Hyperpop
Hyperpop is characterized by its maximalist, often chaotic sound, featuring heavily processed vocals, distorted synths, glitchy beats, and a high-energy, sometimes abrasive atmosphere that pushes the boundaries of traditional pop. Emerging from the UK in 2013 with A.G. Cook's PC Music label, it evolved from "bubblegum bass" and draws heavily from EDM, traditional pop, emo, rock, electro, hip-hop, and lo-fi, blurring lines between mainstream and experimental music. Key artists include 100 Gecs, Charli XCX, and Slayyyter. Its recognition by Spotify in 2019 solidified its status as a distinct microgenre with significant cultural impact.
More about Hyperpop
Hyperpop is one of the most radical and exciting genres to emerge from 21st-century internet culture. Born in the early 2010s in the United Kingdom around the PC Music label founded by A. G. Cook, this movement was built on a deliberate exaggeration of commercial pop conventions: extreme pitch-shifted vocals, saturated synthesisers, hyperactive beats, an aesthetic of excess raised to an artistic manifesto. Artists such as Sophie, GFOTY and Charli XCX laid the foundations of a sound then known as "bubblegum bass," before Spotify popularised the term hyperpop with a dedicated playlist in 2019.
Musically, hyperpop is defined by its unapologetic maximalism: every element is pushed to its limit, distortions coexist with sugary melodies, the most abrasive electronic textures dialogue with irresistible pop choruses. The genre freely borrows from emo, cloud rap, trap and internet meme culture. It is also deeply embedded in LGBTQ+ and queer communities, expressing their aspirations, humour and resilience with unprecedented stylistic freedom.
The current hyperpop scene is diverse and constantly evolving. Jane Remover pushes the genre towards shoegaze and experimental territories. Slayyyter embraces a Y2K and flamboyant pop aesthetic, while Frost Children blend hyperpop with new rave influences. Whethan brings future bass and EDM colours into the equation, and Rojuu represents the Hispanic hyperpop scene with an emotive and lo-fi approach.
Hyperpop festivals reflect the chaotic and inclusive energy of the genre, gathering online communities that reunite on physical stages. Hyperpop often shares the bill with electronic music and experimental pop artists, proving that this digitally born genre has found a visceral presence on stages across the world.