It stands for “low-fidelity,” but I prefer to describe “lo-fi” as elevated hipster elevator music.
It’s more of a category than a genre and describes music - often lyricless - that embraces the imperfections (e.g. crackles, distortion, room tone), leans heavily on historic samples, and generally relies on a subtle, subdued tempo that results in some truly relaxing rhythm.
If you’re already into lo-fi, well, I’m speaking your language. But if you’re not, it’s time to turn on, tune in, and chill out.
Over the last few years, I’ve come to really love lo-fi, exploring and consuming many of its subgenres, including lo-fi hip hop, lo-fi beats, the emerging meditative corner of chillhop, and even the burgeoning lo-fi holiday music scene.
In all cases, I’ve found lo-fi to be the perfect partner for productivity. Primarily instrumentals, and relying on consistent looping rhythm, it simply makes the best background music for getting stuff done.
Interested in giving it a shot?
I put together a Spotify playlist of some of my favorites that I’d love to share with you.
And just because it’s that time of year, I have to plug one of my absolute favorite lo-fi holiday albums:
What do you listen to when you work?
If you’ve got a gem, please don’t hesitate to share it. With all the endless music available to us on streaming channels these days, it’s never been more important to share what resonates and to help our friends discover their next favorite artist.
Editor’s Note
It feels more than a bit odd to be sending this newsletter on Thanksgiving, but then again, this is more than a bit odd of a Thanksgiving itself.
My wife and I are spending this year’s Thanksgiving in quarantine, as she was diagnosed positive for COVID last week. Despite an initial fever, and a really rough cold/cough, she is on the road to a full recover. Above all else, THAT is what I’m thankful for this year.
Wishing all the health to you and yours,
Seth