Shoegaze

Shoegaze (originally known as shoegazing) is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterised by its ethereal soundscapes, use of obscured vocals, heavy guitar effects, and distortion, often producing an immersive "wall of sound". Shoegaze originated in the United Kingdom during the late 1980s among neo-psychedelic groups, who drew influence from post-punk and dream pop. The term was coined by the British music press to describe bands who usually stood motionless and stared down at their guitar pedals during live performances in a detached, non-confrontational state.

A loose label given to the shoegaze bands and other affiliated artists in London during the early 1990s was "The Scene That Celebrates Itself". Early shoegaze groups drew from Cocteau Twins and the Jesus and Mary Chain, alongside the template set by My Bloody Valentine on their albums Isn't Anything and Loveless.

The genre reached its peak in the early 1990s, particularly in the UK's underground rock scene, but was soon sidelined by American grunge and early Britpop acts, leading many bands to break up or reinvent their sound. By the 2000s and 2010s, shoegaze experienced a revival known as "nu gaze". The original scene also led to the emergence of fusion genres such as blackgaze, and influenced several internet microgenres such as shitgaze and witch house.

Shoegaze combines ethereal, swirling vocals with layers of distorted, bent, or flanged guitars to create a wash of sound where no instrument is distinguishable from the other. The sound of the genre is typically characterised by overwhelming volume, long, droning riffs, heavy use of distortion and feedback, and subdued vocal delivery, with melodies often fading into the mix.

According to Pitchfork, "emotionally, shoegaze turns its focus inward. The extreme noise eliminates the possibility of socializing while the music is playing, leaving each member of the audience alone with their thoughts. It's music for dreaming". It is sometimes conflated with dream pop. Early UK shoegaze was influenced by American bands such as Dinosaur Jr., Hüsker Dü and Sonic Youth.

A defining characteristic of shoegaze is its use of heavily processed electric guitars. Guitarists often employ a wide range of effects such as reverb, delay, chorus, tremolo, and distortion to produce a layered and immersive wall of sound. A notable technique within the genre is the use of the "glide guitar", developed by the Irish-English band My Bloody Valentine, in which pitch bends are achieved via the whammy bar during chord strumming to create a woozy, undulating effect. These textures are frequently described as blurred or atmospheric and are designed to blend seamlessly, creating a continuous sonic field.

A significant portion of early shoegaze output was released as extended plays (EPs), often consisting of three to five tracks. This format enabled artists to develop and showcase their sound without the constraints of full-length albums. EPs served as important entry points for new listeners and were regarded as accessible representations of a band's stylistic identity.

Visually, shoegaze releases often incorporate abstract or distorted imagery in album artwork and music videos, mirroring the genre's sonic qualities. Effects such as overexposure, blur, and color inversion are commonly used to complement the music's atmospheric qualities. Many notable early shoegaze bands featured both male and female members, contributing to a broader range of vocal timbres and a balance of musical sensibilities. Mixed-gender vocal interplay became a common feature in several influential acts.