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The Inextricably Deep World of Vaporwave

Published

5 years ago

March 3, 2021

My first encounter with the strange music genre of vaporwave happened when I was about 14, scrolling through the gritty meme recess that was iFunny. I remember seeing photos that all had the same sort of elements: an Apollo head bust, a cyber grid of neon colors, palm trees, and outdated fonts. These were strangely captivating, but also unsettling.

Usually these photos were accompanied by music that I could only describe as the kind of elevator music that must have played in a hotel that was built in 1983, and is in desperate need of a renovation. It wasn’t until just recently that my boyfriend taught me the name of the album that the strangely haunting elevator music came from: Floral Shoppe by Macintosh Plus. As it turns out, the nostalgia-inducing images and music that captivated me as a 14-year-old were all part of a budding genre of music called vaporwave, and I was very right to feel unsettled.

WHAT IS VAPORWAVE?

Vaporwave is both an aesthetic and genre of music that is meant to induce nostalgia, especially for the ’80s and early ’90s, and a longing for what we imagined the future would be like back in the 1980s. The driving theme behind vaporwave is that it makes you long for a future that never happened. Vaporwave music is often composed of samples of songs from the 1970s and 80s. These are usually pitched down, slowed, and resynthesized in order to create a thick heavy sound, like something is weighing you down and pulling you back in time.

One distinctive feature of vaporwave is its fixation with Japanese language and culture. There are countless album and track titles in cryptic Japanese, which are more often than not completely unreadable to the mostly Western audience of vaporwave. Many artists even sample clips of dialogue from retro Japanese anime films, commercials, and news reels. This element of vaporwave is also tied up in its constant pursuit of awakening nostalgia. Japan enjoyed an economic boom throughout the 1980s, which is now recognized as Japan’s Bubble Economy, that would eventually come crashing down in the 1990s. Before this devastating pop, Japan was praised for its thriving business models and became a model of technological innovation in the western mind for more than a decade.

Additionally, with the success of entertainment and tech industries like Sony and Nintendo, Japan appeared to be the country that was building the future, one that looked shiny, new, and full of promise.

Perhaps the best way to understand the nostalgia-obsessed mess that is vaporwave is through Jaques Derrida’s concept of Hauntology, as proposed in “The Philosophy of Vaporwave” by the website Vapor95. According to Derrida, humans can only understand the present through past experiences and anticipation of the future. Therefore, humans never truly live “in the moment.” What we understand to be the present is always defined by our pasts along with what we anticipate to follow in the future, and is thereby never truly “just” the sensations at present. In other words, the concept of Hauntology is that humans are always haunted by the past and the futures that have yet to happen.

This tendency to filter the present through our past experiences is what gives vaporwave that undeniably nostalgic sound. Most of us have heard old music from decades long gone by. For example, if a song is full of synth and heavy reverb, you will likely identify it as some musical relic of the ’80s, which will then open up a floodgate in your mind of your experience with ’80s culture, whether that be other songs, movies, or photos of your parents from that time. To hear these outdated musical trends once again given new life through being resynthesized and paired with grainy imagery from these decades is like rolling up your sleeve and shooting your arm up with the heaviest dose of nostalgia.

SOME BRANCHES OF VAPORWAVE

The vaporwave genre is laden with subgenres, some of which are so similar that it feels superfluous to differentiate them at all. However, as someone who has listened to vaporwave for a few years now, here are some of the subgenres that I personally think deserve to be recognized, as they exemplify the many sides of the genre, ranging from ethereal or funky to downright creepy.

FUTURE FUNK

Future Funk is the more jovial branch of vaporwave. It often samples from the choruses of funk and motown music from the ’70s and early ’80s, and especially uses シティ・ポップ (City Pop), which is essentially just pop music from 1980s Japan. Future Funk sounds like what you’d imagine playing at some raging night club in the late ’70s, where everyone is young, beautiful, and having the time of their lives. Simply speaking, It’s the kind of stuff that makes you want to dance.

