Shoegaze - music for dreaming

Artwork by Liz Benjamin.

I would say I've been quite exposed to a wide range of musical genres, but it wasn't until last month that I discovered something new. I was asked, "Have you heard of Shoegaze music?".

Thriving from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, Shoegaze is an underground rock 'n' roll genre characterized by a special mix of heavily distorted guitars and dreamy vocals (Parys, 2019). Accompanied with the conventional rock band structure and the occasional incorporation of synthesizers and strings, it gives it its unique sound.

How does Shoegaze music sound

The trademark shoegaze sound downplays vocals and instead portrays the human voice as another component in a flood of auditory complexity (Steele, n.d.). It is also frequently described as ethereal, slow-paced, extremely distorted and warped. However, that is not to imply that fast tempo shoegaze music does not exist. In spite of tempo differences or the way they are structured differently, some things shoegaze music has in common are guitar tones that have been severely altered, loud effects pedals, and melodious, reverb-drenched vocals. Shoegaze songs use dreamy production approaches and effects to produce airy and dreamlike sound patterns, despite it ironically being primarily influenced by darker genres like goth rock and post-rock elements. This has led many listeners to using shoegaze music as ambient music (Emery, C. 2021).

History of Shoegaze

The origin of the term "shoegaze" is unknown, however, it is most closely attributable to playing with pedals. With the tendency of shoegaze guitarists incorporating and making use of a wide range of pedalboard effects, it forces them to glance down a lot (Emery, C. 2021). The term “shoegazing” was also subsequently popularized by the British music press when they described the onstage performances of these bands' as somewhat sedentary. Rather than putting on a dynamic stage act in contrast to most pop singers, these bands often focus on generating a specific "wall of sound," which are layers of feedback, dreamy vocals, and loudness, almost like hundreds of audio waves coming together to create a high wall surrounding you (Steele, n.d.). Shoegaze is an odd genre in which its name doesn't identify a sound or have a relationship to any music history. But the crux of this genre serves as a space to discover and push the boundaries of guitar tones and textures. With its intense layers of sounds, it makes it very difficult for people to interact and mingle with one another while the music is in the background. This isolates each individual with their thoughts and emotions (Best Shoegaze Albums, 2016). And perhaps, the genre got its name because of the listener’s proclivity to look at the floor and their shoes while listening to these specific songs.

Shoegaze Pioneers

Cocteau Twins. Courtesy of Odile Noel/Redferns/Getty Images.

Contrary to the substantial influence and impact shoegaze had in the 1980s and 1990s, the number of active shoegaze bands was small. And out of this limited number, only a tiny percentage actually managed to achieve widespread fame. Such notable bands that pioneered the shoegaze community during that period were My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Lush, and Slowdive (Jenkins, 2021). However, one particular band that I feel brought Shoegaze out of its “closed” off circle was the Cocteau Twins. The band made its debut in Scotland in 1979, comprising Robin Guthrie (guitars, drum machine), Will Heggie (bass), and Elizabeth Fraser (vocals). The trio drew their musical influence from other musicians like Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Birthday Party, and Kate Bush. Over the next decade and a half, the Cocteau Twins continue to inspire the shoegazers and dream-pop performers with their interesting blend of Robin Guthrie's ethereal guitar experiments and Elizabeth Fraser's dreamy, reverb-drenched harmonies (Jenkins, 2021). The Cocteau Twins were loved by the late Prince and adored by Madonna, yet they maintained a strangely lowkey public presence (Greig, 2020). This comes as a surprise because they were dishing out hits such as Cherry-coloured funk, Heaven or Las Vegas, and Carolyn’s Fingers. Not to mention, their single "Pearly Dewdrops' Drop" topped the UK indie charts, further cementing the band as the leaders of the UK's alternative music industry then (Davey, 2018).

The Re-emergence of Shoegaze Music

The shoegaze movement broke into the music industry in the 80s like greased lightning, leaving an everlasting impression on other musicians. Unfortunately, it only lingered around for a few years, making it one of the most transient and brief mainstream musical fads of the 1990s (Jenkins, 2021). However, with the power of technology, it appears that shoegaze music is slowly but surely resurrecting from the dead, with the potential of it becoming a popular genre once again amongst the Millennials. As of now, the hashtag, #shoegaze has over 31.1 million cumulative views on TikTok, ranging from Cocteau Twins-inspired makeup tutorials as well as content creators dancing to classic songs from My Bloody Valentines and many other shoegaze favorites (Toner, 2021). According to Spotify (2019), there were twice as many shoegaze recordings released in 2018 than there were in 1996. This only proves that even after its decline in the 90s, the shoegaze genre has significantly impacted the music industry. Over the years, shoegaze music has continually influenced and stimulated both independent and mainstream artists such as one of my favorite musical duos, Beach House.

The shoegaze genre has been criticized and labeled as "the genre that celebrates itself" due to its obscurity. I, however, find that it is the genre that celebrates individuality, pushes boundaries, and focuses on emotions. It is the music for dreaming.

Written as a Music Journal at the University at Buffalo, 2022.