Special thanks to all of the amazingly talented artists who performed as well as to everyone who joined the Vapor95 Twitch Livestreams to talk and vibe with the artists, fellow fans, and supporters! Follow, explore, and support these musicians if you had a good time at the Vapor95 shows!
The show was another incredible moment for us, featuring a roster of some of Vapor95's favorite musical acts. It was such a pleasure talking and vibing with fellow fans and supporters!
Special thanks to Android Apartment, Telenights, Lola Disco, kissmenerdygirl, 식료품groceries, Skule Toyama, Tupperwave, SUPERSEX420, 猫 シ Corp. and the Vapor95 friends and family! Be sure to follow and support these artists if you enjoyed their sets!
Vapor95 and Darknet Recordings present Sophomore Year Slideshow! 🎞📺📼 An 11 track compilation encompassing the sensations of finding yourself and your place in the world. ✨Featuring some of the most talented producers on the planet and specifically curated for maximum emotional impact, this new compilation by Vapor95 and Darknet Recordings is a hallmark in the realm of nostalgic aesthetics. Come with us on our journey to Sophomore Year Slideshow. 📽
Sophomore Year Slideshow opens up with X4 by Tribe Down South. He traditionally delivers upbeat lo-fi hip hop at its best. We hear lots of retro game sounds, transporting us back in time and giving us a sense of nostalgia for days spent in the arcade with friends.
thyu by Fake_Glass brings us a fundamental message that we should all hold on to - to live in and appreciate the present moment. The composition has very airy yet full chords, with lo-fi hip hop grooves that put you in a very childhood-like peace of mind.
The third record on the compilation is 181 by helloweare. Mysterious, playful, windy pluck melodies and chords mixed with funky beats bring prom-night vibes, making you want to dance with your partner and smile.
Nick Neutronz has continuously impressive production. With Amiga Robot, we travel into a 3D, colorful, glitchy space created during the Y2K era. This digital hip hop monk never disappoints, bringing ultimate synth and heavy hip hop drum fusion.
Kaneda by Nikl is the fifth track on the compilation, taking us to the far east, the record starts with Japan influenced melodies. A future bass track with synth chords and flute samples sets the tone for some serious grooving. A must play when visiting sakura gardens.
LOST AN HOUR by Yobbzsmokedoutphonk - Kick back, get comfortable, put this on with subwoofers and the record will guide you through the listening experience with small sample cuts leading the way. An aesthetic trap beat carries warm, low and heavy 808s throughout the whole track. You'll likely lose an hour listening to this track on repeat.
Summer will be here any day now, and Androx - Golden Hour will definitely be a go to for for us as we soak up the sun's glistening rays. Guitar chords with warm texture and pleasant dancy rhythm, make you sink into beautiful memories, imagining the seaside and breezy waves at sunset.
Bad Bad Dog by TEENROOM - Slightly distorted lo-fi sounds with details from old TV shows, a short track that takes you on a quick adventure.
Desire and Temptation by Telepath II- A pure definition of vaporwave. This piece equals an 80s romance movie, telling a lovely and dramatic story during these 9 minutes of slow, low fidelity sounds and sweet wavy vocals.
Cut_Off by I_yaReeL_i - This track justifies its name by cutting you off from reality for a little while, taking you down a memory lane filled with sun flares and grainy film.
Yūkai by Pr0t0_3095ti - Is filled with futuristic ambient sounds, as if the sound is floating to you from a faraway constellation. This is the type of music that you would expect to hear around Saturn.
1. Nick Kempton aka Nickjaykdesign, one of the most aesthetic visual artists in the world. We're super excited to have you featured on our blog DARKNET and be able to share your incredible work! Can we go back to when you first decided you wanted to make art? Tell us your story!
So basically, I have been around computers since I was very young, maybe 6 or 7, and I have always played around with graphic tools like Paint.NET, GIMP & Photoshop. I can remember making wallpapers when I was about 12 that I would post on DeviantArt. I have a lot of passion for graphic design and just being creative in general. I started the 'Nickjaykdesign' project back in 2017 to try to learn more tools and get back to creating.
2. The world in your art is very aesthetic and dreamy through sets, environments, and color schemes. Tell us about what goes into the process of creating your art? Tell us where the inspiration for your characters, textures and the world come from?