In the Mallsoft genre, vaporwave allows listeners to reflect on society, especially on consumerism and the influence it has on the way we experience nostalgia. If you search up “Mallsoft” on YouTube, you will be inundated with sweeping shots of lush malls aesthetically decorated with palm trees and fountains at every corner. These are the malls that some of us might remember from shopping with our parents in the late ’90s or maybe even early 2000s. As Pad Chennington, a vaporwave music producer who also runs a Youtube channel dedicated to analysis of the genre, says in his video The Hyperconsumerism of “Mallsoft”, “hyperconsumerism is an unavoidable aurora of the 80s and 90s shopping world we all once lived in, provoked by the shop ‘til you drop atmosphere of those big mean department stores and malls all across America.” Chennington goes on to argue that as technology progressed, shopping became dominated by online retailers. which has led to essentially the death of the shopping mall.

The absence of that large comforting presence drenched in shopper’s high that was once the American shopping mall has left a nostalgic hole in our hearts. This emptiness bred the genre of Mallsoft. Musically speaking, Mallsoft is essentially jazzy elevator music, reverb-ed to high hell so that it sounds like it’s being blasted on speakers and echoing throughout some desolate mall, a relic of the ’80s. As you might imagine, it can sound like cheery background music or like what might play during the end credits to the end of time. Mallsoft plays into the nostalgia we have around shopping malls, romanticizing while poking fun at our consumerist nature.

VAPORTRAP

As you might have already deduced by the name, Vaportrap is a fusion of vaporwave and trap music. Vaportrap is what you put on to party, but in a thoughtful way. Much in the vein of Vaporwave, Vaportrap utilizes sound bites that are meant to induce nostalgia through memories of older technology. For example, many Vaportrap songs construct beats around sound effects from old Nintendo 64 games or the notorious Windows 95 boot up sound. However, it is also driven by hard-hitting, relentless beats that make you want to rave.

AMBIENT

Ambient vaporwave on the other hand, is not typically the type of music that you would turn on to jam out to. It usually features nature sounds, heavy synth, and frequencies. As the name indicates, ambient vaporwave focuses more on creating ambience, on building an auditory landscape that you could sink into.

SYNTHWAVE

Synthwave is one of my personal favorite subgenres of vaporwave. This subgenre is full of synth and mesmerizing beats. Perhaps the best way to define what synthwave sounds like is to first start off with the aesthetic that is inseparable from the music. If you google “synthwave,” you’ll likely see a thousand suns overlooking a thousand different cybergrid horizons. Because of its smooth, repetitive rhythm, synthwave is regarded as the perfect music to drive to if you want to lose sense of time while feeling like the protagonist in a cyberpunk dystopia movie, happily (but thoughtfully) driving away as the end credits roll.

SO WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT THIS AT ALL?

I regard vaporwave as different from the other genres of music I listen to. If I had to describe the feeling I have towards vaporwave, I’d say it’s morbid curiosity. To me, vaporwave is a lot more like walking into an art museum than turning a playlist on shuffle, but that’s exactly why I always come back to it. The concept behind vaporwave is trying to get in touch with the future as we imagined it in the ’80s and early ’90s, but doing this through musical artifacts of the past, creating a heavy dissonance and the sense of being lost in time. I can’t say that I’ve experienced even a single day of the 1980s, and if you’re reading this, chances are that you might not have either. So, why am I, like so many other young westerners, attracted to this weird, cryptic genre of music?

Are we all so dissatisfied with our present that we’d rather retreat back into a past that none of us have personally known? Do we want to get in touch with the sense of hopefulness and promise that the future was regarded with back in the days when our parents were teenagers? These fatalistic takes do seem to intersect with Generation Z’s undeniable fascination with all things retro, which has revived the record industry, fashion from the ’80s and ’90s, and old sounding music.

