This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Lindsay Daneen. Find her on Instagram at @_lindsay_daneen. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
I can’t lie to you. I had no idea what lo-fi music was until last week. Don’t judge me. For those of you who are well-versed in this interestingly therapeutic music genre, kudos to you! But this is for those of you who are just as clueless as I was. I took it upon myself to do a deep dive just for you guys…and myself, especially as it rises in popularity. So hopefully we each walk away from this article with more information about lo-fi music than we started the day with. Maybe you’ll find that it’s the therapy you’ve needed all along. Or perhaps it’s just the latest craze or placebo effect. Either way, this is the article for you.
What Is Lo-Fi Music?
We all know about the Calm app, right? It’s an app that promotes relaxation and mental health. You may recognize it from television commercial breaks, telling you to relax for 30 seconds before continuing your show. I use the app to help me sleep with its ocean and cricket sounds. Well, Calm gives a thorough explanation. “’ Lo-fi’ is short for ‘low-fidelity’ music, which means it doesn’t have the polished, studio-quality sound of high-fidelity (hi-fi) recordings. Lo-fi is more raw and embraces imperfections, such as ambient noise, static, or the hum of background conversations.” I don’t feel any additional explanation is necessary so that I won’t bore you with my own paraphrased version. But I will say this. It seems like the purest form of audio. There are no frills or overproduction, just the bare components. And I appreciate that there is a place to recognize these musical imperfections.
Types of Lo-Fi
I initially thought lo-fi music was going to sound like elevator music or sound very close to what companies play on the phone while you’re on hold. But I was partially wrong. Some of it does sound like that, which is fine. But to my surprise, there’s R&B and Hip-Hop lo-fi, which I prefer. I found a “Good Vibes” playlist that I love. That one made me feel like I was on a beach or yacht in Europe. I found jazz, soft house, and so much more. There truly is something for everyone and each video/playlist provides hours of content. It’s worth a deep dive if you’re considering this relaxation method. Think of it as white noise but with rhythm and flare.
Is Lo-Fi Necessary?
Is lo-fi music necessary? Well, like any form of music, it has its benefits and its place in society. Not all music needs to be perfectly polished and Grammy performance-ready. Don’t you agree? I’d like to think that music, in its purest form, has its uses. So, before we bring any scientific facts into the mix, it’s good to recognize that this type of music is necessary for some. It may not be for you, but I guarantee someone else loves it. And let us not forget, that music without lyrics is not a new concept. Think of jazz, orchestra music, and instrumentals as your favorite songs. Although they are not considered lo-fi, they are lyric-less genres that people love and add additional layers to the music industry.
Lo-Fi Music For Concentration
There is a lot of information swirling around about the benefits of this genre of music. Is lo-fi music good for studying? Is it good for meditation? Is the genre good for concentration overall? Here’s the answer you’ve been waiting for. There is some scientific knowledge that backs the lo-fi music theory. I’ll go into this later. But it seems to follow the “not one size fits all” mantra. While some may benefit from the calm and repetitive nature of lo-fi to concentrate and study, others may appreciate other genres. Thus, while it has been proven that this genre can be helpful, it does not mean that you need to scrap your favorite study playlist to guarantee your academic success. You can also keep your meditation or yoga playlist the way it is if it allows you to relax accordingly.
The True Science Behind It
This has not been the most heavily researched topic. So here’s what I was able to find. According to various sources, it has been proven that Lo-fi music can help with mood regulation, slowing down heart rates, minimizing distractions, and reducing anxiety. Psychology Today states, “Lo-fi’s repetitive yet nonintrusive soundscapes help minimize distractions and provide a consistent auditory backdrop for tasks requiring concentration.” Taylor & Francis, a leading academic publisher states, “Participants associated lo-fi with comfort, ease, and stress relief, attributing these feelings to the music’s distinct background sounds. This points towards the unique soundscape of lo-fi, potentially acting as a novel mechanism for its anxiety-reducing effect.” And finally, Vaughn College stated, “Lo-fi music helps the front lobe in our brain to focus – those flaws or low hums can also put the brain in the mindset to focus.”
It’s important to understand that although this information is not inaccurate, it is anecdotal or based on personal experiences and accounts. This information can be biased and subjective but it does not change the fact that there is information out there as well as positive experiences regarding this lo-fi phenomenon.
Is It For You?
Is lo-fi music for you? Questions like, “Is lo-fi music really helpful? and “Is lo-fi music good for studying?” etc. are important to ask. I appreciate that people are looking for more natural, non-invasive, and harmless ways to study, concentrate, relax, and better themselves overall. Discovering ways to cope with this loud crazy world is crucial. Finding a way to pause is something that will take you very far in life and your personal development. But remember that you are unique and not every new theory or strategy is intended for you. Do I think lo-fi music has its place? I believe that it does. Do I think that it’s for everyone? No, because nothing is for everyone. Some people can only concentrate while listening to heavy metal house music and hip-hop. Others will benefit tremendously from the ambient audio that lo-fi music provides.
I suggest that you find what mentally motivates you and stick to it until it no longer works for you. Life is about evolution and adapting to that evolution. If you think this strategy is the one you’ve been waiting for, you can find this kind of music easily on sites like Spotify, YouTube, and SoundCloud. I even tried it out while writing this article. It worked for me… maybe it will do the same for you.
What do you think about lo-fi music? Is it for you?
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