Breaking the Mold in 2025: A Guide to the Rebellious World of Hyperpop Music
Hyperpop, a genre that has exploded onto the music scene, received a significant boost with Charli XCX's album "Brat" winning the Best Dance/Electronic Album award at the 2025 Grammys. Even the notoriously critical Fantano rated it as the best album of 2024. So, what is Hyperpop, and what sets it apart from traditional pop music?
Originally coined in 2019 by a Spotify playlist editor, Hyperpop is a genre characterized by a high-energy blend of pop and electronic dance music (EDM). It is a genre that pushes the boundaries, incorporating elements of pop-punk, hip hop, and even dubstep. The genre's emergence in the late 2010s can be attributed to A.G. Cook, the producer behind numerous hit tracks by Charli XCX. At the time, he was associated with PC Music, a London-based label known for its over-the-top take on pop music.
Hyperpop's defining characteristics include heavy vocal manipulation, glitchy, distorted production, genre fusion, and maximalism. The vocals are often heavily processed, with the use of pitch-shifting, harsh autotune, and formant shifting creating a synthetic sound. The productions are futuristic, with the use of extreme distortion and glitchy effects. Genre fusion is evident in the blending of trap beats, EDM drops, punk-pop guitars, and other music styles. The arrangements often defy traditional song structures, with abrupt transitions, tempo shifts, and unexpected drops. Maximalism, on the other hand, is about being "too much," with the use of clashing textures, chaotic arrangements, and over-the-top compression.
Prominent Hyperpop artists in 2025 include 100 gecs, Charli XCX, and SOPHIE. 100 gecs, a duo consisting of Dylan Brady and Laura Les, are known for their chaotic, genre-mashing style, while Charli XCX has been instrumental in introducing Hyperpop to mainstream audiences. SOPHIE, although no longer active, was a major figure in the development of Hyperpop.
The longevity of this brand of Hyperpop remains uncertain, but given its willingness to absorb new genres, it is likely to continue evolving. Elements of Hyperpop have already started influencing other genres, such as metal.
In conclusion, Hyperpop represents a high-energy, high-octane blend of pop and EDM, featuring vocal manipulation, glitchy production, genre fusion, and maximalism. It is a genre that is both innovative and challenging to categorize, with notable artists like 100 gecs, Charli XCX, and SOPHIE leading the way.
Technology plays a significant role in the creation of Hyperpop, an electronic music production style that combines pop and EDM. Its futuristic sound is achieved through heavy vocal manipulation, glitchy distortion, and various digital effects, showcasing the evolution of entertainment in music.
