LOFI MUSIC

SANJANA SHAH, staff writer

To anyone that just wants a peaceful soundtrack to listen to after a long, stressful day at school, you’re in luck! Lo-fi music streams are drawing millions of listeners on YouTube everyday. These complex yet soothing rhythms are sure to set the tempo for whatever you want to do.

Lo-fi music is characterized by relaxed, unpolished sounds featuring elements such as crackling, static, and hissing that give the music a vintage or retro feel. These tunes draw plenty of inspiration from several genres including hip hop, jazz and dream pop. The music also features many “imperfections,” such as incorrect notes, background noise and low quality audio — all of which used to be looked down upon by industry professionals. So, this begs the question, what makes these tracks, songs that have no lyrics, few instruments, and drum patterns that repeat for minutes on end so mesmerizing?

Perhaps it is because of what Lo-Fi does to the human brain. Not only is Lo-fi music calming to the ear, but recent studies show that they can have an array of positive effects on mental health. First, Lo-fi music improves focus and brain activity. This is because of the Attention Drainage Effect Theory, which affirms that lo-fi sounds drain distractions by allowing the brain to subconsciously focus on a task while music plays in the background. Furthermore, the familiar sounds of water dropping, pages turning and humming creates feelings of nostalgia and homeliness, allowing for instant relaxation. According to The Mental Health Bene- fits of Lo-fi

Hip-Hop, these beats also significantly impact one’s mood by decreasing cortisol levels,a stress-inducing hormone, and increasing dopamine and serotonin levels, a mood-boosting hormone. Lastly, as spirit-lifting as Lo-Fi music can be, it may also help improve sleep quality. Japannakama, an up-and-coming lo-fi producer says it perfectly: “sleeping with lo-fi music makes you feel cocooned as if the predictable sounds protect you from the outside world, creating in your mind a safe space where you can fall asleep with your guard down.” Not only is Lo-Fi music good for one’s mental health, it is also beneficial for studying. According to Best Colleges, “an academic paper published in 1994 by the American Psychological Association Convention asserted the idea that music can help enhance cognitive performance. And while some musical stylings lack the cognitive-enhancing capabilities of Mozart or Debussey, other, more modern styles have recently been popularized by students.”

Aside from health and learning benefits, Lo-fi music is making waves online by creating the warmest communities of positivity and support. It is not rare to see Lo-fi YouTube channels flooded with comments like “I just feel like all of us listening to this are somehow a family” or “to anyone who is watching this video when studying, keep on fighting and don’t give up on your studies. You’ll be alright.”

So the next time you have to last-minute cram for that AP World History exam or Chemistry test, try turning on some Lo-Fi music. You may be surprised just how therapeutic these retro bops are.