Rediscovering Shoegaze: A Genre Reborn
by Daniel Finn
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What happens when a niche sound gets rediscovered by a new generation?
In the early 1990s, shoegaze began to overlap with other styles. Elements of ambient, electronic, and experimental music influenced a number of artists, leading to offshoots like dream pop, nu-gaze, and electronica. The sound evolved but kept its focus on texture and mood. Artists like M83 and Asobi Seksu explored these directions in the 2000s, blending classic shoegaze techniques with modern production.
Though shoegaze lost momentum in the mainstream during the Britpop boom, it lived on through cult followings and online communities, quietly building a following. By the 2010s and 2020s, it re-emerged with new energy. Bands such as DIIV, Nothing, and Whirr brought the sound to younger audiences, while darker adaptations like blackgaze appeared through bands such as Deafheaven and Alcest.
Digital platforms have played a key role in the revival. TikTok has introduced shoegaze to a wider cultural space, and streaming services like Spotify have helped it reach a new, younger audience. Gen Z now makes up a significant portion of shoegaze listeners, drawn to its immersive sound and introspective energy.
What began as a small underground movement now plays a visible role in the wider musical landscape. Shoegaze remains an evolving genre, shaped by new generations and technologies while holding onto its original spirit of sonic exploration.
Decades later, shoegaze is still echoing through a new generation. Here’s a soundtrack of the scene now.