However, as we all know from watching sci-fi movies that took shots at predicting what capitalist dominated futures we had in store for us, like Back to the Future Part ll, Blade Runner, or Brave New World, often the future never holds the things early generations imagined it would and many times, that’s for the better. So, no, I don’t think my generation is hopelessly depressed and longing for the past. I do think however, that the past is always comforting, by virtue of it having already been experienced and therefore being known to us. The past holds no surprises, but can stand as something we can look back on reflectively through the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia.

Vaporwave is a genre of music that plays with this truth. It is overflowing with a strange, synthetic sense of nostalgia reminding us that maybe the past wasn’t as sweet as we remembered it, and maybe the future never played out like we thought it would. But, oh, isn’t it fun to pretend if only for a little while?

VAPORWAVE STARTER PLAYLIST

When it comes to music, words can only do so much. So, for anyone who doesn’t mind falling into the rabbit hole that is vaporwave, I’ve made a Spotify playlist and Youtube playlist full of tracks from the genres I mentioned above! Unfortunately, many vaporwave tracks and albums can only be found on Youtube, so the two are not identical to each other. For anyone interested or who has the time, check out both!

HEALTH

How I Fixed My Back Pain Without Visiting a Chiropractor — The Driving Upgrade I Didn’t Expect

Published

5 days ago

December 8, 2025

Maha Saeed

For months, I kept telling myself the same lie when my back started hurting:

“It’s just stress.”
“I slept wrong.”
“It’ll go away on its own.”

But the truth was harder to accept.

My back pain didn’t come from the gym.
It didn’t come from sleeping wrong.
It didn’t come from bad posture at my desk.

It came from something I never expected:
Driving.

Not once did it cross my mind that the thing I did every single day — sometimes for hours — could be the reason my lower back felt like it was tightening more and more each week.

But one particular morning finally revealed the truth.

1. The Morning Everything Hit Me at Once

I woke up feeling okay.
Nothing unusual.

I got ready, grabbed my coffee, and headed out to my car like I always do. The moment I sat down and leaned back into the seat… something pinched. Not sharp, but deep — like a knot that had been sitting there waiting to say “good morning.”

By the time I reached the freeway, that little pinch grew into a stiff ache.
By the time I parked at work, I had to stretch just to stand up straight.

I remember thinking:

“Why does a 30-minute drive hurt more than lifting weights?”

That’s when I realized my back wasn’t “randomly” bothering me.
It was happening every day — right after driving.

And that small pattern changed everything.

2. I Tried Everything Except the One Thing That Actually Mattered

Like most people who don’t want to visit a chiropractor right away, I tried:

Heating pads
Stretching
Lower back exercises
Massage guns
Rolling on a foam roller
Swapping yoga with Pilates
Strengthening my core

Some of it helped… but only temporarily.

It didn’t fix the root problem.

The pain always returned — especially after long drives.
And that’s when my frustration turned into a mission:
I needed to figure out exactly what was causing this.

3. The Shocking Discovery: My Car Seat Was the Problem

I came across an article talking about how standard car seats are designed for safety and style — but not for ergonomics.

Then I read this sentence and felt strangely attacked:

“Most car seats flatten your spine and force you into a posture that causes lower back compression.”

It explained everything I was feeling:

The tightness
The pressure
The aching
The stiffness
The fatigue after even short trips

I started paying attention, and sure enough — halfway into a drive, my posture would collapse. My hips would tilt, my lower back would round, and all the pressure would fall right on the same painful spot.

I wasn’t ruining my back at the gym.
I was ruining it in my car.

4. The Unexpected Upgrade That Actually Fixed It

I didn’t want to spend hundreds on chiropractor sessions.
I didn’t want injections, adjustments, or medical bills.

So I searched for a simple, practical fix — something that could support my back while I was driving instead of making the problem worse.

That’s when I stumbled across the idea of using a car seat cushion.

I wasn’t convinced at first.
It sounded too easy.
Too small.
Too basic.

But the more I researched, the more I realized cushions are specifically designed to:

Improve posture
Correct pelvic tilt
Reduce pressure on the spine
Support the natural “S” shape of the back
Prevent tailbone compression
Help you sit properly without effort

It made sense.

