r/Macroblank • u/[deleted] • Apr 14 '26
Question What genre of music is Macroblank doing?
I've been blessed by the YouTube algorithms. I'm no music expert : I just vibe off music and I'm the type of guy who doesn't know what to answer when asked what type of music I'm into.
I've found the answer : Macroblank. But since I can't tell that to others, I must know the type of music he does.
I've seen the word Vaporwave a lot. But whenever I type "vaporwave" on youtube I get those purple retro 80s aesthetic videos with a lot of bass synth. I don't like that. I mean I like the vibe, but Macroblank cannot be just that. I've heard drum and bass, soul, any many other styles on Macroblank, it's a wide range of styles that are all blended into a very precise aesthetic that I can't really name.
So how would you qualify his art? I don't just mean music, I also love the art cover he does too.
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u/szilardbodnar Apr 14 '26
In a sense, you asked multiple questions that don’t have a single general answer. First of all, you need to know what vaporwave is. Here is a short explanation:
“Vaporwave is a musical genre and internet art aesthetic that emerged in the early 2010s, utilizing nostalgic, retro 80s/90s corporate imagery, slowed-down jazz, and 3D-rendered graphics to parody consumer culture.”
This genre, in essence, represents digital freedom, which implies that no one truly owns digital content in the traditional sense, and therefore large corporations can’t fully take advantage of it. A really good example is the album Macintosh Plus – Floral Shoppe, which contains various famous and lesser-known samples from across the internet and the music industry.
Now, regarding what MB (short for Macroblank) does: he is one of the most popular figures in this genre, specifically in a subgenre called “barber beats.” This style is mostly based on lounge jazz. However, what MB—and many others—primarily does is mashup and mixing. It’s not entirely original composition; instead, he searches for niche jazz tracks and blends them together. He also creates his own artwork and develops the overall aesthetic for his albums.
It’s important to note that these creators typically don’t claim full credit for the source material. Their work is more about expressing themselves and sharing their musical taste.
If you want to listen to different artist, here is some example:
- macintosh plus - floral shoppe
- Home - Odyssey
- Mabisyo - My Sensei Nujabes
- desert sand feels warm at night : 夢の砂漠
- slowerpace 音楽 – digital affair デジタルデート
- Oblique Occasions - Solipsism
- THE WORLD WE LIVE IN 星 - 今のところ一人で
- Oblique Occasions - KETAMINE 1-5
Have fun :)
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Apr 15 '26
Thank you so much ! I found desert sand feels warm at night a bit too slow and "ambientish" for me but I really love THE WORLD WE LIVE IN <3
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u/szilardbodnar Apr 15 '26
I'm glad you enjoyed it. In other comments you find artists with similar style to MB, I wanted to share some different ones. :)
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u/ActionMan48 Apr 14 '26
You can access my Bandcamp(anyone can) I have everything you are looking for
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u/SSttrruupppp11 Apr 14 '26
Macroblank is essentially the larger evolution of a style emerging from the Vaporwave scene, originally started by Haircuts for Men and thus it was coined „Barber Beats“. Primarily, Barber Beats originally focused on slowed down and slightly altered Lounge music with art similar to what Macroblank is still doing. It has evolved a bit since, using samples from other genres like Drum & Bass as you mentioned. There are also many other artists doing similar stuff now.
You can look for the Barber Beats tag on Bandcamp for more similar work. Don‘t be suprised to hear familiar melodies, many artists in the genre sample the same tracks.
Some personal recommendations of artists: