common themes of nostalgia, retrofuturism, and the influence of past decades, particularly the 1980s and 1990s. These genres are often characterized by a dreamy, synthetic sound, lo-fi production, and a focus on cultural elements from the past, but each has its own distinct focus and style.
Mallsoft is a subgenre of ambient music that evokes the feeling of being inside a shopping mall, particularly malls from the late 20th century. It uses samples of elevator music, smooth jazz, and mall background noise, creating a surreal, almost haunting atmosphere that reflects the commercial culture and consumerism of that era.
Vaporwave emerged in the early 2010s as a reaction to modern consumer culture, combining smooth, elevator-style music, glitch effects, and slowed-down samples from 80s and 90s pop culture. Vaporwave often critiques and satirizes capitalism, technology, and mass production while embracing aesthetics of outdated technology, corporate logos, and digital glitches.
Retrowave, also known as synthwave, focuses on the sound and visual style of 1980s pop culture, including neon lights, synthesizers, and the sounds of 80s film scores and video games.
It’s often more upbeat and energetic compared to mallsoft and vaporwave, celebrating a futuristic yet retro vision of the past.
What’s common across these genres is their use of nostalgic, retro influences, often mixed with modern production techniques. They evoke a sense of longing for a time that seems simpler, while also creating an almost dystopian or dreamlike atmosphere.
They blur the lines between reality and a fictionalized version of the past, offering listeners a blend of comfort, melancholy, and reflection on consumerism and technology.