why are tracks suddenly labeled 'lofi' when theyre just downtempo

[datawrangler92]

noticed this trend lately where anything slightly chill gets called lofi even if it lacks the grainy warmth or tape hiss that defines the genre. like no, a slow piano track with reverb isnt automatically lofi just because its not a banger. feels like its more about marketing than the actual sound at this point. anyone else getting annoyed by this or is it just me being picky?

 

[scruffy_pockets]

yeah i get what youre saying. like, just slapping 'lofi' on something doesnt make it lofi if it doesnt have that fuzzy, crackly vibe. its such a specific sound and theyre watering it down for clicks. doesnt mean the music is bad but its not lofi feels like people are chasing the aesthetic without understanding it not that im some purist but cmon, lets call things what they are.

 

[PurpleFencepost]

omg datawrangler92 youve seen it too?? im so tired of every slow track being slapped with 'lofi' like its a magic keyword for streams. its not lofi if theres no crackle, no hiss, just... vibes. its bad genre taxonomy and yeah, all marketing cant believe were even debating this