My seat wasn’t the problem —
the lack of support was.

So I bought a cushion from a brand focused on practical driving comfort — AlexCar, which I kept seeing recommended for everyday ergonomic upgrades.

That small decision changed everything.

5. The First Drive With a Cushion Felt Like a Different Car

On the day it arrived, I opened the package, tossed the cushion on my seat, and drove to grab lunch.

And I swear, within minutes, I felt the difference.

✔ My hips stayed aligned

I didn’t slide into bad posture.

✔ My lower back felt supported

The pressure I usually felt disappeared.

✔ I wasn’t shifting around

For once, I wasn’t chasing a comfortable position.

✔ My tailbone wasn’t compressed

That deep ache I usually felt? Completely gone.

I remember parking, stepping out, and thinking:

“Is this what comfortable driving feels like?”

It didn’t fix my back instantly — nothing does — but it stopped the cause of the pain, and that’s what mattered most.

6. Small Change, Huge Results: How My Back Started Healing Naturally

Over the next week, something incredible happened.

The pain started fading.
The stiffness loosened up.
The pressure I felt after long drives disappeared.
Even standing and walking felt easier.

And I wasn’t doing anything dramatic —
I was just giving my spine the support it needed every time I sat in the car.

The more consistent I was, the faster my body healed.

The turning point came during a 90-minute drive one Sunday. Normally that would’ve left me sore for hours. Instead, when I arrived, I stood up and felt…

Nothing. No pain. No stiffness. No pressure.

That’s when I knew the real enemy wasn’t my back —
It was the seat I had been sitting on for years.

7. Why This Simple Fix Works Better Than You Think

A car seat cushion helps because it does what your car seat doesn’t:

✔ It restores proper posture

Your spine stays in a natural curve instead of collapsing forward.

✔ It reduces strain on your lower back

Support = less compression on your discs.

✔ It keeps your hips level

No more tilting that twists your lower spine.

✔ It improves blood flow

Your legs don’t go numb or heavy.

✔ It eliminates slouching

Your core stays relaxed, not overworked.

Driving no longer felt like a battle between me and my seat.

It felt… effortless.

8. The Best Part? I Didn’t Need a Chiropractor After All

I still believe chiropractors are helpful — but I didn’t need one.
My pain wasn’t coming from an injury or medical condition.

It was coming from bad sitting support.

Once that changed, everything changed:

No more morning stiffness
No more stretching the moment I step out
No more pain halfway through a commute
No more dreading long drives

I actually enjoy driving again.

That’s something I didn’t expect a small upgrade to fix.

Final Thoughts: The Fix You Never Realized You Needed

Back pain doesn’t start with one big moment.
It starts with tiny habits — the way you sit, the pressure you ignore, the discomfort you get used to.

And for many of us, the root cause is sitting in a position our bodies were never designed for.

A supportive car seat cushion won’t replace medical treatment if you truly need it —
but for everyday drivers dealing with chronic discomfort?

It might be the one upgrade that changes everything.

It certainly was for me.

I didn’t need injections.
I didn’t need adjustments.
I didn’t need weekly appointments.

I just needed the right support — something simple, something smart, something I never realized I was missing.

And now?

My back feels better than it has in years.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Why You Should Explore All Fitness Specialties Before Choosing Your Path

Published

3 weeks ago

November 24, 2025

Sting Fellows

Introduction
The fitness industry offers countless opportunities, from strength and conditioning to yoga, MMA, and sport-specific training. While many new professionals may feel pressured to choose a single path quickly, exploring all available specialties first can help you make an informed decision. Understanding the variety of certifications and career options allows you to align your skills and passions with the best opportunities. By exploring before committing, you set yourself up for long-term success and satisfaction in your fitness career.

