I had the dizzying pleasure of a private early viewing of Nobody Here, and I’m excited – really excited – for everyone about to watch and own it.
Full disclosure, as well as being an early crowd-funder (and proud owner of the Nobody Here dad cap, and film-inspired tapes), I do know three of the production team personally. But genuinely, I went in as a fan of vaporwave – and someone who only really got into it in the last three years, through the gateway drug of synthwave (I co-hosted the global internet and live radio show ‘Forever Synth’, 2019-2022. RIP).
That said, let’s get into it…
From the drop, it’s clear that ‘Nobody Here: The Story of Vaporwave’ [prod. Chris Britten, Enzo Van Baelen, Jay Sabourin and Thom Hosken; scripted by Enzo Van Baelen, 2026] is going to be told in an aesthetically unique way befitting of the genre; glitchy, loopy, dreamlike, and veering from rich and garish Memphis colours, to grainy VHS, to turn-of-the-millennium internet windows, and in-game graphics.
The production levels are exceptionally high here, and it’s clear the movie is an absolute labour of love – albeit one beleaguered by circumstance. The film kicked off its crowdfunder weeks before Covid struck in 2020, with a Toronto pencilled event, ‘aessential’, set to mark the start of filming, cruelly shelved courtesy of the pandemic.
Covid-19 suddenly and sharply ground the world to a screeching halt. A jagged needle scratch on a record, a corrupted floppy disc; a file unfound.
The production team, however, were adamant that they didn’t want Nobody Here to be an endless splice of Zoom calls, and the film is all the better for it. Gradually, as the earth re-opened, planes were rebooked, journeys were made, IRL events started to tentatively emerge again out of the URL festivals that kept vaporwave alive during this period (the team would visit 100% ElectroniCON 3 in scenes which, I think, add deep emotional resonance to the film).
Each of our narrators enter the frame in idiosyncratic ways; enveloped in neon and pastel spaces, cross-legged on the ground in a liminal space, lounging by a pool on a huge inflatable flamingo, embossed in web windows – and in Luxury Elite’s case, disguised by an actor mouthing her words whilst seductively twiddling a red retro phone cord. And as private as vaporwave artists can be, our cast of stars appear to delight in being on film. For some viewers, this will be the first time they’ll have seen their favourite producers on screen – and there is a small thrill in ‘meeting’ these names from now infamous releases, as they open their hearts over the course of the documentary.
There are also some beautiful set-piece sections as we’re guided through a virtual apartment space filled with vaporwave easter eggs (look out for event posters, classic vapor vinyl and tapes, and neon lit nods to Floral Shoppe and the ubiquitous Helios bust) – created by producer and artist VANITAS命死.
As well as the intertwining birth stories of a genre and its sub genre babies, there are wistful and reflective moments, as our guides talk about the power of nostalgia, loss and longing, and – yes – there is that debate about whether or not vaporwave is an anti-Capitalist movement (you’ll have to watch to see were the Pepsi can spins and slows on that one).
In addition to being a chronological history, and socio-political storytelling of this musical bastard child of the internet, Nobody Here also veers into joyous celebration of the “punk” ethos, and community-centred culture – especially during the return of the live scene sections I mention above. In these moments, it’s difficult to watch without a huge smile on your face, as – especially to the thus far uninitiated – the sounds, aesthetics and nostalgia of vaporwave become utterly infectious.
There are also interesting parallels drawn between vaporwave and the prog rock concept albums of the 70s; in so far as vaporwave can be deeply conceptual – steeped in world building and nostalgia as a device for triggering emotion, time and place; and offsetting these in uncanny and sometimes unnerving directions.
We need to talk about the film’s score too. Contemporary vaporwave act, Donor Lens (triggering those “is it vaporwave?” naysayers, ha), provide a sonic background which interweaves with OG classics and more obscure artists, as we hear tracks by everyone from Contact Lens, Saint Pepsi, 猫 シ Corp, and Nmesh, right through to DATAGIRL, George Clanton, Tupperwave and XWaves. As evidenced in the rolling end credits, the film is absolutely chock full of producers and tracks, old and new, leftfield and beloved. If you were quick enough to pick up either of the Nobody Here inspired albums (released as additional crowdfunders), the film goes deep into the lore and love of vaporwave.
Essentially, as you will be able to see for yourselves at the free IRL screening on 20 April 2026 [RSVP HERE], Nobody Here really is a beautifully produced and edited film. For those expecting a made-for-YouTube movie, prepare to have your minds blown. Nobody Here deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible. That said, in keeping with the physical media and DIY nature of the scene, it still looks pretty as fuck on the screen of a mid-range Android device.
As the film ends, we depart on an aspartame-sweetened high, encouraged to ask questions about ourselves, our personal history, and the value and role of nostalgia we place in our individual stories. Vaporwave is fundamentally about things that are just out of reach; an earworm from your childhood you can’t place yet loops around and around in your head; a fuzzy TV in another room; a weather channel jingle that merges with commercials for fast food, breakfast cereals, and Saturday morning cartoons.
Vaporwave will continue to evolve. Contrary to those that would have you believe it, vaporwave didn’t die. Or if it did it was resurrected, and will live forever. Just maybe not how you envisage or desire. And that’s okay. It continues to morph from its musical roots and signifiers into the imaginations and creations of younger artists who pull on their own nostalgia – as 80s sounds are replaced by 2000s sensations.
But you’ll always have the albums you cherish, the live nights that will be (mis)remembered for eternity, and what you bring to the music. In this way, vaporwave is a personal – some say spiritual – experience. Embrace that.
So enjoy the premiere on the 20th, hang out with the producers in the chat, and do pick up a copy of the doc. You too can own a piece of something un-ownable: the power of our collective imagination.
Long live vaporwave.
Written by Rob Dyson
Nobody Here: ‘The Story of Vaporwave’ can be pre-ordered on VHS tape, DVD and C-USB formats via My Pet Flamingo.
RSVP here to join a free URL premiere on Monday 20th April, 2026.