Vaporwave discussion -a post-internet electronic genre?

[pachubatinath]

One of the 'threads' in the new music narrative I've enjoyed following the most this past year (because of the real, critical thought required to engage with it satisfactorily) has been that of Vaporwave, this difficult-to-categorize electronic music made up of, or referencing, corporate m/Muzak from the 1980s-90s, Japanese technology fetishization, capitalism and -to some extent -New Age.

I've shelled out and bought some CDRs, downloaded a lot, listened to hours of it and spent just as long reading the critical literature http://dummymag.com/features/2012/07/12/...-vaporwave

Finally, I wanted to open the discussion to others who've been following these developments. Recently I stumbled across the Bandcamp tag 'webwave', which I think suits this nebulous and odd music better. My favourite is New Dreams Ltd -bizarre how compelling it is.

Any opinions either way?

Main links:

Internet Club (main player): http://internetclubdotcom.angelfire.com/
Beer on the Rug (prominent label): http://beerontherug.com/
Tiny Mixtapes: (critical reportage): http://www.tinymixtapes.com/
James Ferraro: (influence) http://soundcloud.com/hipposintanks/sets...de-virtual

[Jerome]

To me it just sounds like an electronic mess. I don't think this material warrants it's own genre. It's all been done before. It's just a throwing together of elements from various sources. Electronic soup mix.

[SteveO]

James Ferraro - Right Side Virtual is very good for a "different" listen!

[Vinicius Cabral]

We can think that all has been done before. It's usually true! I would argue that vaporwave "innovates" in "source material" subject, but it's not entirely true, even though this "genre" is helping to spread a bunch of artist/songs/audiovisual material that were almost everywhere considered "trash". And, guess what? Maybe it's not trash after all. I think that the method, sample research and usage of the audio/video possibilities can very much bring vaporwave to a new kinda environment. For me, it sounds "avant guard", even though avant guard doesn't usually last as a "trend". It sets room for other things to come, by messing up and provoking reflections such as these.

In short, I don't believe that vaporwave is a "genre", as much as an experimental attempt to bring new soundscapes to the world. As long as it keeps musicians and producers thinking and trying new stuff, I think it's valid.

I can give an example of a work of mine. Well, I think it's horrible to use this space to promote personal works, but it's a valid illustration. This project, called "The Innernettes", tries to use the vaporwave "method" to create something different, such as music to dance to...good old house. Nothing new, but for me, this reflection brought some kind of liberty to create actual songs, without being submitted completely to the vaporwave guetto. Hope you like:

https://soundcloud.com/theinnernettes/sets/hi-mom

[Jerome]

Had a listen to this - some elements I like and some I don't. One point here - why is everything recorded in mono. (listen on headphones). As an owner of an audio-visual company surely you value the broad sweep that the stereo spectrum offers. Trying to figure out why you have not used it on your pieces.

[Vinicius Cabral]

Had a listen to this - some elements I like and some I don't. One point here - why is everything recorded in mono. (listen on headphones). As an owner of an audio-visual company surely you value the broad sweep that the stereo spectrum offers. Trying to figure out why you have not used it on your pieces.

Jerome, all the samples used were in mono. Actually, not all of them, but since the method of the recording was to work like crafting songs and loops out of actual VHS samplers, it seemed to us somewhat appropriate. I value very much the stereo, all of it's advantages and stuff, but I really didn't feel up to treat this material professionally, know what i mean? It's supposed to be lo-fi.

[Vinicius Cabral]

Ps- we had a scheme of capturing the samples to an SP 404, directly...our VCR only reproduced mono (dunno why). We left it that way...

[Jerome]

Someone else might believe this explanation - I do not.

[Vinicius Cabral]

Someone else might believe this explanation - I do not.

Well, ok then. I don't mean to convince you of anything. In fact, I'm not here to spread my work...I'm here to discuss music. Music-wise, I dig this kind of stuff.

[swex]

Why is the word "vapor" in the name of the genre vaporwave? ≈ How did the name come into existence?