Homemade Webcam Music Videos Are Making A Comeback

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Written by: Alex Law

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Artists are ditching high production value for webcams to promote their music and it’s brilliant!

During the bedroom pop era of 2017, audiences became enamored with independent artists producing Lo-fi music without assistance of music industry giants. Heavy hitters such as Clairo, Cuco, and Boy Pablo dominated the charts with their catchy lyrics and laid back self-made instrumentals. These fresh faces showed everyone that exceptional music could be created with accessible, everyday technology. Almost 10 years later, the DIY spirit that bedroom pop was built on, persists within a new era of music promotion.

Recently, independent artists are using more affordable means to promote their singles and it is extremely effective. Platforms such as Tik Tok are becoming the primary source for discovering new untapped talent and kick starting artists’ careers. However using a platform with an infinite timeline of content, requires artists to dig deep creatively to truly stand out. The use of low quality webcams to record visuals is proving to be a very effective approach.

Using macOS Photo booth to make music videos is not a new concept at all. Everyone alive in the 2010s has made an embarrassing lip syncing video with a webcam involving oversized sunglasses and uncoordinated, improvised dance moves. But Clairo’s music video for Pretty Girl showcased a use of Photo booth for an official music release. Her honest yet simple lyrics paired with a maximum quality of 480p, made it feel as if we were watching her personal video diary. The impact of Clairo’s music video on bedroom pop was immense, especially with the ongoing debate on whether the attention it garnered was organic but that’s another story. More recent examples of webcam recorded music videos include Girlsweetvoiced, Mila Bea, and Tabü. I recommend listening to these extremely talented artists that pour their hearts out into their very personal music.

Audiences seem to really resonate with the low production value of these videos but why? Grainy home videos pull at the heart strings of most because they incite a feeling of nostalgia and longing for a better time. It highlights a specific memory that was recorded so you could rewatch it later and reminisce. Whether its specifically with Photo booth or any archaic camera, making videos were a simple and fun way to bond with loved ones. It’s so nostalgic and familiar and gets everyone onboard. The airbrushed finish of an old webcam also helps hide any superficial imperfections.

But overall, I think the concept of watching a recording of someone performing a hobby, seemingly for fun, in their room is as personal as looking at the unfiltered thoughts in their Notes app. These days we are so exhausted by overproduced mainstream media that we yearn for authenticity and a quick look into someone’s life. That’s why mundane yet interesting shows on TikTok such as Errands and Revival of the Fittest do so well. We yearn for realness that we cannot find in mainstream media. Maybe we are all just looking for someone to understand us, whether it is the dreadful feeling of having to go back to work or breaking free from a constricting, life-draining relationship.