I am heavily inspired by movies, music, and the world around me. Often times, I will start a project just by looking around for inspiration on Pinterest while listening to some music. A lot of my art is also inspired by photographs of neon cityscapes. They are just something so beautiful that I cannot get over them no matter how much or how often I look at them.
3. How long did it take you to achieve your very distinct style? And what kind of softwares do you use to achieve the final version of your work?
I would say it took about a year and a half to achieve the capabilities to be able to create my own distinct style, but I feel it also took a lifetime of being inspired to achieve it. I use Cinema4D, Octane Render, Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects most often to create my work.
4. Do you listen to music while you create? If so, what kind and how do you see it affecting your final product?
I absolutely listen to music while I create. Music is a part of who I am. I think I pretty much always have music playing around me at some capacity. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music but most often it is probably EDM. Music is a beautiful thing because it can make you feel anything. It can make you feel happy or sad at any moment. I think that's why it's special to me. It affects my work as often times emotion can be seen shining through the art and those feelings are generated depending on what I'm listening to.
5. Your work and name spread fast in the music scene through the artworks you made for certain artists. Is there any upcoming collab you would like to tell us about? and also, how often do you collaborate with a visual artist?
I have so many projects that I will be showing soon but none that I can currently say :( I don't typically collaborate with other visual artists. Maybe I should do that more often :P
6. How do you see yourself at the highest point of your career? What would be your ultimate dream to accomplish with your work and when do you see that happening?
Honestly, I think working with some of my favorite music artists is all I want. I love seeing my work shared with a big platform and seeing reactions and emotions from viewers. Also, a big motivation for me is inspiring others to create. When someone tells me that my work inspired them, it's really a big deal to me.
7. Do you work on other projects besides Nickjaykdesign?
I don’t really work on other projects, I try to focus my time on my Nickjaykdesign project to really perfect my craft
9) Finally, we would love to ask - What would you say to up and coming artists who want to pursue their passion?
Be inspired. Look at everything you can. Read books, watch movies, look at photographs. Go out and explore. Let the things you see be your motivation. Always listen to your heart and don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do...
The cosmic grooves of the internet’s funkiest little sub-genre, Future Funk, has come a long way… A long, long way.
It seems like just yesterday, I was typing in “Future Funk” on Youtube and a large selection of tracks would pop up, almost all the time with the same ol’ sorta stuff:
a solid, catchy measure of an old 80’s city-pop song on loop for 2 minutes straight
some fun simple drums
a nice fuzzy retro-anime gif to accompany the whole thing, most times not even synced to the kick of the song.
Very aesthetic indeed, and with a formula so repetitive, yet contagious, the emitted grooves brought out by this Vaporwave sub-genre became beloved by many around it’s birth in 2013… We saw titans spawn in this time period, future funk legends like MACROSS 82-99, YUNG BAE and Night Tempo just to name a few. Vaporwave existed for almost 2 years up until this point and most people welcomed in this higher-tempo, generally more optimistic sound pretty quickly as it was a nice breath of fresh air from the crooning, droning sound styles found often in your stereotypical Vapor track at the time. It got down to the point, producers stripped away all the excess fat of an old 12” disco sample, take the catchiest part and inject into the listener’s ears for a minute or two. Quick hits and long lasting highs, it really was like a drug.
However, time has passed and when time passes, people’s tastes change. Many began to grow tired of the overdone, and pretty lazily constructed, future funk formula that was going for a couple years strong. Artist as well began to crave newness, and luckily for us they went to work. We’ve seen a solid handful of producers who have stuck around with that fire burning passion for disco, latin drums, french house - pretty much anything that can contain a groove you can possibly manipulate with a modern touch. That burning flame inside has made artists craft tracks in a much more deliberate, dense, and creatively thought out way more than ever before, making 2019 and the future such an expansive time for the sub-genre and the talent coming out of it.
So yes, we have seen some crazy growth in the scene and I absolutely love how exciting it has all gotten, but with all of the releases coming out, you may ask “where do I begin?”. So today, I want to give you 5 releases we have seen in the recent days of the scene that I believe do an excellent job at showcasing just how wild the production and groovy sensations can get for a Future Funk experience. So put on some swim shorts, make sure you catch a Lapras and teach it surf, and bring a lot of sunscreen, because you and I going to sizzle on this hot summer day at the beach… You’ve just entered the “Future Funk” zone.
