It makes sense that norms are shifting in this direction as Gen Z’s influence spreads. Raised on social media, with access to once illicit bad-taste touchstones like Rocky Horror just a click away, they’ve largely replaced IRL subcultures with a constellation of aesthetics—cottagecore, dark academia, Y2K—to be performed, then discarded or demoted... See more

“Sonically, current recession pop blends dance, disco and rave and dives a little deeper than dancing the night away,” she explains. “Acts like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX bring emotion to the forefront with lyrics that explore queer love, family trauma and female friendships. It’s now a listening experience that celebrates individuality and... See more

Or more recently, Charli XCX in her “Brat” era, whose lo-fi aesthetic and collaborations with young artists like Billie Eilish and Addison Rae spoke to the mood of Gen Z — even when her lyrics evinced quintessentially millennial concerns about fertility and finding the best bathroom to do coke in.