In recent years, you might have noticed that lo-fi has become excessively popular among students and younger working people in general. Short for low fidelity, which just means of lower quality than mainstream music, lo-fi hip-hop in particular seems to be a favourite of millions of people. But did you know that lo-fi music first became its own genre in the 1980s? The genre has evolved so much, however, that older examples might not be recognised as what one would consider lo-fi music today.
Lo-fi music’s structure generally consists of three parts: Jazzy instrumentals, a drum beat combined with bass and snares that are intentionally played off-kilter, and intentional environmental noises. The environmental noises can be anything from static record scratches, the sound of wind, rain, and even voices in the background the like of which you might hear in a bustling cafe. These noises, which might normally be considered imperfections, are made audible and emphasised as an aesthetic choice.
Lo-fi usually ranges from 70 to 95 beats per minute and could be called repetitive in nature, but to its credit this is one of the aspects that can help people focus. That and the lack of singing, which is always a distraction when studying or working. The genre in its current form is nearly always delivered with ambient noises and imagery that lend it an appealing nostalgic quality, charming and relaxing listeners.
In his article for the Washington Post, Steven Johnson spoke to Teresa Lesiuk, director and associate professor of music therapy at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, who noted that listening to music doesn’t make you smarter, but it affects your mood. If you listen to music with a slower tempo, it relaxes you. Music with a faster tempo will usually amp you up, so it generally works best when going to the gym, for example. Listening to lo-fi music with its slow tempo and soothing ambient sounds and melodies will relax you, which in turn affects your mood in a positive way. This, Lesiuk states, will positively affect your cognition, and a positive effect on cognition improves productivity.
Many students say lo-fi helps them get into a headspace of focus and calm. It puts them in an ambient bubble that disconnects them from the stresses of the world and helps them relax while focusing on the task at hand.
If you want more info about how and why lo-fi music is great for your study and work sessions, check out the articles below.
The Washington Post Article by Steven Johnson: How lo-fi artists make music perfect for work. (Or studying. Or chilling.)
The science behind lo-fi music by Answer in Progress on YouTube:
How lofi hip-hop took over YouTube by Aperture on YouTube
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