Top 10 Most Obscure Music Genres, Explained

MsMojo

From digital chaos to whisper-quiet compositions, dive into the fascinating world of underground music genres! We're exploring the most unique and experimental sounds you've probably never heard of. Get ready to discover sonic landscapes that challenge everything you know about music.

Transcript

00:00You're going to regenerate, some new man saunters away.

00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most hyper-specific,

00:12under-the-radar genres of music, and exactly what they entail.

00:16Listen, all ye fair mates to how the moral goes.

00:20Nobody knew and nobody knows.

00:25Number 10, Core Core.

00:27With TikTok's influence on modern trends, it's no surprise that the platform has shaped music as well.

00:33With roots in nostalgia and mental illness, Core Core is the ultimate symbol of Generation Z.

00:38The clips on their own don't make much sense, but when you splice them together,

00:42it evokes a certain emotion, and it's usually like helplessness, or like loneliness,

00:47or about how like technology has isolated us.

00:50It's a satirical response to the amount of hyper-specific trends that constantly cycle,

00:55serving as the antithesis of that concept.

00:57When listening to the songs accompanying these videos,

01:00it's nearly impossible not to be swept away in the ambient, melancholic soundscape.

01:10The listener is practically absorbed in a wave of wistfulness as each track progresses.

01:16It's a perfect blend of genuine emotion and a dark, ironic sense of humor,

01:20creating an aesthetic we hope won't pass.

01:23You might see a mess.

01:25Exactly.

01:26A bunch of weird, dorky stuff that ruined my perfectly good stuff.

01:30Number 9, Chap-Hop.

01:32Some genres are satire all the way down to their very core.

01:35Perhaps the best example of this is Chap-Hop.

01:38Now when I say Earl Grey, you say yes please, Earl Grey.

01:41Yes please.

01:42Earl Grey.

01:42Yes please.

01:43When I say Assam, you say lovely.

01:45This musical style, popularized in the 2000s,

01:49comes from across the pond, and is the very definition of tongue-in-cheek.

01:53It's essentially rap if it was created by the most posh person you know,

01:57with lyrics centered around stereotypical British topics and politics.

02:01You seem a reasonable chap.

02:02What you need to do is rap and not parody, Chap-Hop.

02:05Because that's not proper, just not cricket.

02:07It's a delightful parody of both their own culture and hip-hop as a whole,

02:11without punching down on either.

02:13However, don't be fooled by the themes.

02:16Each song is still packed with impressively witty lyricism and interesting production,

02:20with some quirky instruments like the banjo-lay-li that you would never see in the traditional craft.

02:26All the cuts are on time, and rhymes connect.

02:28Got the right to veal, and will he elect?

02:30Other rappers can't stand me, but give me respect.

02:33Number 8, Kawaii Metal.

02:37It isn't easy subverting the expectations of two seemingly opposite styles.

02:43Metal is traditionally characterized by its aggressive sounds and imagery,

02:48and J-pop by the exact opposite traits.

02:51You'd think the two would never be able to blend well together,

02:53but kawaii metal is proof that they can.

03:03First gaining popularity in the 2010s, it soon became a global phenomenon.

03:08It takes the wholesome lyricism of the Eastern genre,

03:11and pairs it with an intense, guitar-laden instrumental typically found in Western regions.

03:16The combination is so unexpectedly good,

03:19that it'll have even the biggest thrashers headbanging along,

03:22without being called a poser.

03:28Number 7, Shoe Gaze.

03:31The internet has been vital in the spread of several obscure genres,

03:34but some were created far before its widespread usage.

03:38Though Shoe Gaze existed before the term was coined,

03:40it was first officially introduced in the late 1980s.

03:51The name derives from musicians staring down at their pedals while performing,

03:56which has become a defining marker of the style.

03:59It's made to be intentionally discordant,

04:01pairing dreamy vocals with harsh, distorted instrumentals.

04:05Each element blends together in a cacophony of sound,

04:13all while managing to not become overwhelming to listen to.

04:16After a lull in popularity, thanks to the rise of grunge in the 1990s,

04:20it started to build itself back up in the 2010s.

04:31Number 6, Witch House.

04:35Despite what the name suggests,

04:42you probably won't hear any of these tracks at the club,

04:45like you would traditional house music.

04:47Instead, you're much more likely to hear the stylings of witch house artists

04:51at underground venues,

04:53or perhaps at your local occult meetup.

04:55It's characterized by its darker, gothic melodies,

04:58overlaid with trap beats,

04:59with plenty of vocal and instrumental distortion to top it off.

05:05It first came to prominence in the early 2010s,

05:13and soon became popular online.

05:15Despite its rise,

05:16those creating it go out of their way

05:18to remain relatively unknown

05:19by incorporating hard-to-type symbols in their titles.

