tech
The Guide #240: My New Obsession is the Mesmerizing World of the Chipmunks at 16rpm
In this week's newsletter: In an era preoccupied with overstimulation, a trio of cartoon rodents' slowed-down reinterpretations of pop classics offer an uncanny kind of calm
TL;DR
- The Chipmunks on 16 Speed project slows down records of the cartoon rodents to 16rpm, creating a low, squelchy, and slow sound.
- This project, initiated by musician Brian Borcherdt, gained cult status and went viral on platforms like TikTok and Twitter.
- The slowed-down songs reinterpret pop classics, offering a sound that is both menacing and beautiful, with a haunted quality.
- This phenomenon taps into a broader trend of slowing down music, seen in earlier internet microgenres like 'slowed + reverb'.
- The appeal lies in its ability to provide a sense of calm and a downbeat register, contrasting with the overstimulation of modern life.