats.
I am sure you will like it.
On the other hand, there is a chance you may find it annoying – actually the opposite of what it is meant to be. Some people prefer to work and study in complete silence, and that is okay. In that case, lo-fi is not your cup of tea, and “chill beats to study to” will not be in your Youtube search history.
But if you feel like living in your own music video, then lo-fi could be the right musical complement for you.
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