lo fi
what it is
In hindsight, the 1980’s seems to have been a decade flavored by both its prosperity and a sort of unintended decadence. So when the 1990’s opened with a mild recession, that “excess” of the 1980’s received a thorough backlash at the hands of a resurgent cultural and political movement. These were the environmentalists, who gained new life and tried to change the face of American culture away from the escalating use of the 1980’s and back to the cry of conservation.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make lo fi a playlist
turn these 22 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is lo fi?
In hindsight, the 1980’s seems to have been a decade flavored by both its prosperity and a sort of unintended decadence. So when the 1990’s opened with a mild recession, that “excess” of the 1980’s received a thorough backlash at the hands of a resurgent cultural and political movement. These were the environmentalists, who gained new life and tried to change the face of American culture away from the escalating use of the 1980’s and back to the cry of conservation.
What are good lo fi albums to start with?
Try Water by Salem, Goodbye Different Oceans by Christina Antipa, In The Shower by HOMESHAKE, and Power Chords by Mike Krol.
Who are some women making lo fi?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/lo-fi/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making lo fi, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20