Unibe@t - Origins
Unibe@t opened up 2019 with a colossal bang.
For those who haven’t heard of Unibe@t, this artist is super low key and likes to make his mark on the scene strictly with the final result of his music... Let the product speak for itself.
Bandcamp describes the artist best: “an artist's artist beloved by some of the biggest and most respected names in Vaporwave and Future Funk”. So yeah player, do not mistake Uni’s quiet ways to sneak into his musical output, because ”Origins” is anything but shy. This “wall of sound” that you will have absolutely no way around or ability to scale, “Origins” is massively colorful with jolting sample chops (I love that snazzy piano reconstruction on “Internationale”) knowing when to peak in and out of instrumental subtleness with filters and mixing. It is an absolutely bouncy Future Funk release, depth woven into each measure on an almost hour long tracklist. “Origins” came out in January with 12 tracks, averaging between 4 and 6 minutes each so you are in for not only a lengthy listen, but a superb one to say the least. Tracks like “Konnichiwa” and “Multi-Lover” are so musically hefty, so listen up you better come hungry.
BarbWalters - Pleasure
Barby baby let me tell you player the step up here from “Reconnect”, BROTHER, you can feel the attention to detail that went into this project! And I really liked “Reconnect” too, an album I recommend you listen to before jumping into “Pleasure” so you can see the growth of his musical artistry. But for real, “Pleasure” just blows that thing out of the water! “Pleasure” can easily be one of the best Future Funk releases of the year, measures are sautéed in their own unique way. Every single moment separating itself from the previous one and making sure no two sections on the album sound the same. Whether it is some empty spaces that are nothing short of ticklish between the sample chops or an added layer of a secondary sample to create an extra melody for ya, Barb delivers every beat on here with a cherry on top.
You can definitely see the Ed Banger influence on here. Tracks like “So You Wanna” have this clunky, chop-job execution, that reminds me of the classic track “Arabest” by French House legend SebastiAn (and I know how much you love that French House Barb). I love this meaty, clustered sound; a straight up cosmic electro-funk salad, that sounds like a bunch of robots working on some assembly line. Also the track “Go Easy”... THAT BASSLINE! AHHHH
HATENA - PARADER
Next, let’s take a look at my boy HATENA and his May 2019 release of PARADER - An extremely charming future funk release with some quality chopping on a superb selection of samples to undeniably keep you listening from start to finish (listen to ya boi, this is an album that is hard to put down once you rev up the first track). Fans of the Future Funk scene, who are looking for a return to a sample-heavy emphasis production wise, HATENA is your go to pick for that simple summer lovin’. Each track blends smoothly with one another, and at a tasty pace to say, the least! (Hatena really loves them good ol’ white noise risers!)
The sample chopping is really HATENA’s bread and butter on “PARADER”. Your attention is always spent on awaiting what little quirky variation the vocals will chop up into. I had a blast in visiting the musical carnival he’s operating up in here. My personal favorite track on this album is “Cheap Thrills”, some great workout music! Also “Loser”, I see you with that homage to The Phantom’s Revenge! You can tell the french house legendary DJ is a huge inspiration to the young Future Funk artist for “PARADER”.
Most of the tracks contain the same formula, but when it’s done with such humble, yet, quality execution, you just can’t help but fall in love. HATENA is a great dude, who is super active in the scene and community. With “PARADER”, we really see his passion for the sound of classic French House and Filter House come to life! I can not wait to see what the Australian producer cooks up next. keep grindin’ my man.
Montaime [Label]
Next up, I want to talk not necessarily about a specific release, but an entire label: Montaime
Featuring releases from fan-favorite producers like FIBRE, Discoholic, Cobalt Road, and many more, Montaime is your go to platform if you are someone who can never get enough of that modern disco heat. I also really want to applaud the label for their frequent, yet quality, releases. A couple weeks ago, we got the single “Still Down to Get Down” by Discoholic ft. bruce take nap & PHAUN. With some proper jingles, a crunchy bassline, a laid back drum track, and some added killer vocals, the track blooms with sophistication and dedication - kinda sounds like some Breakbot, and trust me, that is a huge compliment. It truly is wonderful to see artists so passionate about disco and wanting to create their own music from start to finish. Personally, I recommend just jumping straight into their “Montaime - Volume 1”, a collection featuring 11 great artists all looking to shine.
