The rise of DIY music artistry and its genre of bedroom pop is one of many ways the entertainment industry has evolved in the technology age. Bedroom pop is what it sounds like: music that’s recorded in a bedroom. The sound it’s best known for is a dreamy, indie, lo-fi type, but now it covers a culmination of genres, sounds, and themes also. It’s music that’s left completely to the artist’s design.

Some popular artists include mxmtoon, Conan Gray, and Clario. Even Billie Eilish got her start in the bedroom pop scene with her brother Finneas by posting ‘Ocean Eyes’ on SoundCloud in 2015. The song blew up. Now she’s a billboard-charting artist. 

There are multiple factors that contribute to these successes, and to what makes bedroom pop so unique from the mainstream pop of the last few decades. A bedroom pop artist has the opportunity to cultivate and stay true to their individual sounds, while advancements in technologies, social media, and the internet allow artists to share these sounds with the world, all from their bedroom. 

If there’s anything that bedroom pop tells us, it’s that there’s a place for your voice to be heard, now more than ever.

The Tech at Your Disposal

Part of what allowed the invention of bedroom pop is the advancement in DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software, which first became available on personal computers in the 90s. 

Computers have evolved drastically since that time, and popular DAW software used today are Logic Pro, FL Studio, and Soundtap, to name a few. On top of that, basic equipment has become more affordable (a decent microphone can be picked up on Amazon for $50). 

This actualized a newfound truth: an artist no longer has to pay thousands of dollars to a studio for them to record and produce their music. They can do it all from their bedroom or a home studio. The equipment could be a portable microphone taped to a broken lamp and GarageBand, like in Conan Gray’s case, or a more advanced and technical setup. The limitations to getting started are nearly nonexistent. 

The World is Your Audience

Being able to record from home doesn’t have a real advantage if you don’t have an audience to sell to. This is why artists have sold themself to record labels for the last century. Although labels, whether major or indie, come with marketing, publishing, and other services, they have an equal disadvantage. The freedom that artists maintain is low, with the label having a range of control over their sound.

Now that platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud are on the scene, artists can promote their music to a large audience and maintain their individuality without signing to a label. The number of potential listeners in an artist’s reach is a distinct game-changer of online platforms. A musician’s ability to perform to massive audiences eager to discover and consume new content is now available right inside of a computer. 

Empowering the Individual 

The rise in fame of artists like Conan Gray and Billie Eilish proves that there is a place in the market for individuality. Now more than ever, the hunger for unique and true-to-you content is growing.

For bedroom pop artists, streaming platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify have changed the game. Combine these with the ability to self-promote through Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and launching and maintaining a music career all from your bedroom is possible. 

In the book industry, it’s self-publishing e-books with sellers like Amazon. In the videography world, it’s platforms like YouTube. There are a seemingly endless number of do-it-yourself tech tools in a wide variety of industries. Anyone from anywhere can share their works with the world as an individual, and build their own personal brand. Our changing culture is calling out for it, and now, we have the technology to answer their calls.