Hyperpop has emerged as a unique genre that has broken traditional music boundaries. It blends various elements like electronic, experimental, and pop music to create an intense, high-energy sound. One artist often associated with hyperpop is Bladee, a Swedish musician who has garnered significant attention in recent years. But is Bladee truly part of the hyperpop scene? In this article, we will explore Bladee’s music and examine his connection to hyperpop, dissecting his sound, style, and influence.
Understanding Hyperpop: The Genre and Its Evolution
Hyperpop is a genre that thrives on breaking musical conventions. It is characterized by its use of distorted vocals, high-pitched, auto-tuned melodies, glitchy beats, and experimental production techniques. The genre emerged in the early 2010s as a combination of elements from pop, electronic music, and avant-garde genres. Hyperpop artists aim to create music that feels otherworldly, energetic, and often disorienting.
The genre’s most well-known artists include PC Music’s A.G. Cook, 100 gecs, and Shygirl. These musicians have pushed the boundaries of what pop music can sound like, incorporating digital manipulation, excessive auto-tuning, and unconventional song structures.
Who is Bladee?
Bladee, born Benjamin Reichwald, is a Swedish rapper, singer, and producer. He is best known as a member of Drain Gang, which includes fellow artists like Thaiboy Digital, Ecco2k, and producer Yung Sherma. Bladee’s music initially drew influences from cloud rap, a genre known for its atmospheric, ambient beats and introspective lyrics. However, over time, Bladee has evolved and incorporated more experimental sounds into his music.
Bladee’s vocal delivery is often heavily auto-tuned and distorted, creating a dreamlike, ethereal quality to his songs. His lyrics are introspective, often exploring themes of alienation, emotional turmoil, and existential questions. These qualities have made him an appealing figure within the experimental music community.
Bladee’s Connection to Hyperpop
While Bladee is not exclusively considered a hyperpop artist, there are many aspects of his music that align with the genre. Let’s take a closer look at how his music fits within the hyperpop aesthetic.
1. Experimental Production and Sound
Hyperpop is known for its boundary-pushing production, and Bladee is no stranger to this. His production often features chaotic, glitchy beats, distorted synths, and heavily processed vocals. His work with producer Yung Sherma, in particular, demonstrates a willingness to experiment with unconventional sounds.
Tracks like “Decay” and “Obedient” showcase Bladee’s ability to incorporate hyperpop-like elements into his music. These tracks feature sharp, electronic sounds and pitched-up vocal samples, two trademarks of the hyperpop sound. While Bladee’s music does not always follow the frantic pace or maximalist style typical of hyperpop, it shares an experimental approach that is a defining feature of the genre.
2. Heavy Use of Auto-Tune and Vocal Manipulation
One of the most recognizable traits of hyperpop music is the excessive use of auto-tune and vocal manipulation. Bladee’s music frequently features auto-tuned vocals, creating an alienating and almost robotic effect. This vocal treatment is characteristic of hyperpop, where the human voice is often transformed into something otherworldly and synthetic.
Bladee’s use of auto-tune adds to the surreal and dreamlike atmosphere of his music. In songs like “Be Nice 2 Me” and “Let It Go,” Bladee’s voice is distorted, shifting from melodic to almost ethereal at times. This manipulation of vocals is something hyperpop artists commonly do to create an emotionally charged, often disorienting listening experience.
3. Aesthetic and Visual Style
Hyperpop has not only influenced the sound of music but also the aesthetic and visual style of its artists. Many hyperpop musicians embrace a futuristic, avant-garde style in their music videos, album artwork, and live performances. Bladee’s visual aesthetic aligns with hyperpop in several ways. His album covers often feature surreal, otherworldly imagery, and his music videos often incorporate abstract visuals that match the experimental nature of his music.
Bladee’s fashion and overall style are also consistent with the hyperpop scene. He often adopts a androgynous, futuristic look that mirrors the genre’s commitment to breaking traditional boundaries. His presence within the broader hyperpop movement is visible in his visual choices, from his album covers to his clothing style.
Bladee’s Music and the Influence of Cloud Rap
Before we definitively label Bladee as a hyperpop artist, it’s important to acknowledge his roots in cloud rap, a genre that heavily influenced his early work. Cloud rap is known for its atmospheric beats, lo-fi production, and hazy vocal delivery. Bladee’s early projects, such as Gluee andE,, feature the dreamy, subdued production typical of cloud rap, where the focus is often on mood and ambiance rather than on melody or rhythm.
However, Bladee’s evolution as an artist has led him to incorporate more experimental and aggressive elements into his music, which makes him stand out from other cloud rap artists. He has also worked with hyperpop and experimental musicians, influencing his sound to align with that genre’s ethos.
The Hybrid Sound: Bladee as a Bridge Between Genres
Bladee’s music is difficult to pin down to a single genre, and that’s part of what makes him stand out in the current music scene. He blends elements of cloud rap, experimental pop, and hyperpop to create a hybrid sound that doesn’t fit neatly into any box.
Tracks like “Crest” from Red Light demonstrate this blend, featuring ethereal vocals alongside glitchy, electronic production. This type of hybridization is a hallmark of the hyperpop genre, which often incorporates elements of different genres to create something new and unique.
By combining atmospheric soundscapes with distorted vocals and experimental production, Bladee contributes to the evolution of hyperpop. His music exists in a liminal space between genres, borrowing elements from cloud rap, trap, and hyperpop to create something innovative and captivating.
Bladee’s Influence on the Hyperpop Scene
While Bladee may not be classified as a hyperpop artist by strict definition, his influence on the genre cannot be denied. He has contributed to the genre’s development by blending elements of hyperpop into his music, collaborating with hyperpop producers, and influencing a new generation of experimental artists.
Bladee’s ability to push boundaries and break traditional genre conventions has made him a key figure in the broader experimental music scene. His work with Drain Gang, alongside fellow artists like Thaiboy Digital and Ecco2k, has been essential in shaping the sound and direction of the current experimental music landscape.
Conclusion
Bladee’s music sits at the intersection of several genres, and while he is not fully immersed in hyperpop, his work undoubtedly shares many characteristics with the genre. From experimental production and heavy auto-tune to his unique aesthetic and innovative approach to music-making, Bladee’s work aligns with the principles of hyperpop.
Bladee’s music transcends genres, and his ability to blend elements of cloud rap, experimental pop, and hyperpop demonstrates the fluidity and malleability of modern music. While Bladee may not be a hyperpop artist in the strictest sense, he is certainly an important figure within the movement and a key contributor to its evolution.
In the end, Bladee represents the future of music, where genres are fluid, and creativity knows no boundaries. Whether you consider him hyperpop or not, one thing is clear: Bladee’s music is here to stay, and its influence will continue to shape the landscape of experimental and electronic music for years to come.
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