The shoegaze music genre creates an immersive sonic experience with a clever mix of distorted guitars with atmospheric sounds. This style of music challenges the traditional structured sound of rock. If you are a fan of this genre, here are some music genres similar to shoegaze.
Dream Pop
Dream Pop shares deep roots with shoegaze. Both genres focus on creating lush sound textures that wash over listeners. Musicians in dream pop use soft vocals blended into rich instrumental textures.
The genre uses less distortion in guitar sounds and emphasizes melodic structure more. It also relies on clearer vocals. Some of the famous bands of Dream Pop are listed below.
- Cocteau Twins
- Beach House
- Mazzy Star
Alternative Rock
Shoegaze music is one of the offshoots of the alternative rock scene that originated in the 80s. They share a close connection through their shared musical approaches. Alternative rock has a guitar-heavy and effect-laden sound similar to shoegaze. Both genres sought to express raw emotional experiences through sound. Here are some characteristics that connect these genres.
- Experimental sound structures
- Rejection of commercial music formulas
- Emotional depth in musical expression
- Complex guitar work
Alternative rock became a space for musicians to break free from traditional rock structures. Bands like The Pixies or Sonic Youth showed that rock could be more than predictable chord progressions. Shoegaze musicians took these experimental approaches further to create their unique sound.
Indie Rock
Some popular bands, like Pia Fraus from Estonia and Bailterspace from New Zealand, bridge the two genres with their sound. Musicians of these two genres focus on raw emotional expression through sound.
Shoegaze has gained a large fan following, but you still won't find bands like My Bloody Valentine on major record labels. Both genres take pride in their independent approach to music.
Psychedelia
Psychedelic music and shoegaze both use sound to create altered perceptual experiences. You can hear the effect-driven sound manipulation in these genres. Musicians of the genre use music to transport listeners like you to a new place.
Just like shoegaze, psychedelia is known for its otherworldly sound. They have disjunctive song structures. The lyrics play around with themes such as finding your inner self or a higher state of consciousness. Listen to Storm in Heaven or the EP Voyager 1 by the Verve to get a taste of this sound.
Neo-psychedelia
The Neo-psychedelic sound is instantly recognizable with its reverb-heavy guitar and dreamy vocal harmonics. The trippy sound effect of this genre is similar to the shoegaze.
Digital technologies allowed musicians to create sounds that were impossible in earlier decades. Synthesizers and computer-based music production opened new sonic possibilities. Neo-psychedelia and shoegaze musicians use these technological advances to take their compositions to new heights.
Musicians can add interesting twists to their music by digitally manipulating it. Mogwai’s Hardcore Will Never Die, but You Will is a fine example of this genre.
Post-Punk
Early shoegaze sound can be defined as a lovechild of psych rock and post-punk music with a hint of ambient sound. Post-punk musicians moved beyond the raw rebellion of punk music. They toned down the aggression to focus on sonic textures. Musicians from both genres often experimented with using sound to express heartfelt emotions.
Shoegaze music and post-punk are similar due to their emotional depth. Both genres lean more towards feelings than technical prowess. Listen to the Joy Division or the Gang of Four to get the feeling of these musicians' experimental approach to the genre.
Ethereal Wave
Ethereal Wave music and shoegaze overlap due to their direct connection with post-punk music. Bands like Slowdive and AGS use noisy guitars with surreal vocals to create a sense of brooding. You can hear the somber basslines and whispered vocals that show their shoegaze influence.
Both music try to create a dreamy mood with the guitar's heavy reverb balanced by the soft vocals. Fans of both styles can enjoy the sonic similarities of the genres.
Garage Rock
Garage rock and shoegaze share the musical rebelliousness of the early rock and roll days. Both genres prioritize raw musical expression over technical perfection. The raw spirit of direct, honest expression connects garage rock to shoegaze. The less polished production of the genre gives the music a very DIY vibe.
You can feel the raw energy in both shoegaze and garage rock musicians. Bands like the Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine borrowed the style and sound of shoegaze from the 60s garage rock bands.
Space Rock
Space rock and shoegaze can trace their roots to the psychedelic or progressive rock of the 60s. The cosmic sound of the genres can have a dream-like vibe.
The Verve and the Flying Saucer Attack took the drone-heavy sound of space rock and added their twist to develop the shoegaze sound. They make good use of the effect pedal to create an immersive sound. The experimental approach to the sound of space rock pushes the traditional boundaries of rock music.
Ambient
Ambient music and shoegaze aim to create a surreal sonic environment for its listeners. The genre prioritizes sound texture over traditional musical structures. Vocals focus less on lyrics and more on melody. You might find musicians using layers of vocals to create harmony. The heavy use of reverb and delay gives the ambient sound a feel similar to shoegaze.
Technical Characteristics of Shoegaze
Here are some of the technical characteristics of shoegaze that you can find in the abovementioned genres.
Heavy Guitar-driven Sound
Guitar represents the core of shoegaze music. Musicians use multiple effects pedals to generate complex sound textures.
Minimal Vocals
Vocals in shoegaze often feel like another musical instrument. Singers blend their voices into the sound. Words are used to bring an emotional tone to the music.
Emotional and Expressive Sound
Shoegaze music has an atmospheric wall of sound that is loaded with emotion. There is a lot of sound manipulation to create the intense sound this genre is known for.
Shoegaze musicians use sound to communicate feelings they cannot put into words. They focus on the emotional drive to create music that makes you lost in your thoughts. Check out our Shoegaze Vocal Presets that will help you create the emotionally intense sound of shoegaze.