The Song Planner

Hyperpop Era

tagStarted 2013Peak 2019-2022Last big hit still active

Maximalist, internet-native pop pushed to extremes: pitch-shifted helium vocals, distorted bass, glitchy clipping percussion, blown-out synths and cartoonishly sweet melodies fused with abrasive noise. Self-aware, exaggerated takes on pop tropes built for headphones and online subcultures, alternately euphoric and grating by design.

History

Rooted in A.G. Cook's PC Music label and the 'bubblegum bass' of SOPHIE and Hannah Diamond from 2013, hyperpop went viral via 100 gecs' 'Money Machine' in 2019 and Spotify's Hyperpop playlist. The scene incubated artists like glaive and underscores; Charli XCX bridged it to the mainstream as the abrasive-but-catchy sound spread online.

Defining artists

Essential listening

← Explore Pop

Sources

  • Wikipedia: Hyperpop
  • uDiscoverMusic: Hyperpop guide
  • Grammy.com: essential hyperpop artists