Illbient

Illbient emerged in the early 1990s, predominantly in New York City, when ambient music met with hip hop and dub, as if they accidentally bumped into each other at a warehouse party and decided to collaborate rather than argue. Its soundscape is characterised by a murky mix of rhythms, samples, and environmental noises, creating the perfect backdrop for contemplating life’s many puzzles or perfecting your sceptical eyebrow raise. You could say it was the genre that made being 'chilled out' sound delightfully chaotic, proving that even serenity can have a bit of a mischievous side.