05:23If you do happen to find one,

05:24then you're in for the sonic ride of your life.

05:34Number 5, Vaporwave.

05:36Though it wasn't played on the radio,

05:38Vaporwave still came to define a whole era of the 2010s.

05:40The internet struck again with the widespread usage of Vaporwave in videos and memes.

05:53It's steeped in nostalgia,

05:55with both the visual and sonic aspects being inspired by art of the past.

06:00Taking classic sounds found in jazz and elevator music

06:03and pairing them with aesthetically pleasing 1990s-inspired designs and Roman statues,

06:08the artists behind the tunes were able to connect to an entire generation of web users.

06:19It's a melting pot of well-known references,

06:22even spawning sub-genres like Simpsons Wave

06:24that are centered around iconic cultural touch points.

06:27Even though it's faded from popularity,

06:29Vaporwave's impact can't be overlooked.

06:31Number 4, Splittercore.

06:41If you've ever wondered what the musical equivalent of an anxiety attack would sound like,

06:45then this is for you.

06:47Splittercore takes the concept of speedcore and dials it up to the maximum.

06:51Each song has a BPM, or beats per minute, of at least 600,

07:02with some even climbing up to 1,000.

07:04It's no wonder why it's often compared to heavy artillery being fired.

07:14Splittercore was introduced in the 1990s,

07:16following the unexpected popularity of its predecessor,

07:19leading to some listeners wanting more.

07:21Each song is pure chaos in melodic form

07:24and practically made to be as sonically abrasive as possible.

07:28Despite that, it still has an infectious quality to it

07:31that makes it practically impossible not to thrash along to.

07:34Number 3, Lowercase.

07:44The existence of both Lowercase and Splittercore

07:47is proof that even the most extreme styles can find a loyal audience.

07:51Lowercase is the very antithesis of Splittercore,

07:54as it centers around a softer, minimalist approach.

07:57It's primarily made using objects most people overlook when making music,

08:07from paper to a simple feedback loop.

08:09The result is a series of almost unnaturally quiet pieces,

08:12and is a direct response to the sonic overload occurring in the mainstream scene.

08:17It requires those listening to slow down

08:26and truly take in what they're hearing,

08:28rather than just experience it at face level.

08:31Lowercase redefined what music can be

08:33by breaking away from all previous molds.

08:42Number 2, Goblin Core.

08:44Legend has it that the moss grows

08:47on the north side of the tree.

08:52This is the musical version of the chicken and egg adage.

08:55The question of whether Goblin Core came first,

08:57or if it was inspired by the music that defines it,

09:00is still unanswered.

09:01But one thing we know is that it's not going anywhere.

09:04Oh, clubbed all many ago,

09:06leading me somewhere I don't know.

09:09Born from a deep appreciation

09:10for the less celebrated aspects of the environment,

09:13its folk-inspired sound has helped it become

09:15one of the most prominent sub-genres of the 2020s.

09:19Goblin Core evokes feelings of being out in nature

09:21and experiencing the world for what it is,

09:23even the parts that aren't the most traditionally beautiful.

09:27This could be why it saw a surge of popularity

09:29during the COVID-19 pandemic.

09:31Listening to Goblin Core is akin to living in a fantasy world,

09:34and we can't get enough.

09:36Hiking, hiking for a while.

09:41Before we unveil our top pick,

09:43here are a few honorable mentions.

09:46Japanoise combines instruments and non-conventional objects

09:49to create a unique sonic experience.

09:58Mathrock, the usage of abnormal rhythms and melodies

10:01keeps listeners on their toes.

10:03Glitch Hop, utilizes malfunctioning equipment

10:15and turns it into something beautiful.

10:22Time Lord Rock, a quirky and masterful tribute

10:25to the beloved science fiction series Doctor Who.

10:28Tonight we fight for the fate of all mankind.

10:33I could do so much more.

10:35Nintendo Core, an unexpectedly perfect blend

10:38of intense heavy metal and 8-bit soundbites.

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11:03Number 1. Black MIDI

11:05You'd think that a genre designed to fit as many notes as possible

11:08into a single song would be too much.

11:11Yet Black MIDI artists manage to make each chaotic piece

11:14sound like a stroke of musical genius.

11:23Inspired by traditional performers like Frank Zappa

11:26crafting complicated songs,

11:28Black MIDI strives to do the same with modern technology.

11:31It's created using a musical instrument digital interface,

11:35or MIDI for short,

11:36which allows you to convert a seemingly standard keyboard

11:39into a one-man electronic band.

11:49Each track is stuffed to the brim with a slew of notes,

11:52with some hitting over a million.

11:54Despite its maximalist nature,

11:56it still manages to remain coherent,

11:58with some even sounding akin to a modern-day symphony.

12:08Which esoteric music genre is your favorite?

12:11Let us know in the comments.

12:12Do you agree with our picks?

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