5 Geeky Lofi Mixes to Lift Your Mood and Help You Focus

If you haven’t discovered lo-fi yet, allow me to welcome you to your new musical obsession. 

Lo-fi stands for “low fidelity”, and the idea is that this music actually has flaws in it (think listening to a vinyl record versus a digital recording.) According to some, the flaws are part of what help keep your brain on-task, along with the lack of lyrics and slow tempo. For me, a lot of the fun is getting to listen to lo-fi re-imaginings of my favorite geeky music while I’m cleaning, cooking, and writing. 

If you ask me, listening to video game music is the next best thing to actually getting to sit down and play. Same with remixed Ghibli songs and anime soundtracks. I can be in the middle of a mundane chore, but if the right song comes on, I’m transported right into the game and away from chores, or stress for that matter. 

So, whether you’re new to lo-fi or just want something new to study, work, or read to, check out some of these great geeky lo-fi streaming channels and mixes:

Pop Lofi Mix

There’s literally something for everybody on this mix. I’ve heard everything from Gorillaz to the Cantina Song on this station, and honestly the eclectic mix is delightful. Plus, there’s an adorable anime girl in the background to keep you company. The Closed on Sunday profile also has links to all kinds of other geeky lo-fi goodness, including a dedicated Star Wars radio.

Animal Crossing OST

Get your Animal Crossing fix with this eclectic mix of lo-fi animal crossing beats from across the game’s history. Mixes like these are great to have on in the background as you go about your day, bringing a little bit of Animal Crossing charm to the mundane.

DJ Cutman Radio

I’m actually listening to Radio Cutman as I write this, and I’m getting treated to a really fun remix of the Esper theme from Final Fantasy 6. It almost goes without saying, this is a great station for any type of gamer, full of nostalgia-inducing beats. And the best part? Different pixelated backgrounds come up as the radio plays, most of them reminiscent of Street Fighter arenas.

Studio Ghibli Jazz Beats

If you’re not a jazz fan, don’t let the name turn you off—this mellow Ghibli themed mix is all about gentle beats and signature Joe Hisaishi melodies. Listening to this mix, you’re guaranteed to get the warm fuzzies of a good Miyazaki movie while you’re studying or just relaxing. Perfect music for curling up with a book or a project on a rainy day.

Breath of the Wild and Lo-Fi

Get that chilled out Breath of the Wild feel without even firing up your Switch. Honestly, there are a lot of great Zelda lo-fi mixes out there I could recommend (seriously, they’re all pretty good.) But, I personally feel like the quiet serenity of the Breath of the Wild soundtrack lends itself so beautifully to lo-fi music that this mix really stands out from the crowd. If you’re a Zelda fan, definitely give it a listen.