Lofi, short for "low-fidelity," is a subgenre of electronic music that is characterized by its laid-back, mellow sound, and its use of lo-fi techniques, such as sampling from vinyl records and incorporating static, hiss, and other imperfections. Here are five lo-fi artists who are making waves in the genre:
Tomppabeats:
Tomppabeats is a lo-fi producer and beatmaker from Finland who has gained a significant following on YouTube and SoundCloud. He started producing music as a teenager and released his first EP, Harbor, in 2016. His music is known for its dreamy, nostalgic sound and its use of jazz samples. One of his most popular tracks is "You're Cute," which has over 60 million views on YouTube.
Sample track: "You're Cute"
Jinsang:
Jinsang is a lo-fi producer from California who has been making music since 2013. His music is heavily influenced by jazz and hip hop, and he often samples from old records. He has released several albums and EPs, including Solitude and Life, and has collaborated with other lo-fi artists such as Limes and Idealism. One of his most popular tracks is "affection," which has over 80 million views on YouTube.
Sample track: "Affection"
A L E X:
A L E X is a lo-fi producer and multi-instrumentalist from London who has been making music since 2014. His music is characterized by its dreamy, atmospheric sound and its use of live instrumentation, such as guitar and piano. He has released several albums and EPs, including Growing Up, Pt. 1, and has collaborated with other lo-fi artists such as Eevee and Flamingosis. One of his most popular tracks is "I miss having someone to talk to," which has over 40 million views on YouTube.
Sample track: "I miss having someone to talk to"
Idealism:
Idealism is a lo-fi producer from Switzerland who has been making music since 2016. His music is known for its laid-back, jazzy sound and its use of vinyl samples. He has released several albums and EPs, including Hiraeth and Rainy Evening, and has collaborated with other lo-fi artists such as Jinsang and Philanthrope. One of his most popular tracks is "Controlla" which has over 50 million views on YouTube.
Sample track: "Controlla"
SwuM:
SwuM is a lo-fi producer and DJ from Texas who has been making music since 2015. His music is characterized by its chill, downtempo sound and its use of vocal samples from old R&B and soul records. He has released several albums and EPs, including A Sultry Dusk and SwuM's LoFi Adventure, and has collaborated with other lo-fi artists such as Idealism and Philanthrope. One of his most popular tracks is "Let It Be," which has over 30 million views on YouTube.
Sample track: "Let It Be"
Read more about a game-changing artist: SoulClap