French Shoegaze Bands and Artists
Shoegaze is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s and early 1990s with bands such as The Jesus & Mary Chain, Ride, My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. It is characterized by its use of heavily distorted guitar sounds, ethereal vocals, and a wall of sound production style. There are different styles of music associated with that scene including dream pop which can be categorized as a subgenre of Shoegaze. Some psychedelic rock bands, ambient music and noise artists are often known to embrace shoegaze through the use of ethereal waves and stellar frequencies.
Although the shoegaze scene was primarily centered in the UK, France also had a thriving shoegaze scene with its own unique sound.
One of the most prominent French shoegaze bands is Alcest. Formed in 2000 by multi-instrumentalist Neige, Alcest’s music is characterized by its dreamy, ethereal soundscapes and soaring melodies. Their debut album was released in 2007 but it’s its 2010 follow-up, “Écailles de Lune,” which is considered a masterpiece of the French shoegaze scene.
Another notable French shoegaze band is Lantlos. Formed in 2005, Lantlos’ music aims at creating an atmospheric, immersive soundscape with intricate guitar work. Their 2010 album, “Neon,” is considered a classic of the French shoegaze scene.
Other notable French shoegaze bands and artists include Les Discrets, Amesoeurs, Lunation Fall, Requin Chagrin. These bands and artists each brought their own unique style to the shoegaze scene, incorporating influences from post-punk, new wave, and electronic music.
Those artists continue to inspire today’s Shoegazing kids. As of 2024, contemporary artists like Stereolab, M83, Soko, The Limiñanas and Noisegun (French but based in the United States) are also carrying on the tradition of dreamy, atmospheric music with French shoegaze influences. These artists incorporate the sound and themes of French shoegaze into their own unique style, creating a modern interpretation of the genre.
