ELI5: what is vaporwave music

What is vaporwave music?

Vaporwave is a super weird internet music genre that takes old elevator music, jazz, and 1980s lounge music and slows it way down to make it sound dreamy and strange [2][4]. It's like taking your grandma's smooth jazz CD, stretching it out like taffy, and adding lots of echo to make it sound underwater [1].

Why does it sound so odd?

Vaporwave artists take songs and techniques called "chopped and screwed," which means they cut up the music, slow it down, and rearrange it until it sounds totally different from the original [2]. It's intentionally meant to feel weird and nostalgic at the same time, like time travel [1].

What vibe does it have?

Vaporwave feels like walking through an abandoned mall in a dream, or exploring the internet late at night [4]. The music is smooth but also kind of spooky and makes you feel relaxed and confused at the same time [2].

Where did it come from?

Vaporwave started in the early 2010s on the internet as a joke and meme that people shared online [2]. It was artists making fun of internet culture and boring background music, but then it became a real music genre that people actually enjoy listening to [4][5].