Benefits of Exploring Multiple Specialties
Taking time to explore different areas of fitness provides several advantages:

Helps identify your true interests and strengths
Broadens your knowledge of training techniques and approaches
Increases versatility for working with diverse clients
Opens up opportunities for higher-paying or niche roles

A broad perspective ensures you make choices that match both your passion and your professional goals.

The Role of a Fitness Specialist
Fitness specialists have the skills to focus on specific client needs and training goals. Their responsibilities include:

Designing programs that target performance, flexibility, or strength
Monitoring client progress and adjusting plans accordingly
Teaching safe techniques to prevent injury
Educating clients on nutrition, recovery, and wellness

Specialists provide more value than general trainers by offering expertise tailored to the needs of their clients.

Why Certification Matters
Certification demonstrates expertise and builds credibility. By exploring various certifications, you can:

Gain recognition as a qualified professional
Learn best practices for training, assessment, and safety
Access opportunities in gyms, wellness centers, or private coaching
Build confidence in designing effective programs for different populations

Certification programs cover anatomy, exercise science, client assessment, program design, and specialty techniques, preparing you for a successful career.

Key Skills Needed in Fitness Specialties
Regardless of the specialty you choose, certain skills are essential:

Communication to instruct and motivate clients effectively
Observation and analytical skills to track progress and correct techniques
Knowledge of injury prevention and safe training methods
Flexibility to adapt programs for varying client levels and goals

These skills ensure you provide safe, results-driven, and personalized programs.

Steps to Explore Fitness Specialties
To make the most informed decision about your fitness career:

Research the range of available certifications and specialties
Attend workshops, seminars, or training sessions to gain hands-on experience
Evaluate your personal interests and strengths
Consult professionals in different fields to learn about their experiences

This approach helps you discover the path that fits your skills, interests, and long-term goals.

Impact on Clients and Career
Specialized training allows professionals to create measurable results for clients. Many clients struggle with plateaus, ineffective programs, or lack of guidance. A knowledgeable specialist provides:

Customized programs for strength, endurance, flexibility, or sport-specific skills
Support and motivation to maintain consistency
Guidance to prevent injuries and improve performance

Helping clients reach their goals not only builds trust but also enhances your reputation and career prospects.

Continuing Education and Growth
Fitness is an evolving industry. To remain relevant and effective, specialists should:

Attend industry events, workshops, and seminars
Stay updated on the latest research and techniques
Network with peers and join professional organizations
Explore additional certifications to expand expertise and versatility

Ongoing learning ensures you remain competitive, knowledgeable, and valuable to clients and employers.

Conclusion
Exploring https://www.americansportandfitness.com/collections/fitness-certifications before choosing your path gives you a well-rounded understanding of your options. Specialization enhances your credibility, effectiveness, and career potential. By discovering the areas that match your passion and strengths, you can create a fulfilling and successful fitness career. Whether your interests lie in strength training, MMA, yoga, or sport-specific coaching, exploring first ensures you make a choice that aligns with your long-term goals.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Tokyo-Tiger I Am Speed Work Shirt SpeedTiger – 2025 Cyber Monday Sale

Published

3 weeks ago

November 20, 2025

Sting Fellows

Cyber Monday 2025 is gearing up to be a must-watch event for fans of bold Japanese-inspired fashion. One of the most anticipated releases this year is the Tokyo-Tiger I Am Speed Work Shirt SpeedTiger, a dynamic and stylish piece designed for comfort, versatility, and standout aesthetics. Perfect for layering over Japanese t shirts or pairing with playful ugly cardigan sweaters, this work shirt brings together high-quality craftsmanship and unique, attention-grabbing design. Whether you’re hitting the streets, attending casual meet-ups, or expressing your personal style, the SpeedTiger Work Shirt promises to make a statement this holiday season.

Inspired by Speed and Japanese Streetwear

The I Am Speed Work Shirt takes inspiration from Japan’s energetic street culture and the thrill of movement, incorporating bold graphics and sleek design elements that exude dynamism and personality. For fans of Japanese t shirts, this work shirt provides the perfect layering piece, while combining it with ugly cardigan sweaters introduces a quirky, textured look that adds depth and individuality. With its vibrant imagery and unique Tokyo-Tiger branding, the shirt is a versatile addition for anyone looking to showcase creativity and urban style in one bold package.

