Vaporwave
A microgenre that emerged in the early 2010s. Slowed-down samples of 1980s Muzak, smooth jazz, and elevator music.
Characteristic: Dreamy
The Why
Vaporwave relies heavily on major 7th and minor 7th chords — the "smooth" jazz voicings that dominated 1980s Muzak. The harmony never uses strong cadences, instead drifting through ii–V–I cycles without ever resolving completely. The slowed-down samples create a dreamy, narcotic quality.
Harmonic Analysis
Vaporwave deconstructs 1980s corporate music by slowing it down (60–75% of original tempo) and looping fragments. Harmony is built on major 7th and minor 7th chords — the smooth jazz voicings of 80s Muzak. Slowing down creates new harmonies through pitch shift (a sample slowed by 20% drops in pitch by 3-4 semitones). The harmonic "drifting" (no strong cadences) contributes to the disoriented, nostalgic feeling.