We’ve all seen the LoFi girl studying nonstop, or the Chillhop Raccoon walking with his headphones on, but where did Lo-fi come from? And why do people play it when they study?
Lo-fi, or low fidelity music, can be traced back to the 1950s rock and roll scene. However, lo-fi as we know it, came to be in the 1990s with DIY music when music was made cheaply on lower-quality equipment. This gives the music a raw and unique sound because it was not as aurally polished as other genres (also known as high fidelity). Background noise like static appears in some recordings but these sounds give the music depth.
This music genre is very popular among students or people with ADHD/ADD who need to focus on tasks.
While music does not help everyone study, focus or relax, lo-fi has been proved to increase relaxation and focus.
Here are some reasons why this type of music improves focus:
Lo-fi music is mellow and has a variety of rhythms. Individual tracks are quiet and have a repetitive beat, this means the music is less distracting and resembles white noise.
Most lo-fi music has no lyrics which is another distraction blocked out. Classical music is almost entirely instrumental and is another music genre connected to increased focus.
Listening to lo-fi releases dopamine, the hormone that makes you feel motivated and happy.
Lo-fi’s calm rhythm improves retention of information and strengthens cognitive performance. The relaxed nature of the music puts you at ease and rests your brain to remember and retain more.
Featured Image Credit: Juan Pablo Machado
Third year journalism student. 2025/2026 Lifestyle and Comment Editor at Brig. Published in The Yucatán Times, Mi Campeche and The Mourning Paper. Host of From the 40s with Air3Radio.
