Familiar Beats & Harmonic Warmth: Lo-Fi Artists & Streams To Aid Concentration
by Chiara Micallef
Over the past few months, viewership to lo-fi streams on YouTube has grown rapidly – this genre's simplicity and ability to help you concentrate has helped people to re-create a calming and relaxing atmosphere within their home.
Apart from aiding in concentration, lo-fi music is known to help one get into a focused mindset – making it the perfect music to listen to when working or studying.
Lo-fi music is rising in popularity thanks to its instrumental soundscape and atmospheric musical elements. This consistent-in-tempo genre is reminiscent of 80's postmodern aesthetics thanks to its warmth and chillwave beats.
As a genre, it has been around since the '80s, however, it has recently risen in popularity again during the CoronaVirus epidemic. This particular genre is proven to soothe the nerves and aid productivity, making it the ideal musical style to listen to when working from home.
Local Lo-fi Musicians
Bark Bark Disco
Bark Bark Disco defines their sound as lo-fi and new wave, and for a good reason. These guys are a staple in the Maltese alternative scene, thanks to their gorgeous music and catchy tracks.
Hearts Beating In Time
Malta's lo-fi sweetheart will simply never cease to amaze us. Hearts Beating In Time's music is a literal dream – with layers upon layers of ethereal vocals, darling synth sounds and an over-all lulling feel. The perfect companion for pretty much any time of the day.
Spotify Playlists
1. Lo-fi Gaming Playlist
The perfect playlist for anyone who is looking to chill out after a long day. This lo-fi compilation on Spotify has a number of tunes produced by great artists, including The Comfy Unknown, Middle Child, Great Hollow and Kyros.
2. A Study-Centred Playlist
This is a great playlist for those who are currently undergoing their studies. The slow tunes and soft beats will not distract you from anything you are concentrating on, and hopefully, it will also help you keep any exam-related nerves under control.
3. Feel-Good Lo-Fi Music
This feel-good playlist is reminiscent of chilled-out Sunday afternoons and days spent out in nature. A favourite among many listeners thanks to its soothing sounds and muted tunes. This playlist is highly reminiscent of Vaporwave and thin-like 80's tonalities.