Hyperpop Defined: The Style That’s Breaking All of the Guidelines in 2025

Hyperpop is undeniably one of many largest genres of the second. Charli XCX’s album “Brat” simply received Greatest Dance/Digital Album on the 2025 Grammys. Even the notoriously critical Fantano rated it as one of the best album of 2024.

However what's Hyperpop? And what units it other than “mainstream” pop? That’s what we’re going to discover on this information! ????

What's Hyperpop?

The time period Hyperpop was coined in 2019 by a Spotify playlist editor who named a playlist “Hyperpop” with artists now thought of as such.

Whereas the style is loosely outlined, Hyperpop is a high-energy, high-octane mix of pop and EDM.

Hyperpop is like turning every part to 11. Distortion? A number of it. Autotune? Sure. Synths? Vivid and excessive. Nevertheless, Hyperpop additionally attracts on genres equivalent to Pop-Punk, Hip Hop, and even Dubstep.

The style emerged within the late 2010s and is mostly related to A.G. Prepare dinner, the producer behind lots of Charli XCX’s hits. On the time, he was behind PC Music, a London-based label.

On the time, the label specialised in an over-the-top tackle pop music, with syrupy melodies and brash manufacturing. The style shortly gained traction, largely due to Soundcloud and Spotify playlists.

Listed here are just a few examples of tracks that might be thought of, despite the fact that they may sound very completely different:

Defining Traits of Hyperpop

So, what makes Hyperpop so… properly, hyper? Let’s dive into every part that makes Hyperpop so distinctive.

1. Vocal Manipulation

Hyperpop vocals are sometimes closely processed, that includes pitch-shifting, harsh autotune, and formant shifting.

These results create an artificial and synthetic sound that's immediately recognizable.

Right here’s a fast instance of every of those 3 results so you possibly can see the influence they've on a vocal. Firstly, right here’s a dry vocal with no impact:

Now, let’s apply so pitch shifting to this vocal:

We are able to additionally apply autotune, which is able to appropriate the pitch of every notice. This provides a “robotic” sound to a vocal when used to the acute:

Lastly, we will additionally use formant shifting to present character to a vocal:

If you happen to’re trying to obtain these types of results in your tracks, try Melodyne in addition to Little Alterboy.

By the way in which, we have now a full video on formant shifting proper right here if you wish to be taught extra:

2. Glitchy, Distorted Manufacturing

Many Hyperpop productions use excessive distortion in addition to glitchy results to make their tracks sound futuristic.

Try this monitor by 100 gecs, which already showcases each closely autotuned vocals and distortion:

Utilizing synths like Serum or Large X, producers create sharp, metallic sounds and complicated textures. Resampling particularly is a key method to attain the uneven “stop-and-start” really feel of many Hyperpop tracks.

If you happen to’re trying to make Hyperpop your self, try this checklist of one of the best glitch plugins. A number of of them will definitely turn out to be useful ????

3. Style Fusion

Hyperpop blends parts from numerous genres: entice beats, EDM drops, punk-pop guitars… 100 gecs’s newest album, 10,000 gecs, is a good instance of this mix of genres, usually throughout the identical music.

Mixed with this, Hyperpop preparations usually defy conventional music constructions. Producers will usually use abrupt transitions, tempo shifts, and surprising drops.

4. Maximalism

Every little thing in hyperpop is dialed as much as 11. It’s about being “an excessive amount of” on objective, with clashing textures, chaotic preparations, and over-the-top compression.

For this reason Hyperpop is usually thought of “cartoonish”. Productions are colourful, with self-deprecating lyrics (try Frog on the Flooring by 100 gecs in the event you don’t imagine me) and brilliant, saw-wave synths.

Notable Hyperpop Artists in 2025

1. 100 gecs

I discussed 100 gecs just a few instances already on this publish, so it solely is smart to start out with them.

Dylan Brady and Laura Les’s chaotic, genre-mashing fashion has made them hyperpop icons. In 2023, they launched 10,000 gecs, which epitomizes every part enjoyable and loopy about Hyperpop.

2. Charli XCX

Whereas mixing Hyperpop with extra conventional pop or EDM songs, Charli XCX has been a significant affect on the style. Together with her latest wins on the Grammys 2025 for her album Brat and her monitor Von Dutch, she is basically accountable for bringing Hyperpop to the lots.

3. SOPHIE

A significant determine within the emergence of Hyperpop till her passing in 2021, SOPHIE was recognized for her very experimental productions and aesthetics.

Her album “OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES” was nominated as finest Digital/Dance album on the 2018 Grammy’s, and is unquestionably price a hear.

Hyperpop: Last Ideas

It’s exhausting to say how lengthy this model of Hyperpop will proceed. Nevertheless, as a result of it's so open to mixing genres, it's prone to proceed to evolve and take in new genres.

Likewise, parts of Hyperpop have already made their method into different genres equivalent to Metallic with for instance Bring Me the Horizons’s latest album.

However that’s it for this information. Hopefully, you now have a greater really feel for what Hyperpop is! If you happen to’re trying to begin making your first Hyperpop tracks (or some other digital music style), ensure that to take a look at our free Masterclass beneath to get began ????