Shoegaze

Shoegaze
Shoegaze
	Guitarist performing with an array of effects units
Etymology	1991, referencing guitarists in the genre who stared downwards at their guitar pedals
Other names	Shoegazing
Stylistic origins	Indie rock; alternative rock; neo-psychedelia; psychedelia; noise pop; dream pop; post-punk; ethereal wave; punk rock; garage rock; space rock;
Cultural origins	Late 1980s–early 1990s, United Kingdom
Derivative forms	Witch house; grungegaze; zoomergaze;
Subgenres
	Christian shoegaze;
Fusion genres
	Blackgaze; doomgaze;
Other topics
	Ambient; glide guitar; post-rock; post-metal; grunge; Britpop; shitgaze; Wall of Sound; soft grunge;

Shoegaze (originally shoegazing) is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock. It is made up of ethereal sounds, obscured vocals, and large use of guitar effects and distortion. The genre started in the late 1980s and early 1990s mainly among British bands such as Cocteau Twins, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and My Bloody Valentine. "Shoegazing" was a term created in 1991 by music executive Andy Ross. It was sometimes used with "dream pop".

References

↑ Reynolds, Simon (1 December 1991). "Pop View; 'Dream-Pop' Bands Define the Times in Britain". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
↑ Richardson, Mark (11 May 2012). "My Bloody Valentine: Isn't Anything / Loveless / EPs 1988–1991". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
↑ "Noise Pop : Significant Albums, Artists and Songs, Most Viewed". AllMusic. 2 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012.
↑ Bonner, Michael (3 November 2017). "Going Blank Again: a history of shoegaze". Uncut. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
↑ Bernard, Olivier (2013). Anthologie de l'ambient. Camion Blanc. ISBN 2-357-794151. L'ethereal wave (et notamment les Cocteau Twins) a grandement influencé le shoegaze et la dream pop.
↑ Lyons, Patrick (August 11, 2021). "The Heavy Music To Shoegaze Pipeline. Deafheaven producer Jack Shirley and members of Nothing, Alcest, Cloakroom, and more discuss the wave of metal and punk musicians delving into dream-pop". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
↑ "Space Rock". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
↑ Lindsay, Cam (31 January 2011). "The Translator - Witch House". Exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2011.

[ReynoldsNYT-1] Reynolds, Simon (1 December 1991). "Pop View; 'Dream-Pop' Bands Define the Times in Britain". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2010.

[P4K_review-2] Richardson, Mark (11 May 2012). "My Bloody Valentine: Isn't Anything / Loveless / EPs 1988–1991". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.

[3] "Noise Pop : Significant Albums, Artists and Songs, Most Viewed". AllMusic. 2 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012.

[4] Bonner, Michael (3 November 2017). "Going Blank Again: a history of shoegaze". Uncut. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2025.

[5] Bernard, Olivier (2013). Anthologie de l'ambient. Camion Blanc. ISBN 2-357-794151. L'ethereal wave (et notamment les Cocteau Twins) a grandement influencé le shoegaze et la dream pop.

[6] Lyons, Patrick (August 11, 2021). "The Heavy Music To Shoegaze Pipeline. Deafheaven producer Jack Shirley and members of Nothing, Alcest, Cloakroom, and more discuss the wave of metal and punk musicians delving into dream-pop". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2024.

[space_rock-7] "Space Rock". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.

[lindsaycam-8] Lindsay, Cam (31 January 2011). "The Translator - Witch House". Exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2011.

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