A diverse palette of artists inspired by Disco, does it really get any better than this?
Vantage - Aloha Island
The homie Vantage, damn it has been almost 4 years since Metro City was released? Time flies! Even in 2015, Vantage’s classic album “Metro City” was pretty intricate for a time surrounded by a lot of Future Funk flooded with lazy looping and over-simplistic formulas (Listen to the opening track 50//50 on here...still love all those changeups!)
“Aloha Island”, released in 2017, is easily Vantage’s best work yet (opinions!). Here, we have another case of a producer who, after coming into the scene, has gradually began to put more and more of his own organic touch on his releases. “Aloha Island” is spacious, roomy, and grand. Many tracks have this floaty feel due to there not being this jumble and mish-mash of overcrowding instruments trying to climb over one another. It is a humble ride. Tracks like "Street Chorus" have that fun filtered vocal chop laying over some minimal synths, drums, and more hand-selected instruments that keep the track clear and aerodynamic. Same vibe on the track “With Me”, a very Toro Y Moi-meets-Future Funk (as if Toro isn’t groovy enough already!)
Vantage is the perfect music to accompany you on a flight or long train ride, so make sure you get a window seat. Surprisingly, the vinyl for this album is still available despite there only being 300 copies pressed, so record collectors jump on that because this is a damn good release that definitely goes under the radar for many.
At the end of the day, Future Funk will always be what you make of it. I mean, calling it all “Future Funk” is just a label for it all, just a word to easily umbrella everything we’ve seen these past couple of years, at least that’s how I sum it all up. It’s subjective; is Future Funk limited to that repetitive looping formula combined with a 1980’s anime gif? If we place more instruments, vocals, secondary samples, heavy drum mixing, etc., are we just entering territory claimed by other genres like Nu-Disco, French House, etc? Whatever you think of it, just always remember to groove, have a good time, and lose yourself. Dance like nobody's watching!
Much love, ur boi, Pad Chennington
"Also known as "Youtube's Vaporwave Valedictorian", Pad Chennington is a content creator who has created a substantial following on YouTube for his videos discussing all things Vaporwave. Starting in the Fall of 2017, Pad's videos range from reviews to breakdowns, interviews to unboxings, and much more, always revolving around odd and interesting music genres found throughout the internet. Pad has also recently released an album in February titled "CONTRAST" that is available as a free download via the My Pet Flamingo label."
Where can you find such positive pleasure? Right here, of course. Introducing the newest EP from Fjun, Battery Life proudly brought to you by DARKNET Recordings.
We are very proud to announce our first official EP release on DARKNET Recordings. This EP is guaranteed to make your soul all warm and toasty. Whatever genre that comes to mind, Fjun's Battery Life represents the best in class and craftsmanship.
Chromosomes starts off as a classic Lo-Fi track and blossoms uniquely with the help of its vocals. The track is a funky start with an array of noises, plucks, strums, percussions, stabs, and drums that keep you guessing long after a few listens.
Surface is dizzying in its movement and progression. You'll find yourself frustrated by this song. Why? Because it's like watching someone channel surf past the most amazing shows you've ever seen. Each section of the song could be its own track. Wait, go back! No, nevermind. This is good too. But, wait. What's this now? It's one song with five personalities. You'll hit repeat on all of them.
Good Night Wintercools you off with a gorgeous guitar melody laced with the sweetest vocals heard on the EP. There are touches of sounds that'll make you wonder "how do they make that noise?!" There's a subtle hint of violin that makes the heart flutter. But much like life, the sweetness gives way to a funky and chaotic groove.
Go Astray is sensual from the first guitar note. Is it sexual? Is it romantic? Is it cute? Is it dripping with lust? Depends how you use it. FJUN's iconic vocal style captivates you with some deep lyrics on this track. The power of Go Astray sneaks in at the end when a harder-hitting finale punches you with a riff to make you feel victorious today.
The world of Vaporwave music is constantly evolving and expanding. With this comes the introduction of creative, passionate new artists who are making their mark in the genre through their unique and distinctive sounds. Here at Vapor95, we love exploring new creators contributing their individual style and voice to the Vaporwave community. Here’s a look at ten of our favorite up-and-coming Vaporwave artists:
What I love about Waterfront Dining is his ability to resurrect gorgeous, obscure tracks of a bygone era and breathe a new sense of life into them. It represents the very essence of Vaporwave: dreamy, experimental sounds that transport you to a nostalgic dreamscape you forgot even existed. They often feature a gorgeous beach aesthetic that feels like a warm, ephemeral memory.
