Thu Sep 25 06:40:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The article explores a burgeoning genre of music, dubbed “Xanax music,” popularized by artists like Laufey, beabadoobee, and Lizzy McAlpine. This music is characterized by its mellow, softly romantic sound, often featuring acoustic instrumentation and breathy vocals. It’s designed to be background music, providing a comfortable, numbing effect that allows listeners to passively exist, particularly in times of anxiety or uncertainty. While these artists are capable of more complex and emotionally charged work, their “Xanax music” is significantly more popular, suggesting a cultural preference for music that soothes rather than challenges. The author argues that we should encourage artists to express a wider range of emotions and embrace their imperfections, rather than confining them to the comforting numbness of this genre.

**News Article:**

**The Rise of “Xanax Music”: Are We Trading Depth for Comfort?**

**Bushwick, NY** – Step into any cafe in Bushwick, and you’re likely to be greeted by the soothing sounds of what some are calling “Xanax music.” Artists like Laufey, beabadoobee, Clairo, and Lizzy McAlpine are dominating playlists with their mellow, romantic tunes, but critics are questioning whether this wave of easy listening is actually lulling listeners into a state of emotional detachment.

Characterized by acoustic instrumentation, breathy vocals, and a blend of bossa nova, jazz, and indie pop influences, Xanax music is designed to be a sonic comfort blanket. Songs like Powfu and beabadoobee’s viral hit, “death bed (coffee for your head),” with its nearly two billion streams, offer a repetitive, hypnotic quality, encouraging listeners to exist in a state of limbo.

“It’s the kind of music you put on when you don’t want to *feel*,” explains music critic [Insert Fictional Critic Name Here]. “It creates a pleasant backdrop for staring at spreadsheets or pictures of your ex without actually processing the emotions.”

While the genre’s popularity is undeniable, some argue that it stifles artistic expression. Many of these artists are capable of creating more complex and challenging work, but their “Xanax music” consistently outperforms these efforts. For example, beabadoobee’s energetic debut album, *Fake It Flowers*, hasn’t achieved the streaming numbers of her more mellow tracks.

“Are we telling these artists to suppress their anger, their joy, their fear – their full humanity – in favor of a comfortable numbness?” asks [Insert Fictional Critic Name Here].

The article raises the question of whether we are collectively encouraging artists to stick to softness. The author argues that by embracing artists’ attempts to express themselves in their full humanity, we, too, can start popping our bubble–wrapped existences, where we try to “un–alive” every discomfort.

As the world grapples with anxieties and uncertainties, the appeal of Xanax music is clear. However, the article suggests that perhaps we should embrace the full spectrum of human emotion in music, even the uncomfortable parts.

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