The shape of dreams: a journey through the history of shoegaze.
Are you ready to be transported to another world? Shoegaze has been captivating music enthusiasts worldwide for over 30 years. If you've never experienced shoegaze before, it isn’t just some other genre: it's an influential movement that has left an indelible mark on the music industry. From its roots in the UK indie scene of the late 1980s to its impact on Britpop and its resurgence in the modern era, shoegaze has inspired generations of musicians and fascinated listeners with its dreamy, immersive sound. In this article, we'll take you on a journey through the history of shoegaze, exploring its cultural origins, defining characteristics, and lasting legacy. Get ready to be spellbound by the shape of dreams.
artwork by Judii Hernandez.
During the late 1980s in the UK, a new generation of musicians was experimenting with heavy distortion and reverb on their guitar sounds. The term "shoegaze" was coined as a reference to the tendency of these early musicians to stare at their feet while playing, seemingly lost in the sound they were creating. The cultural origins of shoegaze play a significant role in shaping its sound and its moment in history. The genre was a product of the British and Irish indie scenes of the 1980s, which were characterized by a DIY ethos and a rejection of mainstream commercialism. These scenes were heavily influenced by post-punk and the new wave, as well as the psychedelic and noise rock of the 1960s and 70s. Bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Slowdive were among the pioneers of the genre. These early acts were known for their intense and ethereal soundscapes, which were created by layering multiple guitar tracks and blending them with atmospheric vocals. The introspective lyrics and performance style of shoegaze bands was, in a way, a response to the perceived superficiality of mainstream pop music at the time.
One of the defining characteristics of shoegaze is its use of heavy effects pedals on guitar sounds, creating a dreamy atmosphere. The genre also often features ethereal vocals that are layered and blended with the instrumentals, creating an immersive and transportive musical experience. Shoegaze is often associated with feelings of introspection and introversion, and its sound can evoke a sense of detachment from the world around us. The song "Only Shallow” on My Bloody Valentine's debut album Loveless perfectly encapsulates the genre. The track begins with a rapid, stuttering drumbeat, followed by a burst of heavily distorted guitar noise that sounds like a swarm of bees. The bassline and rhythm guitar kick in, providing a driving groove that propels the song forward. Over this bed of sound, lead singer Bilinda Butcher's vocals are heavily processed and buried in the mix, adding to the enchanting nature of the music. The lyrics of "Only Shallow" are impressionistic and abstract, suggesting a sense of confusion and disorientation. As the song progresses, the layers of guitar and vocals build to a frenzied climax, creating a wall of sound that seems to envelop the listener. The song's abrupt ending leaves you disoriented and wanting more, setting the stage for the rest of the album.
Despite its early success, shoegaze declined in popularity in the 1990s, as many of the genre's pioneers disbanded or moved on to other projects. My Bloody Valentine (MBV) disbanded in 1997, mainly due to the notoriously difficult and protracted production process of Loveless, which took over two years and an estimated £250,000 to complete. In a 2013 interview with The Guardian, Kevin Shields, MBV's leader and main songwriter, said, "We were in serious debt after the making of 'Loveless.' We had borrowed a lot of money, and there was no way to pay it back." Shields was also known for his meticulous and perfectionist approach to recording. He reportedly spent months working on just the drums, experimenting with different microphones and drum kits to get the perfect sound. Just like Shields, MBV was always a band with strong creative personalities, and tensions over the direction of the music also contributed to their breakup. In a 1997 interview with the NME, Shields said, "It was creative differences, really. It's been brewing for a while."
Despite their disbandment, MBV’s music has had a profound and lasting impact on the shoegaze genre, but their influence has also been felt across a wide range of styles. One area where their impact is particularly notable is in the realm of Britpop, the British rock movement that emerged in the 1990s. Many Britpop bands, including Oasis, Blur, and Pulp, cited MBV as an influence on their sound. These bands took the wall-of-sound approach of shoegaze and combined it with more traditional pop song structures and lyrics, creating a new hybrid style that came to be known as Britpop. The album Definitely Maybe by Oasis is a prominent example. The opening track, "Rock 'n' Roll Star," features a riff that would remind you of "Only Shallow." In interviews, Oasis members Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher have both cited MBV as a key influence on their music. Additionally, Blur's 1993 album Modern Life Is Rubbish was recorded in the same studio that My Bloody Valentine used for Loveless. Inspiration from MBV's dense, distorted sound can be heard throughout, particularly on tracks like "Oily Water" and "Resigned."
Whether it's the sense of detachment and introspection associated with the genre or the hypnotic soundscapes that transport listeners to other realms, shoegaze has a profound impact on those who immerse themselves in it. For many devotees of the genre, shoegaze isn't just music - it's a way of life, with listeners incorporating its sensibilities into their fashion, art, and overall aesthetic. In recent years, there has been a resurgence in shoegaze, with a new generation of bands incorporating elements of the genre into their music. For example, Tame Impala, an Australian psychedelic rock band led by Kevin Parker, is known for heavily processed guitars and hazy, dreamlike vocals. Zachary Cole Smith, leader of the band DIIV, has also cited MBV as an important influence. DIIV's music is characterized by its intricate guitar work and hazy soundscapes. While these bands and others have created a unique fusion of styles that offer new dynamics to the genre, it's worth noting that some artists still create the iconic sound walls that defined the origins of shoegaze. In 2019, the UK-based band Velveteen released Empty Crush, an album full of music truly faithful to the MBV era. Shoegaze continues to be a vibrant and exciting genre that shows no signs of slowing down.
From its humble beginnings in the late 1980s to its resurgence in the modern era, shoegaze has inspired musicians and captivated listeners with its dreamy, immersive sound. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering shoegaze for the first time, it's a genre that is well worth exploring. To get started, you can find plenty of my recommendations below. So, let's put on our headphones, close our eyes, light our cigarettes, and lose ourselves in the ethereal soundscapes of shoegaze.
Shoegaze Album Recommendations:
Loveless, My Bloody Valentine
m b v, My Bloody Valentine
Empty Crush, Velveteen
Nowhere, Ride
Slowdive, Slowdive
Cigarettes for Breakfast, Cigarettes for Breakfast
LSD and the Search for God, LSD and the Search for God
Aphantasia, Cigarettes for Breakfast
Ceres & Calypso in the Deep Time, Candy Claws
Despondent Transponder, Fleeting Joys
Synthstatic, Skywave
This Stupid World, Yo La Tengo
SPOOL, SPOOL
Rocket Fire, Ceremony
TRPP, TRPP
Itinerary（航行指南）, Jo’s Moving Day乔迁日
Turnaround, 東京酒吐座 (Tokyo Shoegazer)
Crystallize, 東京酒吐座 (Tokyo Shoegazer)
Here I Stand, 揺らぎ
Nightlife, 揺らぎ
Still Dreaming, Still Deafening, 揺らぎ
ナガレモノノ儀, Nakanoise (feat. 初音ミク)
ixtab, 死んだ僕の彼女 (my dead girlfriend)
hades (the nine stages of change at the deceased remains), 死んだ僕の彼女 (my dead girlfriend)
Sacrifice Mountain Hills, skip skip ben ben （林以乐）
edited by Maia Driggers and Alondra Romero.
artwork by Judii Hernandez.