Lofi (low fidelity) is one of the chill genres of music that has been in high demand on YouTube for the past few years. This popularity is mainly due to people wanting to listen to background music that wouldn’t distract them from studying or, for example, work. Below, we’ll explain the lofi meaning and also answer the question of why this music genre is so attractive to listeners worldwide.

What Is Lofi Music?

So, what is lofi? In a nutshell, this music is characterized by its imperfect sound, which often includes ambient sounds (for example, the crackle of vinyl records or the noise of driving cars). This sound gives these tracks a warm atmosphere and creates a sense of coziness. At the same time, lofi music has a slow tempo and a soft rhythm, making it an ideal choice for situations when you need to focus on something, but complete background silence is not suitable.

What Are the Features of Lo-Fi Music?

Let's consider the three main features of the lofi music:

  • Relaxing melody;
  • Minimalistic beats with elements of jazz, hip-hop, or electronic music;
  • Intentionally degraded sound quality and defects imitating old audio recordings.

A Short History of Lofi Hip Hop

As a separate musical style, lofi, according to Wikipedia, was formed in the early 90s, thanks to independent musicians from the USA who decided to record their musical creativity on home equipment, allowing for the presence of defects in its sound and thereby creating unique audio aesthetics.

However, this genre became truly popular only thanks to YouTube — here, many music artists created channels streaming 24/7 playlists of lofi tracks (you can learn more about live streaming on YouTube). Today, lofi is considered an essential part of Internet culture and is appreciated among a young audience.

How to Use Lofi Music in Videos

Since lofi chill music is ideal for conversational videos with a calm atmosphere, YouTube bloggers often use it in videos about nature, lifestyle, productivity, art, etc. (However, it’s important to comply with copyright regulations). It is also often used in cycled streams, where the visual is something that will not distract the listener’s attention — for example, static images of landscapes.

Best Lofi YouTube Channels

Finally, let's list the five most popular lo-fi music artists on YouTube:

To sum up, lofi music is a full-fledged cultural phenomenon that relieves stress and creates a warm atmosphere when needed. By the way, this article explains how to create your own music channel on YouTube.