Washed Out
Biography
In the summer of 2009, as the world was still reeling from economic collapse and social media was reshaping human connection, a 26-year-old art teacher from Perry, Georgia, began uploading dreamy, lo-fi tracks to his MySpace page under the moniker Washed Out. Ernest Greene had no grand ambitions beyond sharing his bedroom recordings with friends, but within months, his hazy, nostalgic soundscapes would help define an entire musical movement and soundtrack a generation's longing for simpler times.
Greene's journey to accidental stardom began in the most unlikely of places – a small town in rural Georgia where he taught high school art by day and crafted ethereal pop songs by night. Armed with little more than a cheap keyboard, drum machine, and rudimentary recording software, he began layering dreamy vocals over gauzy synthesizer washes, creating what would soon be dubbed "chillwave" by music bloggers desperate to categorize the emerging sound. The term stuck, much to Greene's initial chagrin, but it perfectly captured the languid, sun-drenched atmosphere of tracks like "Feel It All Around," a song that would later become synonymous with the aesthetic of an entire decade.
The track's hypnotic charm didn't go unnoticed. When the producers of Portlandia selected it as their theme song in 2011, Greene found himself with an unexpected hit that introduced his music to millions of viewers who had never heard of chillwave but instinctively understood its appeal. The song's success was emblematic of Washed Out's broader cultural impact – Greene had tapped into something deeper than mere nostalgia, crafting a sonic sedative for an increasingly anxious world.
His 2011 debut album, "Within and Without," marked the transition from bedroom project to proper recording artist. Working with producer Ben Allen, known for his work with Animal Collective and Deerhunter, Greene expanded his palette while maintaining the essential dreaminess that made his music so compelling. The album's lush arrangements and improved fidelity didn't sacrifice the intimate, almost narcotic quality that made tracks like "Eyes Be Closed" and "Amor Fati" feel like half-remembered dreams. Critics praised the record's cohesive vision, and it became a touchstone for the chillwave movement, proving that the genre could sustain full-length statements rather than just viral singles.
Greene's evolution continued with 2013's "Paracosm," an album that pushed his sound into more ambitious territory while retaining its essential character. The record's exploration of childhood memories and imaginary worlds resonated with listeners who had grown up alongside the internet, offering a sonic escape from digital overwhelm. Tracks like "It All Feels Right" showcased Greene's growing confidence as a songwriter, balancing accessibility with the otherworldly atmosphere that remained his calling card.
The artist's influence extended far beyond his own recordings. Washed Out became a gateway drug for countless listeners discovering electronic music, ambient textures, and the broader universe of experimental pop. His approach to melody and atmosphere influenced everyone from bedroom pop artists to major-label acts seeking to capture some of that elusive, nostalgic magic. The aesthetic he helped pioneer – all pastel colors, VHS grain, and summer haze – became visual shorthand for millennial nostalgia, appearing in everything from fashion shoots to Instagram filters.
Greene's subsequent releases, including 2017's "Mister Mellow" and 2020's "Purple Noon," found him continuing to evolve while staying true to his core vision. "Mister Mellow," in particular, represented a bold creative leap, functioning as both album and visual art piece, with accompanying videos that transformed each track into a surreal, animated journey. The project demonstrated Greene's artistic ambitions beyond simple song craft, positioning him as a multimedia artist rather than just a musician.
More than a decade after those first MySpace uploads, Washed Out's legacy seems secure. Greene accidentally helped soundtrack the early 2010s, providing the perfect musical accompaniment to an era caught between digital acceleration and analog longing. His influence can be heard in countless bedroom pop artists, while his visual aesthetic continues to define how we visualize musical nostalgia.
Today, Greene continues to record and tour, his music serving as a reminder that sometimes the most powerful art emerges not from grand statements but from quiet moments of beauty, carefully crafted and generously shared. In an increasingly chaotic world, Washed Out remains a reliable source of sonic tranquility, proof that sometimes the best escape is simply closing your eyes and letting the music wash over
