The surprisingly fresh uses for old cassettes

You always make sure to give yourself a pat-down when you walk out the door every morning just in case you’re forgetting something — you have your phone, your wallet, comb, and car keys. Oh no! It looks like you forgot your cassette player!

That’s right, cassette players have become an everyday carry essential for people into music like vaporwave and future funk, with labels of those genres releasing music on cassettes alongside digital downloads.

No, you haven’t been transported back to the 1980s. And you haven’t been transported back to 2015 either — there is still a vibrant community of people who listen to and create music with that certain aesthetic.

One of many recent cassette releases.

But the question remains: why would anybody use cassettes when digital audio formats are technically superior to cassette tapes? It makes sense why people would still collect vinyl records and LaserDiscs because the audio quality is tremendous, but surely the same cannot be said of cassette tapes?

It turns out that cassettes might not be as bad as you remember. Often times, people listen to bad cassette tapes on old equipment, which obviously results in a bad sound quality.

Furthermore, connoisseurs of cassettes have reported that they prefer tapes for subjective reasons, such as the perception of a “warmer” and more three-dimensional sound from cassettes.

However, the real reason why some people prefer cassettes is probably much simpler — it’s all about the nostalgia.

This looks familiar -- but now with optional Bluetooth, of course. DIGITNOW Walkman is a favorite among cassette connoisseurs. Get it at Amazon.

There’s a certain sound and feel associated with cassette tapes, but more importantly, there’s a certain aesthetic associated with cassettes. And aesthetics is what vaporwave, future funk, and similar genres are all about.

Labels like Business Casual and AMDISCS sell cassette tapes because they fit the aesthetic of a music genre that is already fueled by nostalgia.

https://twitter.com/VaporNewsOff/status/1223163961811574784

These genres of music will make you reminisce about defunct department stores or bustling 1980s cities, and listening to the music on similarly defunct technology adds an extra layer to the experience.

And in an age where people stream music and CDs are quickly becoming a thing of the past, it’s worthwhile to sell a tangible item that helps make your label stand out.

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  1. 2 years ago
    gan

    I still have a box of these, couldn't get myself to throw them out.

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