Hyperpop: The Label For The Label-less
Its Origins
In the latter half of the last decade, it’s been widely accepted that pop music has lacked originality and substance, reusing the same chord progressions and tired strong structures. It is this monotonous sound that may have sparked the broad and left-then-center movement now known as hyperpop.
The Blueprint
Although hyperpop may be in its infancy, the genre is showing great potential. Offering a maximalist sound--not for the faint of heart--along with addicting hooks and brain-massaging synths, the appeal is undeniable. I remember my first time listening to 100 gecs, needless to say, I was interested. Although it’s only considered a sub-genre now, hyperpop’s futuristic sound may eventually claim Pop Music’s throne at the top of the charts.
The Rise
Hyperpop has experienced drastic growth during the last year, seeming to have fed directly off the attention quarantine spared it. It’s hard to overlook the impact that tiktok has provided for the genre, as many hyperpop songs were catapulted into the mainstream through the popular app. This occurrence was best exhibited through Charli XCX’s song Unlock It which exploded on the app recently, despite being released back in 2017. Hyperpop lends itself well to platforms like tiktok because of the counterculture pillars it was founded on. More specifically, tiktok’s “alt community” has embraced the genre adding more fuel to the fire by championing hyperpop artists because of their avant-garde music and left-then-center aesthetic.
What Makes It Unique?
Although genre labels are often used to organize music by grouping songs with similar characteristics together, hyperpop is quite the opposite. By definition, it’s “a loosely-defined music genre,” meaning there is no structure or tempo that pigeon-holes its sound. Because of this, the genre pulls inspiration from a myriad of other genres offering a new sound that features instrumentation ranging from the heavy 808’s of trap music to grungy drum breaks reminiscent of early 2000s punk. It is this versatility that attracts the strangest of collaborations. Most notably being Kendrick Lamar’s feature on Vince Staple’s Yeah Right. This track was produced by the late artist SOPHIE--who helped pioneer hyperpop’s sound-- offering possibly the craziest sonic textures out there. If you know anything about Kendrick Lamar, then you know his presence is rare. Furthermore, the song’s instrumental is a surreal masterpiece incomparable to anything I’ve ever heard.
Faces of the Genre
As hyperpop continues to evolve artists like Charli XCX, 100 Gecs, and A.G. Cook persist with spearheading their way into mainstream culture. Although these three acts are great, it’s artists like glaive and ericdoa that reveal the genre’s depth and potential. Following the success of his breakout single astrid-- North Carolina native-- glaive recently dropped his second project all dogs go to heaven featuring introspective and melancholic lyrics well beyond what you would expect from a 16-year-old. Similarly, ericdoa has garnered success through his recent single fantasize that spread like wildfire through Spotify’s featured playlists. Both artists share a heavy social media presence and are very close to one another, often trolling each other on Instagram Live. Beyond their online shenanigans, the duo has released two songs together, cloak n dagger and f*ck this town. Their energy and charisma on each track are unmatched, offering an electric and fun listening experience.
What’s Next?
Due to the pandemic and recent inception of the genre, a majority of these rising artists have yet to make their debut on stage, only adding to the anticipation that surrounds hyperpop. When our country opens back up and live music returns, hyperpop will only continue to grow in popularity because of the heightened performative nature of its acts and the public’s growing appetite for new music. I’m looking forward to seeing hyperpop artists finally get the praise they deserve and watch them take over the music industry.
Sincerely,
A genuine perspective