Classic Vaporwave albums often utilize a variety of dreamy samples weaved throughout the album to conjure up a feeling of delicious familiarity. What makes Artfluids so unique is the fact that he uses an incredibly small number of samples in his tacks, yet still manages to evoke the same wistful feelings that draw us to Vaporwave and Synthwave as a whole with his original compositions. His synths are heavy, his melodies are contagious, and he brings forth an exhilarating energy that never seems to fade.
Lotus Flowers by Origami Girl is hands down one of the most whimsical, heartfelt, ambient albums released in the past year. It beautifully blends lo-fi ambient sounds with funk and acid jazz, creating a trance-like soundscape that bring forth the same feelings of introspective bliss you’d feel after a solo walk on the beach at dawn. Their tracks are the perfect start to a dreamy, peaceful day.
Bakmahn emerged as a promising new future funk artist releasing dark, harmonic tracks with touches of acid-techno and Japanese disco. One of his newest releases, Downstream Integration, truly emerges you in the world of 1990’s office culture. He utilizes the sort of atmospheric corporate music you’d find in a 90’s employee training video, and the technologically retro nature of the sampled pieces makes you feel as it’s 1995, you’re a new hire at Microsoft, and you’ve just stepped into your new, comfortably sterile cubicle.
Another beautiful return to the minimalistic, ambient nature of pure Vaporwave, Diskette Park’s newest release Stray invites us to drift back in time to a world that is effortless and pure. It features the very best of classic Vaporwave elements like 80’s synths, striking vocals, and an overall dreamlike quality that sends us longing for long-forgotten memories of innocent summer days.
Luxury Elite is an absolute powerhouse in the Vaporwave scene, and her newest release, Prism, is one of her strongest yet. Her sounds celebrate the opulence and glamor of the late 1980’s through a unique take on lounge music and smooth jazz. She’s explored a variety of genres throughout her career, like synthpop and New Wave, and Prism is a welcomed addition to our lineup.
Fujii represents the aspect of Vaporwave that leaves you longing for the past while looking towards the future with a sense of childlike hopefulness and neverending optimism. It is a soothing journey that leaves you longing for a place and time that have never existed. It is the embodiment of a long drive with no destination in sight, the wind in your hair and the radio blasting. It is imaginative and creative and a welcomed addition to our rotation.
Sea of Dogs is one of the most experimental Vaporwave artists to emerge recently, producing brilliant beats that are every bit aggressive as they are soothing. He dominates Vaporwave subgenres such as Hard Vapor and Vaportrap and tests the limits and boundaries of the genre as a whole. His sounds are powerful, harsh, and invigorating and do a beautiful job of fleshing out his own unique take on Vaporwave.
Windows96 is a gorgeous representation of the simplicity of pure Vaporwave. It’s haunting without being overly ambitious and the minimalism of each track transports you to a simpler time. It’s reminiscent of your favorite early '90s video game soundtrack and features strong synths and ambient samplings throughout every album they’ve produced. Their most recent album,One Hundred Mornings, is well on it’s way to preserving a spot as a Vaporwave classic.
George Clanton emerged as one of Vaporwave’s most promising new creators with his dreamy 2018 EP Slide. He describes the album as a “Vaporwave Opera” and constructed every track with a distinct vision and soundscape in mind. It’s an absolute rollercoaster of dreamy nostalgia expressed through smooth '90s R&B and up-tempo breakbeat. It’s the self-indulgence of youth combined with the melancholic longing of a summer afternoon. It’s the passion and the angst of a teenage romance. It’s a heartfelt glimpse into the mind of one of Vaporwave’s most talented new artists.
Hi, Mad Dog Jones! We've been featuring your art on our Instagram for some time already and we're happy to have you on our artist spotlight!
You have such a unique and distinctive style. Can you tell us a little bit about how you developed your personal artistic style?
My style is largely based off nature. Natural elements that exist without a human touch I find deeply inspiring. I then use that imagery as a template for shape and form in my completed illustrations. Instead of a complex tree or vibrant flower it's an apartment complex and a stop light.
