Kittencore is a term referring to screamo/emoviolence bands with vocalists who do high-pitched shrieks. Kittencore is, to put it in the most simple terms, screamo music made by young kids—usually around 16 to 18 years of age—who haven’t broken in their screams yet. Therefore, they sound high-pitched and mewly, like kittens.

The later was later on appropriated by Oscar Explores The World Outside who use it to describe their music, which mashes aspects of everything from pop to post-rock to jazz. It can also extend to any music where it sounds like a kitten is one of the instruments.