What is Shoegaze music?

Origin of Shoegaze

London and Oxford, England, late 1980s. Named by critics who noticed performers staring at their effects pedals rather than engaging the crowd. My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Ride developed the sound between 1988 and 1991 on labels like Creation and 4AD. The name was initially a mild insult.

Era: 1988--present

Defining sound of Shoegaze

Guitars fed through heavy reverb, tremolo, and distortion pedals to produce a wall-of-sound texture where melody is submerged in noise. Vocals are mixed low and treated as another instrument layer. BPM is typically 70-130. Bass and drums anchor a luminous, overwhelming guitar wash.

Pioneers of Shoegaze

• My Bloody Valentine
• Slowdive
• Ride
• Lush
• Chapterhouse

Key Shoegaze artists

• Beach House
• Deerhunter
• Alcest
• Warpaint
• Japanese Breakfast
• Mazzy Star

Related genres

Frequently asked questions about Shoegaze

When did Shoegaze start?

Shoegaze originated 1988--present. London and Oxford, England, late 1980s.

Who invented Shoegaze?

Shoegaze was pioneered by My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Ride, Lush, Chapterhouse. London and Oxford, England, late 1980s. Named by critics who noticed performers staring at their effects pedals rather than engaging the crowd. My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Ride developed the sound between 1988 and 1991 on labels like Creation and 4AD. The name was initially a mild insult.

Is Shoegaze still popular?

Shoegaze continues to be listened to and has influenced countless artists since its origins. Key contemporary artists in the genre include Beach House, Deerhunter, Alcest, Warpaint.

What does Shoegaze sound like?

Guitars fed through heavy reverb, tremolo, and distortion pedals to produce a wall-of-sound texture where melody is submerged in noise. Vocals are mixed low and treated as another instrument layer. BPM is typically 70-130. Bass and drums anchor a luminous, overwhelming guitar wash.

What is the difference between Shoegaze and dream-pop?

Shoegaze and dream-pop are related genres that share some characteristics but differ in origin, instrumentation, and production approach. See the dream-pop definition page for a full comparison.