How long have you been creating your art? Can you tell us a little about how you got started and how you have grown over the years? We also noticed that you have really blown up recently on social media! What can you attribute this growth to?
I've been drawing since I was young. Truly enamored by all art forms. I've worked extensively in music with my SIDEWAYS collaborators. Slowly I pieced together new skills and developed a stronger work ethic. Now my visual art is been appreciated by the world and I couldn't be more grateful.
I'm still blown away by the power of social media for artists. It's also fun building a curated experience for the user. I enjoy the challenge while simultaneously being warped by the expectations and demands of maintaining a social presence.
We see lots of Japanese/Western pop culture elements, how did you come to incorporate these elements into your art?
I love all imagery from any source. Using cars, fashion and architecture from various sources really opens up the freedom of expression. I love building my own worlds where everyday there's a 🔥 sunset.
Please tell us more about your artistic process! How do you go from concept to finished piece? What software and materials do you use?
Procreate, iPad pro, apple pen, Photoshop, Premiere. I get to the finish line from various paths. I often spend many hours building mock ups, adding elements, tweaking colours. A lot of masking, playing with curves, select colour, hue shifting.
I try not to focus too much on the technical aspects of my work. I think the piece is made in the concept design phase where the focus is more on shape, colour and form. After that it's just the tedium of lining it out and colouring.
Do you listen to music while you create? If so what kind and how do you see it affecting your finished product?
La+ch,SVDP,Coleman Hell are my faves right now. But I listen to a dynamic range of music. Every element of your environment affects the art; choose wisely.
With your recent growth and new opportunities where do you see your artistic career going? What would be your ultimate dream to accomplish with your art?
Directing a film would be a goal for sure. I'm drawn to film. I'm also very interested in fashion and any design elements. Right now, I have more opportunity than time and I'm looking to expand my universe.
I have a few upcoming projects that I'm extremely excited to share and can't wait to see the next level of doors that will open for me!
Finally we would love to ask - What would you say to up and coming artists who want to pursue their passion?
Focus on colours, balance and message over technical skills. Sure...what I do is technical but the idea is more important. Don't compare yourself to others. Just be better than you were yesterday. Embrace YOUR personality. Being authentic is key. Social media can be harmful to your health. Use with extreme caution.
Vapor95.com through its Vaporwave lifestyle blog DARKNET presents 4 unique mixes - Mythic Realms, Alone Time, DARKSTAR, and SERENITY. Each with a different vibe and feel, spanning a wide range of genres, tempos and emotions.
First and most recent is Ｍｙｔｈｉｃ Ｒｅａｌｍｓ, which includes a softly melted down attitude that is the core of the whole Vaporwave movement. A Vapowave mix to float smoothly into your own luxury dreams.
Next is Ａｌｏｎｅ Ｔｉｍｅ. A mix featuring future beats and warm 808s infused with old records and samples. It will take you on a smooth sailing tour as an astronaut of your own inner spaces.
Come to the ＤΛＲＫＳＴΛＲ. A Synthwave mix to jack your mind into the mainframe computer. Twist that throttle and let your neon tires kick up some pixelated dust. Let yourself ride off into an FM sunset.
And finally, we bring you a Lo-Fi Hip-Hop mix ＳＥＲＥＮＩＴＹ, full of amazing compositions where grooves, soulful melodies, and Lo-Fi samples are all blended together. A mix for you to relax your mind and cultivate creativity.
Enjoy the adventure brought by these four unique and amazing mixes and make sure to follow us on Soundcloud!
Vapor95 is extremely proud to present its first compilation album, DREADSOFT. This flagship release is the first in a series of compilation albums that showcases undiscovered and underground Vaporwave artists. DREADSOFT is nine tracks, all from various artists, but coherent in their vibe and delivery. From nostalgic to contemplative to outright groovy, Vapor95 is honored to present this free download.
Track 1:
“Blue Render” by Reality#Design is chilling but light, slowed down but going places. Washed-out, stretched-out deep vocals, stiff drums, and waiting room synths abound on this track. Its plodding pace will have you feeling like you’re in a lobby bar high above the city. It’s the perfect music for a slow-motion beach scene.
Track 2:
“Cafe” by Trashwang is set to the backdrop ambiance of a restaurant. You can taste the freshness in this track. Like water droplets dripping on the wistful soundscape, the song evolves with the help of beautiful and elemental chimes. Like bamboo or water, this song is delicate and strong at the same time.
