Electronic Shoegaze Bands and Artists
Electronic shoegaze, also known as dream pop, is a subgenre of alternative music that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s. It is characterized by its use of ethereal vocals, heavily processed guitar sounds, and electronic instrumentation. Electronic shoegaze has been an influential subgenre, with many bands and artists bringing their own unique sound to the genre.
Arguably, the best electronic shoegaze band right now is Beach House. Formed in Baltimore, USA in 2004 by Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally, Beach House’s music is characterized by its use of hypnotic guitar and keyboard sounds as well as ethereal vocals. Their latest album is the beautiful Once Twice Melody released in 2022.
Formed in Reading, England in 1989, the British band Slowdive is a pioneer of the genre, having paved the way for the likes of Beach House. They released a great – eponymous – comeback LP in 2017, which was one of the best albums released that year.
Another prominent electronic shoegaze bands is M83. Formed in 2001 in France, M83’s music is characterized by its use of dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes and soaring melodies. Their 2008 album, Saturdays = Youth is considered a masterpiece of the electronic shoegaze genre.
One of the OG Shoegaze bands formed in Oxford, England in 1988, Ride started incorporating electronic sounds in its guitar landscape these last few years and the result was particularly successful on This Is Not A Safe Place (2019) and Weather Diaries (2017).
As of 2024, Electronic Shoegaze continues to inspire new artists today. Contemporary artists like Washed Out, Wild Nothing and Noisegun are carrying on the tradition of dreamy, atmospheric music with electronic shoegaze influences. These artists incorporate the sound and themes of electronic shoegaze into their own unique style, creating a modern interpretation of the genre.
