The music scene is constantly evolving. New genres, subgenres, and hybrid styles emerge all the time as artists experiment with new sounds, production techniques, and cultural influences. 

Trending New Music Genres

Hyperpop

Hyperpop is a genre that pushes the boundaries of pop, blending elements of electronic, experimental and pop-punk music with maximalist production. It’s known for extreme pitch-shifted vocals, glitchy beats, and heavy use of auto-tune. Artists like 100 gecs, Dorian Electra, and Shygirl are pioneers of this sound.

Hyperpop producers often use digital distortion and exaggerated vocal effects with high-energy, chaotic structures. The result is a sound that’s fast-paced, vibrant, and often feels playful and lawless.

Lo-fi Hip Hop and Chillwave

Lo-fi hip hop is a genre of smooth, relaxing beats with a purposely rough, imperfect sound quality. It’s commonly associated with online “study music” playlists. Producers of lo-fi hip hop often sample jazz, soul or R&B tracks, layering them with vinyl crackles, static, and low-fidelity sound. The beats are laid-back and looped to create a calming, ambient vibe. 

Chillwave shares some aesthetic features–a dreamy, atmospheric production with heavy reverb and synthesizers. In chillwave, artists typically use vintage synths, slowed-down rhythms, and smooth textures to create a nostalgic yet modern atmosphere. Lo-fi hip hop and chillwave are two sides of the same coin, both relaxing and intriguing to hear. 

Cloud Rap

Cloud rap is a subgenre of hip hop that emerged in the 2010s. Known for ethereal, atmospheric beats and introspective lyrics, it’s often slow-tempo, dreamy, and psychedelic. Artists like A$AP Rocky, Lil B, and Yung Lean have helped popularize this music style.

Cloud rap features reverb-heavy, lo-fi production, often incorporating slow, floaty synths, delayed snares, and spacey effects. The vocal delivery is often soft and melodic, with a focus on mood over lyrical complexity.

Drill

Drill is a form of trap music that comes from Chicago and later became popular in the UK. It’s characterized by dark, aggressive beats with fast-paced hi-hats and hard-hitting 808s. Lyrically, it’s focused on street life, violence, and life struggles. The style is built around a menacing vibe in Chicago, but more of a "grime" aesthetic in the UK. 

Drill’s production uses minimalistic, percussive beats with sliding bass lines and syncopated rhythms. Lyrics are delivered rapidly, often with a drill-specific cadence or flow, emphasizing raw energy. 

Synthwave

Synthwave evokes the sounds and aesthetics of the 1980s. It blends nostalgic synth sounds with modern electronic production, often creating a cinematic, retro-futuristic vibe. Artists like Carpenter Brut, FM-84, and Gunship are examples of genre artists.

Synthwave is heavily inspired by ‘80s movie soundtracks, video game music, and new wave. Producers use analog synthesizers, vintage drum machines and reverberating vocals to recreate the distinct sound of the era. Synthwave often features sweeping melodies, bass-heavy rhythms and atmospheric pads.

Bedroom Pop

Bedroom pop is a genre that emerged in the late 2010s, characterized by lo-fi, DIY production and intimate, often melancholic lyrics. It’s typically soft, mellow, and reflective. Artists like Clairo, Rex Orange County, and Beabadoobee are some of the key players.

As the name suggests, bedroom pop is often produced by musicians working from their bedrooms or home studios. The genre blends pop, indie, and electronic elements. Minimalistic arrangements, simple guitar strumming, soft vocals and airy, lo-fi production create a casually intimate sound.

Afrofuturism

Afrofuturism is a cultural movement that fuses African culture and traditions with futuristic concepts, often incorporating science fiction, technology, and space exploration. Musically, this has led to the emergence of genres like Afrobeat, Afrotrap and Afro house.

Afrofuturism in music blends traditional African rhythms, instruments (like talking drums, balafon, and kora), and modern genres like hip hop, R&B, and electronic music. Artists like Janelle Monáe, Burna Boy, and Wizkid use this genre to explore African identity, technology, and the future.

Cinematic Pop or Indie Cinematic

Cinematic pop blends lush orchestral arrangements with indie pop sounds, creating songs that feel like a movie soundtrack. Artists like Lorde, Sufjan Stevens and Lana Del Rey embrace the elements of cinematic pop.

This genre bundles sweeping orchestration, piano and strings into pop songs, with ambient soundscapes and emotive vocals. It’s cinematic in scope, with grand, melancholic melodies that bring feelings of nostalgia and introspection. 

Dark Pop

Dark pop is a subgenre of pop music that leans into moody, melancholic, and sometimes eerie themes. It’s marked by atmospheric production and introspective lyrics. Artists like Billie Eilish have made dark pop a mainstream phenomenon.

Dark pop combines pop melodies with minimalist production, often featuring slow tempos, ethereal synths, and haunting vocals. The genre explores themes of love, loss, and self-reflection, with a focus on atmosphere over traditional pop music structure.

Post-Genre

As music becomes more global and interconnected, some artists are intentionally avoiding genre labels altogether. Post-genre (or genreless) music is fluid and eclectic, blending elements from multiple genres to create something entirely new. Artists like Frank Ocean and Arca explore post-genre territory.

In genreless music, traditional rules are broken. Artists might blend rap with classical, pop with industrial, or EDM with jazz, making hybrid sounds that defy categorization. The music prioritizes emotion, atmosphere, and innovation over genre boundaries.

All in all, new genres emerge from the desire to break free from traditional structures and give a voice to new cultural influences. The music scene is in a constant state of flux, and we’re likely to get even more hybrid genres and experimental sounds as artists continue to push boundaries. If you haven’t yet, we highly recommend exploring new music genres for inspiration before your next studio recording session.