Riding the Chillwaves with Joji

Do you ever just feel like listening to a chill song that isn't mainstream or doesn’t necessarily follow the rules of popular music? There are so many new artists and new songs that defy “typical” rules of music, but still give you the joy of listening to an awesome hit song. One such song is written by a young modern day musician known as Joji, who tests the limits of artistic choice through his different style and aesthetic in music. In his more popular song, “Slow Dancing in the Dark”, the 27 year old artist shows off his skills by mixing characteristics of alternative R&B with lofi-hiphop as well as a bit of soul music. For the most part of his song, the R&B genre is approached, in which both the lyrics and background music/instruments come together to classify as “alternative”. The main difference between Alternative verses Contemporary R&B, is the harmonic dissonance the music seems to carry, as well as the deeper meaning portrayed by the lyrics. Alternative music uses a bit of indie pop roots, by using steady drum beats and smooth vocals, to overall create a melodic and lighthearted sound. It also tries to mimic a dreamy, almost psychedelic, type production by using drastic rhythmic changes and weird modulations. The lyrics to Alternative R&B music show very raw emotion, much like the lyrics to Joji’s song in which he passionately sings about a romantic relationship that seems to be going nowhere. “Give me reasons we should be complete. You should be with him I can’t compete.” The lyrics touch the aspect of blues and soul music as the singer uses a wide variety of tones--from gentle to smooth, to raspy and harsh--in order to fully convey his emotions. Throughout the song, Joji also uses a subtle call and response structure which is also a major characteristic of soul music. To top it all off, Joji uses the musical genre of lofi to fully bring this piece together. Lofi music is typically made from synths and pianos, that are then produced with low and cheap quality, as if created by an amateur artist trying to make music on garage band. This often gives the music a sort of soft distorted but melodic sound that is often associated with chillout music. The most popular Lofi beats originate in Japan, and Joji, being half Japanese himself, uses this popular style to accent his music.The watery glittering effect of the soft synth arpeggios as well as the contrasting strong synth harmonies in Joji’s song, all add to the musical creativity and unique style of Alternative R&B.