LSC Community Music Jam #3 ~ CITY POP !!!! ~ 05.16.2026 - 05.30.2026
Hello Everyone!
Thank you all for participating in LSC’s Music Jam #2 — FOLKLORE / LEGENDS!
I know I’m getting this post up a little late, (shoulda been up yesterday sorry yall!) but I wanted to take a moment to say how awesome it has been seeing everyone keep these jams going: The whole point of this is to give us a fun excuse to explore different sounds, different stories, different moods, and to keep building a positive creative space around AI music, and y’all have been doing exactly that - The music coming out of this space lately has been so encouraging, for real, the more of you making and sharing all types of AI art, I feel like the more vibrant a scene we are a part of. So thank you all so much for your music and art.
If you haven’t already, make sure to post the song you made for Music Jam #2: Folklore / Legends in the jam thread so we can keep everything together and maybe look back later for playlists, showcases, and all that good stuff:
https://www.reddit.com/r/LatentSpaceClub/comments/1t34d9h/lsc_music_jam_2_folklore_legends/
But with all of that out of the way…
The polling has concluded for LSC MUSIC JAM #3, and the community has spoken.
For LSC’s MUSIC JAM #3, ( 05.16.2026 - 05.30.2026 ) we will be exploring:
CITY POP
I AM SO EXCITED! - I hope regardless of where your vote landed in the poll, that you see this as an interesting challenge, trying to capture a bit of this sound in our work!
City pop can be smooth, nostalgic, romantic, funky, dreamy, lonely, glossy, beachy, or full of late-night energy. It can feel like driving through a glowing city at 1 AM, dancing under hotel lobby lights, staring out a train window after a breakup, falling in love on vacation, all with a thumping bassline XD.
Think shimmering synths, clean guitar riffs, funky bass, disco grooves, soft rock, yacht rock, jazz fusion, 80s pop, vaporwave-adjacent nostalgia, big catchy hooks, sentimental lyrics, glamorous and emotionally devastated at the same time :)
But def don’t feel boxed in; you can keep it traditional, or you can fuse it with something else: city pop x J-rock x future bass x whatever strange ideas live in your hearts XD!
The goal is to use the theme as a launchpad and see where it takes you.
For maybe some inspiration, here are some gateway City Pop tracks that might help you catch the vibe:
Mariya Takeuchi — “Plastic Love”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_lC2O1oIew
“Plastic Love” is probably one of the biggest modern gateway songs for City Pop. Glossy, wistful, romantic, and endlessly replayable, it has become one of the songs most associated with the genre’s online revival.
Miki Matsubara — “Mayonaka no Door / Stay With Me”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuU2YHtxMik
“Stay With Me” is another massive entry point. Smooth, catchy, dramatic, and instantly recognizable, it gives a great sense of the stylish, emotional, late-night side of City Pop.
Tatsuro Yamashita — “Sparkle”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqobRu9aR3M
“Sparkle” is bright, clean, and full of sunshine-through-glass energy. The guitar, groove, and polished production make it a perfect reference point for the sleek, guitar-forward side of the genre.
Anri — “I Can’t Stop the Loneliness”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bALJxjL8jw
“I Can’t Stop the Loneliness” is funky, danceable, stylish, and super easy to get into. A great example of City Pop’s ability to sound upbeat while still carrying that bittersweet emotional pull.
Taeko Ohnuki — “4:00 A.M.”
https://youtu.be/_sOKkON_UnQ?si=L09s_ZfwmM4kmfhm
“4:00 A.M.” leans moodier and more mysterious. Great inspiration if you want the softer, more late-night, slightly haunted side of City Pop.
And a little shoutout to one of my favorite Suno artists Heisei Retro who is ALL ABOUT that City Pop Sound!
https://suno.com/@bulletproofkevlar
~ As you play with this sound, if you find something that is working for you, post your song for music Jam #3 in this thread right here! We have from now through 05.30.2026 to play with this sound! ~
Don’t forget to tell us about your song! What inspired it? What tools did you use? What style were you aiming for? Did the AI surprise you? Did the song mutate into something completely different halfway through? We want to hear about it.
And as always, maybe make some custom art or even a little video to share with it! Album covers, lyric videos, character art, whatever helps bring your track to life.
Also, when you share your song, feel free to suggest other genres, vibes, instruments, or themes you think might be fun to vote on for future jams.
Then share your artwork everywhere else too! All the Discords! All the AI-art-friendly subreddits! Let the world see what you made.
AND: If you are enjoying making AI music and want a place to share it with a room full of enthusiastic AI music creators, in a space focused on lifting each other up and celebrating each other’s expression, consider heading over to:
Click the link there to join the AI Underground Discord. We have listening parties every day of the week. Come vibe with us!
Allright, again, just thanks so much to all of y'all for hanging out and being a part of these spaces. Thanks for putting yourselves out there, for lifting each other up, and for helping shape a positive culture around AI art and music.
Can’t wait to see what we cook up for: