You may have noticed that music has been sounding more chilled out recently, with softer voices, slower tempos, and fewer instruments. From famous artists like Taylor Swift to background music for working and studying to, chill vibes are all around us. But Robin James argues that chill isn’t just a style, it also has political implications. Chill music creates a mood that helps us be more effective at work, allowing us to manage our state of mind for maximum productivity even as our working lives become ever more precarious.
Works mentioned
– Skrillex, “Bangarang”
– Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
– Liz Pelly, “Streambait Pop” and “Big Mood Machine”
– ChilledCow – “Lofi hip hop mix – Beats to Relax/Study to” (rebranded Lofi Girl)
– Taylor Swift, “cardigan”
Further reading
Robin James at The Guardian – Toned down for what? How ‘chill’ turned toxic
Colin Joyce at Vice – Chillwave Was the First Great Genre of the Internet Era
Amanda Petrusich at The New Yorker – Against Chill: Apathetic Music to Make Spreadsheets To
Kemi Adeyemi at Sounding Out – Straight Leanin’: Sounding Black Life at the Intersection of Hip-hop and Big Pharma
Mike Vuolo at Slate – The Birth of Cool
Mari Uyehara at The Nation – ‘Lean In’ Has Been Discredited For Good
Dan Stubbs at NME – Taylor Swift takes on keyboard warriors and stands up for gay pride in new song ‘You Need To Calm Down’