Track 3:
“Dream” by 8th Otaku is notable for its phasey, arpeggiated wave and trap beat. An 8-bit melody accompanies some serious bass-boosting sounds. It’s something you’d play while you demolish your best friends on a retro gaming console. It’s lo-fi with a victory lap.
Track 4:
“Make Circles” by Croatia is more than just a lyrical ballad. With an iconic, classic retro drumbeat and sultry, timeless vocals, it whisks you away to a dreamland. Wah, wah, wah, it echoes. A distant guitar wails in the back of this track, giving it that luxuriating vibe. Make love, cruise the coast in your drop top, or sing it to your lover. The song fades out just as dreamily as it starts. What they say about the end being closest to the beginning sure is true, isn’t it?
Track 5:
“Mista Lo-Ki” by Dirty Kicks (Produced by ChrisRebellion) is a darker, aggressive trap track that serves as a testament to the versatility of the album. It’s got Dirty Kick’s edgy rap over a hauntingly simple 4-tone melody. You’ll be repeating the chorus to yourself for days. “Mista Loki, Mista Loki, whatchu got for me, homie? Mista Loki, Mista Loki, whatchu got for me shorty?”
Track 6:
“Octavo” by Plastic Love is a song so uplifting it might as well be your sitcom theme. It’s pure Japanese funk with a swinging bass line, hand drums, and lyrics to whisk you away to the land of the rising sun circa 1989. With lyrics this exotic, ditch the translation and give it your own meaning. Imagine you’re riding a bike in Japan and it starts raining. But hey, someone throws you a Coca-Cola and you shout “Arigato!” and someone else smiles and hands you a beautiful bamboo umbrella. Yeah, it’s kinda like that.
Track 7:
“omega99” by New Colors is h e l i o s’ unofficial favorite. It’s an encapsulating soundscape, one that tastes of discovery and deep inner exploration (which are h e l i o s’ unofficial hobbies, oddly enough). Just as the band name hints, it feels like you’re discovering new colors when you hear this song for the first time. Flurple, Razzmatazz, Life Is Meaningless Yellow. It’s contemplative but has a nice drum and groove that speeds things up. Eventually, you’ll forget what it was that ever troubled you.
Track 8:
We all get dark and broody sometimes. This album is no different. “Penanggalan” by Harvey Floorbanger is this album’s woke-up-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-bed-moment. With a maniacal laughing scream and a dark bass bleeding into the silent spaces, it’s got more edge than a tetrahedron. It’s the perfect getaway song, a fight-or-flight song, or thinking late at night song. From chaos comes order, though, as the song gives you a vague sense of hope as it progresses. A hope so comforting, it’s as if you’re about to actually pull off the crime of the century.
Track 9:
“We Were Only Kids Just Yesterday” by issa_me rigo is a playful lullaby to end the album. Accompanied by ambient rain noise, it sounds like something that would play out of an antique wind-up doll. An idyllic way to say goodnight to a long day. A tear-jerking recording of kids at recess concludes the track. It’ll take you back to a happier time.
At times, dark. At times, painfully optimistic. It’s like listening to the palette of human emotions. A range of music embodying a variety of past years as seen through the lens of 2018.
Vaporwave music is a unique form of art known as appropriation art. This style of music often contains jazz and Muzak samples that have been shifted and/or stretched. The style came to life in reaction to economic and social powers that are still a part of our lives: globalization, nostalgia, and depression. There isn’t any other kind of music which concerns itself with these aspects of modern life and that’s what makes it so unique. Let’s take a look at the top 10 albums that cemented vaporwave music’s place amongst the other great genres.
10) Vanishing Vision - Internet Club (2012)
In an interview, Will Burnett a.k.a Internet Club said he was going for “something very Debordian, about how this capitalistic society has generated dehumanizing hyperreality by focusing on infinite generation of ideals as shown through commodities.”
By taking stock music and overlaying glitchy effects, Internet Club has created a calming overall effect and takes the listener on a foray into hyperreality.
The album was released in 2014 by the label Childodisc. The tracks are an absolutely intoxicating collection of sounds and you could say that each track is more of a sketch than a song. The essential components in the album are obscure slow-motion sampling and decaying sound quality. This album comes recommended for anyone who isn’t afraid to remove beats from the equation.
