What is Chillwave?
Chillwave feels like a memory you can’t quite place. It exists in the hazy space between dream and reality, where washed-out synths drift over lo-fi drum loops and distant vocals float just out of reach. For a short period in the late 2000s and early 2010s, chillwave was the sound of summer nostalgia, evoking a feeling rather than a movement. It was music for long road trips without a destination, for watching VHS tapes with the tracking slightly off, for dreaming of an era that maybe never really existed.
Some called it a trend, others dismissed it as hipster vaporware, but there was something undeniable about chillwave’s ability to capture a mood. It was retro without being overly referential, electronic without being cold, and melancholic without wallowing in sadness.
Where Chillwave Came From
Chillwave didn’t have a single defining moment of creation—it emerged like a Polaroid developing in real time. The late 2000s saw a wave of independent musicians using home recording techniques, vintage synthesizers, and lo-fi production methods to craft something that felt intimate and distant at the same time.
- Lo-Fi Aesthetic
Much of chillwave’s identity comes from its imperfect, slightly degraded sound. Artists often used analog synths, cassette recordings, and reverb-heavy processing to create a sense of warmth and nostalgia. - 1980s and 1990s Pop Influence
Synth-driven pop music from the ’80s, especially artists like Cocteau Twins and New Order, laid the groundwork for chillwave’s dreamy, atmospheric sound. Even more obscure influences, like the incidental music from old VHS tapes, found their way into the genre’s DNA. - Dream Pop and Shoegaze Connection
The reverb-heavy, ethereal quality of chillwave shares similarities with dream pop and shoegaze, two genres known for their atmospheric, often melancholic sound. - Indie and Electronic Crossover
Artists from the early 2000s indie scene, like Panda Bear and Caribou, played with elements of what would become chillwave, mixing organic instrumentation with electronic textures.
The Sound of Chillwave
Chillwave is instantly recognizable, even if its exact characteristics are hard to define. The music feels like it’s been filtered through an old TV screen or played from a half-forgotten mixtape left in the sun too long.
- Heavy Reverb and Delay
The production style is drenched in effects, giving everything a hazy, dreamlike quality. Vocals often sound like they’re coming from another room, barely breaking through the layers of synth and percussion. - Synth-Laden Melodies
Analog synths and vintage keyboards play a central role, providing the warm, warbly textures that define the genre. - Lo-Fi Drums
The percussion in chillwave is often muffled and distant, with drum machine loops that feel nostalgic rather than driving. - Soft, Introspective Vocals
Vocals tend to be subdued, sometimes even buried in the mix, blending with the instrumentals rather than dominating them. - Laid-Back Tempos
The BPM is rarely fast, giving the music a relaxed, almost weightless feel.
Key Artists and Albums
Several artists helped define and popularize chillwave, turning it from an underground experiment into a recognizable genre.
- Washed Out – Life of Leisure (2009)
Ernest Greene, better known as Washed Out, became synonymous with chillwave thanks to the song Feel It All Around, which later became the theme for Portlandia. His use of looping samples, distant vocals, and dreamy synths perfectly encapsulated the genre’s aesthetic. - Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms (2009)
Alan Palomo’s project Neon Indian took chillwave in a psychedelic direction, with glitchy textures and warped samples that made the music feel like it was melting in real time. - Toro y Moi – Causers of This (2010)
Chaz Bear (formerly Bundick) blended chillwave with R&B and funk influences, creating a sound that was both nostalgic and fresh. His later work would move beyond chillwave, but Causers of This remains a defining album. - Memory Tapes – Seek Magic (2009)
Dayve Hawk’s project Memory Tapes leaned into the melancholic side of chillwave, incorporating elements of dream pop and shoegaze into the sound. - Teen Daze – Four More Years (2010)
Teen Daze brought a more ambient, meditative quality to chillwave, with long, drifting compositions that felt like floating through an old memory.
The Role of the Internet
Chillwave was one of the first genres to truly exist and spread through the internet. It thrived on platforms like MySpace, Bandcamp, and music blogs, with artists self-releasing tracks and gaining followings without traditional industry support.
- Music Blogs and Hype Culture
Sites like Gorilla vs. Bear and Pitchfork championed chillwave, helping it gain traction among indie music fans. - DIY Aesthetic
Most chillwave artists recorded music in their bedrooms, using whatever equipment they had access to. This DIY approach gave the genre a raw, intimate feel. - Vaporwave Connection
Chillwave shares some DNA with vaporwave, another internet-driven genre. While vaporwave focused more on sampling and satire, both genres explored themes of nostalgia and digital decay.
Chillwave in Film, TV, and Advertising
The dreamy, nostalgic feel of chillwave made it a favorite for commercials, TV shows, and indie films.
- Feel It All Around – Portlandia
Washed Out’s track became the theme song for the sketch comedy show, further cementing chillwave’s place in indie culture. - Movie Soundtracks
Films looking for an ethereal, nostalgic vibe often turned to chillwave for background music. The genre’s hazy aesthetic fit well with indie and arthouse films. - Commercial Appeal
Brands used chillwave tracks in ads to evoke a sense of nostalgia and cool detachment, sometimes to the dismay of fans who saw it as a sign of the genre losing its mystique.
The Evolution of Chillwave
While chillwave as a distinct genre isn’t as prevalent as it was in its peak years, its influence is still felt in modern music.
- Artists Moving Beyond Chillwave
Many of the original chillwave artists evolved beyond the genre, incorporating new sounds while retaining elements of their signature style. Toro y Moi explored funk and R&B, Neon Indian leaned into synth-pop, and Washed Out continued crafting cinematic soundscapes. - Influence on Lo-Fi Hip-Hop
The lo-fi, nostalgic feel of chillwave can be heard in the rise of lo-fi hip-hop, which shares similar production techniques and a relaxed atmosphere. - Dream Pop and Indie Electronic Revival
New artists continue to draw inspiration from chillwave, blending it with dream pop and indie electronic styles. The influence is still there, even if the name isn’t used as often.
Chillwave may have started as a fleeting moment in internet music culture, but its sound and aesthetic have left a lasting mark. Even if the term itself isn’t as widely used, the feeling it captured—nostalgia, escapism, and a dreamy sense of time slipping away—still resonates.
