Why lo-fi music?

You’ve probably come across that livestream video on YouTube, featuring a cartoon girl with headphones on, studying and endlessly writing notes to the sound of chill music.

That music is known as ‘lo-fi beats’, or ‘lo-fi music’.

‘Lo-fi’ or ‘low-fidelity’ literally means ‘low - accuracy’, or 'low - quality’ in this context.

So, why would anyone listen to low quality music?

In a world where the top charts are dominated by vocal - driven tracks that draw our attention to strong themes and imagery, lo-fi music dials it down by keeping it simple. Instead of drawing our attention to catchy hooks and eccentric lyrics, lo-fi music strips all vocals and instead focuses on relaxing instrumentation, nature and foley sounds, and hip - hop rhythms to carry itself. Instead of relying on highly polished production with pitch - corrected vocals, perfectly processed instruments and quantised, robotic beats, lo-fi music welcomes and embraces imperfection. Aspects such as wonky, slightly - offbeat drums; detuned piano, muffled guitar and vinyl crackle are stylistically intentional and paramount. Although these characteristics may be ‘low - quality’, lo-fi music capitilises on it to present the audience something easy to listen to.

These elements make lo-fi music great for background music to accompany activities such as work or study. It doesn’t distract you like a dancy pop track or growling heavy metal riff would, but rather keeps you focused with its intentionally repetitive beat.

Now go and work on that assignment you’ve kept putting off, because you know what to put on!