Vaporwave Vs Synthwave

David Muir

2 min read

·

08-12-2024

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The shimmering synths, the nostalgic samples, the retro-futuristic aesthetics – both vaporwave and synthwave tap into a similar wellspring of 80s nostalgia. However, these two genres, while aesthetically related, occupy distinct sonic and conceptual territories. Understanding their differences requires delving beyond the surface-level similarities.

The Ethereal Drift of Vaporwave

Vaporwave, emerging in the early 2010s, is less a genre defined by strict musical parameters and more a mood, a feeling. It’s characterized by:

• Chopped and Screwed Sampling: Existing smooth jazz, R&B, and elevator music are slowed down, pitched shifted, and looped, often creating a disorienting and melancholic effect.
• Abstract Aesthetics: The genre’s visual component is inseparable from the music. Think hazy, pastel-colored imagery, corrupted digital fonts, and references to consumerism and lost utopian ideals.
• Irreverent Deconstruction: Vaporwave often takes familiar sounds and subtly subverts them, creating a sense of unease and unsettling nostalgia. This isn't just about nostalgia; it's about questioning the past and its influence on the present.
• Themes of Consumerism and Late-Stage Capitalism: Many vaporwave artists use imagery and samples to comment on the pervasiveness of consumer culture and the anxieties of late-stage capitalism.

The Driving Beats of Synthwave

Synthwave, on the other hand, offers a more energetic and straightforward approach. Its defining features include:

• Driving Rhythms and Synth Leads: Powerful, driving basslines and soaring synth melodies are at the heart of synthwave. Think of the soundtracks to '80s action movies and video games.
• Retro Instrumentation: Heavily reliant on synthesizers, drum machines, and other technologies prevalent in the 1980s, synthwave aims for an authentic retro sound.
• Nostalgic but Optimistic: Unlike vaporwave's melancholic introspection, synthwave often evokes a sense of optimism, adventure, and the thrill of the future as envisioned in the 1980s.
• Themes of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Synthwave frequently finds its way into science fiction and fantasy contexts, often accompanying scenes of futuristic landscapes and high-octane action.

Key Differences Summarized:

While both genres draw inspiration from the 1980s, their contrasting moods, aesthetic choices, and underlying themes solidify their distinct identities within the broader electronic music landscape. Ultimately, the experience of each is unique, offering different paths to explore the complexities of nostalgia and the anxieties of the modern world.