This lockdown quarantine Covid-19 season is real. Some people are just happy lounging on the couch and binge watching shows on Netflix but if you are a creative type, you are probably spreading yourself thin by now. It’s so important that you’re taking breaks during the day to get off of your phone, computer, and TV. (I need to take this advice too!) Just some simple breathing exercises for a few minutes daily of some mindful meditation can do some wonders. If you’re a yoga enthusiast that is great too. A lot of book readers out there too which is a perfect way to slow down time. We just all need some kind of pause from it all while we’re locked down. My release is music but it’s actually a specific kind of music. It’s Lofi Hip Hop which have a slowed down BPM and can just put you in a chill mood. The lofi movement is huge right now with the youngsters but that doesn’t mean you can’t get into it too. Or maybe you’re already listening to lofi hip radio on YouTube? 1 million likes and growing with 48K people streaming right this very moment.
Part of my daily routine is cleaning up the kitchen and straightening up our living room while my coffee brews. This whole time I’m doing my chores you can find me listening to lofi hip hop instrumentals as I get ready for my day. You know the old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Well, mine is more like, “lofi beats everyday keep the therapist away!” I struggle with horrible anxiety and to those that don’t have anxiety it’s hard to really understand. I wake up VERY early in the morning with my heart pounding with racing thoughts running through my mind. While I have thrived in my career with this social disorder it’s also taken a toll on other parts of my life. Over the past year I’ve learned ways to cope with my struggles and I’m happy to say that I’ve grown through the experience. If you’re suffering, you can too. Maybe a song like “Mist” from eevee of the Netherlands will put your mind at ease.
It was my man Alan who really put me up on the lo-fi tip. I had heard some of the songs already but I didn’t know the movement behind it. Then I started researching as I do and this genre really pulled on my heart strings. It’s music that can be listened by all ages while you do a variety of things. I can actually send my mom a link and I bet she wouldn’t hate it. That is saying something! Here is the Urban Dictionary definition of lo-fi. By the way, this can be spelled as LOFI, lofi, and lo-fi. Doesn’t that make all of you spelling geeks go wild?!?
This definition mentioned Joey Pecoraro and he happened to be the first artist I really got into from this genre. I followed his ascension through Instagram and he just came across as a regular dude who started gaining buzz off of some beats he made in Michigan. I just looked at his Spotify stats and he is up over 10M on some songs now. Wow! Joey, keep hustling homie! A good album to start out with from Joey is Little Pear. I’ve included “Your Eyes” here which is one of my favorites.
This genre is full of amazing beats and instrumentals from producers all over the world. I began building my LOFI HIP HOP BEATS Spotify playlist back in 2018 and while it only has around 400 followers now, it’s one that I’m most proud of. I’ve included the playlist here below for you guys to listen to. With these playlists I’m trying to hustle on them to build a following on each. This allows the artists to get more streams and make more money so if I can help them do it I’m all in. They are providing me with audio therapy each and every day so bringing their music to the masses is the least I can do. Before I get to the playlist… Just one more song! This is from Minthaze who to me is one of the best out right now. Some of Minthaze’s lofi beats are ones where I have to stop doing the dishes just to nod my head to the dope instrumental. This song only has 100 views on YouTube which blows my mind. Help this dude out and support his growth in the music industry! Here is “Surreal” from Minthaze.
And here is my Spotify playlist with nothing but lo-fi beats for your ears! I hope you enjoy. And if you find yourself stressing out or going crazy, try to bump some lofi beats. They’ll do you good!