Maximalist Pop
tagStarted 2008Peak 2010-2019Last big hit still active
Big, layered, theatrical pop: thunderous drums, stacked choirs, strings, harps and wall-of-sound dynamics that build to euphoric, overwhelming climaxes. Vocals are operatic or belted, arrangements dense and orchestral. The opposite of minimalism, everything is piled high for maximum emotional and sonic impact.
History
Maximalist pop pushed against minimalist trends by piling on orchestration, choirs and crescendo dynamics, drawing on baroque and chamber-pop traditions. Florence + the Machine's drum-and-harp anthems, Sia's belted wall-of-sound and Lana Del Rey's cinematic productions defined the late-2000s-2010s strain, where scale and theatricality were the point.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Pitchfork
- Rolling Stone
- AllMusic