Sigilkore
Sigilkore is a microgenre of trap music that incorporates elements of electronic music and cloud rap, originating in the late 2010s in the United States on SoundCloud. It is characterized by layered DJ mixing and digital effects such as bitcrushing and pitch shifting, often layered in-post over recorded vocals.
Identifying factors of pop music usually includes digital stereo effects, often layered in-post over recorded vocals, alongside bass-boosted 808s, wide and reverb-soaked synths, and bitcrush effects.
Etymology
The term "sigil" derives from the Latin sigillum, meaning "seal". In medieval magic, the term sigil was commonly used to refer to occult signs which represented various angels and demons which the practitioner might summon.Characteristics
Sigilkore is characterized by difficult mixing and digital stereo effects, often layered in-post over recorded vocals, alongside bass-boosted 808s, wide and reverb-soaked synths, and bitcrush effects.In sigilkore music, lyrical themes mostly revolve around dark themes, including blood and vampires. The genre takes a blend of trap drums with a more ambient approach, faster tempos, and experimental mixing and mastering techniques. It was described as an experimental genre with no boundaries.
The visual aesthetics of sigilkore draw influence from occultism, religious iconography such as that of angels and demons, anime and early internet-related artwork, particularly those associated with the 2006 online GIF-editor Blingee.
History
Late 2010s–Early 2020s
Sigilkore originated on the music sharing app SoundCloud during the late 2010s. South Florida rapper SpaceGhostPurrp, along with producers within his collective BMB Deathrow, laid the groundwork for what would later become sigilkore, which was pioneered by the collective Jewelxxet.A producer from BMB Deathrow, by the name of 4jay, would expand upon this style by frequently including references to Occultism, within his cover art and lyrics. He is also credited with coining the term around 2019, as well as the collective Jewelxxet with 2shanez and islurwhenitalk and sellasouls.
The genre exploded in popularity in summer 2021, when Luci4's songs "Bodypartz", "All Eyez on Me", and "Kurxxed Emeraldz" blew up on TikTok. The genre was also popularized by American singer Siouxxie's "Masquerade," which would go viral in mid-2021, and by artists Lumi Athena, Odetari and 9lives in 2023.