You betta believe it! KattattaK! season 11, episode 6 is this Saturday, April 20th 2024 at 6PM SLT exclusively at Kimkattia. This week, DJ Katt is lining up some great tunes from the Retrowave vaults to stimulate your ear holes and improve your weekend.
But what the heck are Retrowave, Synthwave, and Vaporwave?
These three genres, though linked by their love for the 80s, offer distinct auditory and visual experiences. Retrowave, the broadest term, acts as an umbrella encompassing a nostalgic yearning for the era. Think Miami Vice aesthetics – neon lights, chrome, and geometric shapes – with a modern twist. Its music pulls from various 80s influences, with pulsating synth lines and catchy melodies reminiscent of video game soundtracks and pop hits.
Synthwave dives deeper into the musical side of the 80s. Think John Carpenter soundtracks or cheesy action film scores. It's a celebration of synthesizer-heavy music, often using vintage instruments to recreate that classic sound. Think driving beats, soaring melodies, and a heavy dose of nostalgia.
Vaporwave subverts the nostalgic approach. It utilizes heavily chopped and slowed-down samples of 80s smooth jazz, pop, and elevator music. This creates a dreamlike, often unsettling atmosphere, with a critical edge. Visually, vaporwave employs surreal imagery, often featuring distorted versions of classic 80s icons. It's a commentary on consumerism and the superficiality it perceives in that era.
In essence, retrowave is a neon-lit love letter, synthwave a musical time machine, and vaporwave a distorted reflection. All three offer a unique journey through a reimagined 1980s landscape.