Premium Quality and Comfortable Fit

Crafted from a durable cotton blend, the SpeedTiger Work Shirt prioritizes comfort without sacrificing style. Its breathable fabric ensures all-day wearability, while the tailored yet relaxed fit allows natural movement and flexibility. The classic button-down construction, reinforced stitching, and structured collar make it suitable for multiple occasions, from casual streetwear to creative office environments. Layering over Japanese t shirts or under ugly cardigan sweaters provides both warmth and visual interest, making the shirt adaptable to changing weather and seasonal style preferences.

Cyber Monday 2025: Special Deals

Cyber Monday 2025 offers shoppers an excellent chance to snag the Tokyo-Tiger I Am Speed Work Shirt SpeedTiger at exclusive prices. Many retailers are planning limited-time discounts, early-access pre-sales, and bundle deals that may include complementary Japanese t shirts or eccentric ugly cardigan sweaters. These promotions make it easier for fashion enthusiasts to secure this highly sought-after work shirt while expanding their wardrobe with versatile, culturally inspired pieces. Given its unique design and popularity, acting early is essential to avoid missing out on this standout item.

Styling Tips: Layering and Playful Contrasts

The SpeedTiger Work Shirt is ideal for experimenting with textures and layering. Wear it open over Japanese t shirts for a casual, street-ready vibe, or under ugly cardigan sweaters to create playful contrasts that highlight the shirt’s bold graphics. Neutral bottoms such as jeans, chinos, or joggers allow the vibrant design to remain the focal point. Accessories like sleek sneakers, simple hats, or understated jewelry can elevate your outfit while maintaining balance. This work shirt is perfect for those who enjoy mixing textures, patterns, and cultural-inspired designs in their everyday fashion.

Trend Spotlight: Japanese-Inspired Streetwear

Japanese streetwear continues to influence global fashion with its bold visuals, functional design, and creative flair. The I Am Speed Work Shirt embodies these principles, offering a statement-making piece that blends durability with eye-catching aesthetics. Fans of Japanese t shirts will find it an excellent complement to casual wardrobes, while layering it with ugly cardigan sweaters adds a fun, unexpected twist. Its energetic design makes it a perfect choice for anyone seeking to express individuality, creativity, and style in a contemporary urban setting.

Everyday Versatility

Despite its striking graphics, the SpeedTiger Work Shirt is versatile for everyday wear. Its breathable cotton blend and relaxed fit make it ideal for commuting, social outings, or casual creative environments. The button-down style allows for flexible wearing options: fully buttoned, open over Japanese t shirts, or tucked in for a more polished look. Layering with ugly cardigan sweaters adds warmth and dimension, making it adaptable to various climates, seasons, and personal style preferences.

How to Secure Your Work Shirt

To take advantage of Cyber Monday 2025 deals, it’s important to plan ahead. Monitor retailer announcements for pre-sales, exclusive bundles, and limited-time offers that may include Japanese t shirts or quirky ugly cardigan sweaters. Due to limited stock and high demand, acting early ensures you can secure the Tokyo-Tiger I Am Speed Work Shirt SpeedTiger before it sells out.

Final Thoughts: A Statement Piece for Bold Fashion Lovers

The Tokyo-Tiger I Am Speed Work Shirt SpeedTiger is more than just a work shirt—it’s a vibrant, culturally inspired statement piece. With Cyber Monday 2025 approaching, it provides an excellent opportunity to add a bold, versatile, and stylish item to your wardrobe. Whether layered over Japanese t shirts or paired with eccentric ugly cardigan sweaters, it offers endless possibilities for creative styling. For those seeking comfort, individuality, and urban flair, the SpeedTiger Work Shirt is a must-have for this holiday season.