Proto-hyperpop

Proto-hyperpop is a subgenre characterized by its frenetic, sugary-sweet sound, often blending elements of electronic dance music, pop, and avant-garde experimentation. Emerging in the mid-2010s, it drew inspiration from the internet's sonic sprawl, where disparate styles and influences converge. Marked by breakneck tempos, pitch-shifted vocals, and hyper-compressed production, proto-hyperpop rejects traditional notions of "good taste" in favor of a playful, maximalist aesthetic. Associated with the PC Music label, the genre's key artists pushed the boundaries of pop's sonic vocabulary, incorporating elements of noise, trap, and J-pop. This genre's cultural significance lies in its joyful, unapologetic celebration of digital chaos, subverting mainstream pop's polished sheen. By embracing the internet's creative noise, proto-hyperpop embodies the frenzied, genre-bending spirit of online music culture.

ZEET NOISE

Skrillex•

Boys Noize•

Dylan Brady

Single - Released March 31, 2025