Chillout
Located in 3 routes
Chillout is electronic music made for decompression: slower tempos, warm pads, soft breakbeats, acoustic color, dubby echo, and a relaxed emotional arc. It can be beatless or lightly grooving, but it avoids the aggressive dynamics of main-room dance music. The style's signature setting is the after-hours room, sunset terrace, cafe compilation, spa playlist, or headphone comedown.
History
Chillout took shape in rave chillout rooms, Ibiza sunset culture, ambient house, downtempo, and compilation series such as Café del Mar. José Padilla's Café del Mar selections, The KLF's Chill Out, The Orb's early records, Chicane's Balearic trance, Moby's Play, Zero 7, Air, Bent, Nightmares on Wax, and Thievery Corporation made the style globally recognizable. In the 2000s and beyond, chillout merged with lounge, wellness, yoga, lo-fi beats, and streaming playlist culture.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- The Guardian José Padilla obituary
- Café del Mar compilation history
- AllMusic chillout/downtempo guides
- Discogs release listings