Bedroom pop has blossomed a new wave in the digital world. It combines an obscure blend of young adult romanticism and distorted beats that create the staple of the late Millennial and early Gen Z generations.
Its DIY computer generated production has revamped the future of the music industry. Artists are recording, producing and promoting their records without the aid of a label company. They personally control every aspect of the creative process. Steve Lacy produced his 2017 debut demo EP titled “Steve Lacy’s Demo” solely on his iPhone using the app GarageBand. Lacy selects a simple drum loop and works his way around it. He records his vocals and records his own guitar riffs by plugging an irig cable onto his phone. His “Ryd/Dark Red” music video reached two million views in its 2017 release.
21-year-old singer Clairo’s sensational hit “Pretty Girl” was produced by using “a little keyboard” in her bedroom and recorded herself singing along to the lyrics. As of 2019 it has over forty-one million views on Youtube. Before Pretty Girl, Clairo gained a loyal following on SoundCloud.
Having full creative control allows innovative individuals to demonstrate their artistry. It brings more diversity to the industry. Musicians are allowed to portray their culture in their music instead of adhering to the standards of what sells through a record label.
First US generation Latinos like Cuco, Ambar Lucid, and Omar Apollo mix both Spanish and English in their performances. Language is part of culture and ties nationalities together. Being first generation, assimilating into a new culture is a difficult transitional phase. For Latinos in the US, English and Spanish has its own functions. Spanish is dominantly spoken in the home. English is for the outside world and is a representation of the newly adopted culture. In a 2017 PewResearch study, there has been a slow decline of the Spanish language within Latinos. In 2006 South Florida, 92 percent of Latinos speak Spanish at home. In 2015 90 percent of Latinos speak Spanish at home. It has dropped down to 2 percent. In the Chicago metropolitan area 84 percent of Latinos in 2006 speak Spanish at home. In 2015, 77 percent speak Spanish at home.
When individuals integrate into a new culture that is not their own, they have to give up certain aspects of their previous identity. Latinos speaking more English than Spanish is a product of transitioning. At times Latinos are pressured to pick between the two or are shamed for being bilingual. Cuco, Lucid and Apollo embrace both culture identities. They easily switch between the two languages as if it is second nature to them. There’s no hesitation.
Bedroom Pop is paving the way for a flux of musicians to come along and mark their spot in the music industry. Having full autonomy in the creation of their art allows more transparency. Audiences can detect when an artist is following the crowd. It shows in their creativity or lack thereof in their music.