This album is by the so-called Distaderio a.k.a Eyeliner, New Zealand artist Luke Rowell. The release is a key example of skillfully new-composed vaporwave, which sounds like '90s synth pop. The tracks take a neo-futuristic turn on vaporwave. Eyeliner did a fantastic job of incorporating catchy melodies in unusual ways.
7) Televape – 超越愛 (translated: Beyond Love (2015))
The album is a collaboration between Vaperror and t e l e p a t h, one of the members of UK duo, 2814. What is most interesting about this album is that it was sold in a red or blue cassette version for a limited amount of time. The tracks are most definitely easing into the softer side of the Vaporwave scene and both of the artists bring their own specific beauty to the songs. You can sense the trap side from Vaperror and the catchy side from Telepath. It’s one unique interpretation of ambient funk, jazz, and synth.
Back again for a second time on our list is Vaperror a.k.a Jeff Cardinal. “Mana Pool” was released back in 2014 by British Dream Catalogue, one of the biggest vaporwave labels. This particular album was so popular that it was re-released by BDC in 2016, this time on vinyl.
The sounds on “Mana Pool” reflect a vaporwave/trap meltdown and creates an atmosphere that is dreamy yet danceable.
5) 2814 - 新しい日の誕生 (translated: Birth of a New Day) (2015)
The actual title of this album is 新しい日の誕生 (read as Atarashii Hi No Tanjou in Japanese). Released in 2015 by Britain’s Dream Catalogue, the iconic UK duo created an immersive experience for the listener. You can hear wind and rain sounds throughout the tracks and other various echoes of nature. This album is one of the most accessible vaporwave albums and straddles the realms of vaporwave and classical. Immersive, soulful, and atmospheric, 2814’s 2015 release is a perfect way to start your new day.
4) Death’s Dynamic Shroud.wmv - I’ll Try Living Like This (2015)
One of the most game-changing vaporwave albums was released by the trio DDS.wmv which includes Giant Claw, Peach, and Plum. This is the most overlooked album from 2015 as it's genuinely intriguing to listen to the samples of old video games and k-pop intermingled with sounds that mirror the top tracks of the '90s. This trio isn’t afraid to pay subtle homage to ambient techno while still maintaining a digitally slick sound.
The bronze goes to American musician and singer, Ryan DeRobertis a.k.a Skylar Spence or Saint Pepsi for his future-funk album, “Hit Vibes.” It’s one of the essential vaporwave albums every enthusiast must listen to and it’s also unapologetically fun and creative. The album itself possesses a very compelling plunderphonic sound, reaching into the archives of '70s and '80s R&B, funk, and disco music. Overall, it’s an exciting addition to the vaporwave canon.
Next up is the Canadian artist and musician, Blank Banshee, and his pioneering album of the vaporwave genre, “Blank Banshee 0.” The album is considered vaportrap, as it introduced trap style beats and elements to the vaporwave genre and consists largely of '80s and '90s sourced samples layered over original beats, instrumentals, and vocals. A limited amount of physical CDs were released in 2014 and the eye-catching aesthetic cover is designed by the Blank Banshee himself. His use of the head of video game character, Lara Croft, can often be seen as a meme on Facebook, Reddit, and 4chan. An additional honorable mention goes out to this artist for his subsequent 2013 album, “Blank Banshee 1.”
Well, it wouldn’t be vaporwave without the one and only Floral Shoppe--the album that defines the genre and placed vaporwave on the map. Vektroid or Macintosh Plus a.k.a Ramona Xavier, previously produced other chillwave and vaporwave releases under multiple pseudonyms. “Floral Shoppe” incorporates slowed and edited samples from many songs, notably funk and R&B spanning from the '70s to '90s. One of the songs in the album, リサフランク420 (translated: Lisa Frank 420), has 30 million views on YouTube as of August 2017. Similarly to the “Blank Banshee 0,” the cover art is frequently used on clothing, in Facebook Photoshop battles in vaporwave groups, and various memes.
You see, vaporwave isn’t dead as long as we are still dealing with globalization, nostalgia, and depression. While the vaporwave genre is evolving all the time, this list of Top Ten Classics is a sure ride on an aesthetic soundwave.
Be sure to check the blog for new music releases brought to you by Vapor95's very own record label DARKNET Recordings.
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