[Music Genre] What is Shoegaze? A Thorough Explanation of Its Characteristics, History, and Recommended Songs

Shoegaze is a subgenre of rock where thick walls of guitar noise and sweet melodies coexist. Creating shoegaze sounds in DTM is actually a tremendously fun task. You crank up the reverb and delay, and sink the melody into an ocean of distortion. The pleasure of drowning in a "flood of sound" is something unique to shoegaze.

Many of you might be thinking, "I've heard the name shoegaze, but what kind of music is it really?" In this article, we will thoroughly explain everything from the basic characteristics and history of shoegaze to recommended masterpieces, and even specific techniques for creating that "wall of noise" in DTM. The knowledge about how to use effectors and mixing tips can be applied to genres other than shoegaze, so please stay with us until the end.

What is Shoegaze? Let's Understand the Basics of the Genre

Definition and Characteristics of Shoegaze

Shoegaze is a rock subgenre that emerged in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The origin of its name is unique; it was coined by the British music media because guitarists would stare at the effector pedals at their feet (looking at their shoes = Shoe Gazing) while performing live. Although it was initially meant as a mockery, it has now become firmly established as a genre name.

Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of the sound.

Rhythm Aspect
The rhythm of shoegaze is actually quite simple. The BPM is often between 90 and 130, and the drum patterns are centered around a basic 8-beat. There aren't many flashy fill-ins or complex rhythm changes. The reason is that the protagonist of shoegaze is the "wall of guitar sound," and the rhythm functions as the foundation that supports that wall. If the drums stand out too much, that feeling of being "enveloped in sound" is lost.

However, just because it is simple does not mean the drums are unimportant. The role of shoegaze drums is to create a "trance-like" sense of repetition by continuing to play a steady beat. The ideal is not machine-like precision, but a rhythm that includes the subtle fluctuations of a human drummer.

Tone Aspect
What defines the shoegaze sound is, above all else, effectors.

• Distortion / Fuzz: Distorts the guitar to create a "wall-like" sound. It uses much deeper distortion than regular rock, but instead of the aggression of metal, it aims for a unique texture that could be called "soft noise."

• Reverb: Applies long, deep reverb (echo effect) to give the sound a vast sense of space. It creates an enveloping resonance, as if playing inside a cathedral.

• Delay: An effect that repeats the sound. By combining it with reverb, it creates a "wall" where sounds overlap in multiple layers.

• Chorus / Flanger: An effect that slightly shifts and overlaps the sound. It adds "fluctuation" or "undulation" to the sound, creating a dreamy atmosphere.

• Tremolo: An effect that periodically raises and lowers the volume. Known for being heavily used by My Bloody Valentine, it is an important element that creates the "wavy" feel of shoegaze.

Usually, two or more guitars are used, each with different effector settings. By having guitars with different effects playing in the left and right channels, a massive, stereophonically expanding soundscape is born.

The bass is also often distorted with distortion or fuzz, and the blurring of the boundary between guitar and bass is another characteristic of shoegaze. Rather than the individual contours of the instruments, the genre pursues a sound as "a single mass of sound" where everything is melted together.

Vocal Aspect
Shoegaze vocals are treated with the same, or even less, presence than the instruments. This is a major difference from other rock genres. It is not uncommon for the lyrics to be buried in reverb and effects to the point where they are barely audible.

While the vocal melodies themselves are often beautiful and sweet, sinking them into the "wall of noise" creates a dreamlike effect as if they are being heard from afar. It can be said that this is a genre where the "tone" of the voice is valued more than the "meaning" of the lyrics.

Composition Aspect
Many songs have a traditional pop/rock Verse-Chorus structure, but a characteristic feature is that the boundaries between sections are ambiguous. The difference between the Verse and the Chorus is often expressed not by changes in melody, but by "changes in the thickness of the sound." The approach is that when the chorus enters, more guitars are layered, making the wall of sound thicker.

Also, compositions with long intros and outros that allow the listener to slowly savor the texture of the sound are characteristic. Depending on the song, there may be no clear chorus, and the composition may be one where waves of sound ebb and flow.

Differences from other genres

Differences from Alternative Rock
While shoegaze can be considered a subgenre of alternative rock, its sonic direction is significantly different. Whereas alternative rock bands like Nirvana or Pixies emphasize "song structure" and "lyrical messages," shoegaze makes the "texture of the sound" itself the protagonist. In contrast to alternative rock, where guitar riffs stand out, shoegaze aims for all sounds to melt together into a single "soundscape."

Differences from Post-Rock
Post-rock also features effective guitar sounds and long-form compositions, but its approach differs from shoegaze. While post-rock (such as Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky) emphasizes "dynamics between quiet and loud," shoegaze is fundamentally based on a "constantly thick wall of sound." Additionally, while post-rock often features instrumental tracks without vocals, it is common for shoegaze to include vocals (even if they are buried in the mix).

Differences from Ambient
Ambient (environmental music) also features spatial sounds, but it is fundamentally characterized by sparse rhythms and the absence of guitar distortion. Shoegaze is based on the format of a "rock band," pursuing noisy beauty within the arrangement of drums, bass, guitar, and vocals. However, there is music that sits between the two (what might be called "shoegaze ambient"), and the boundaries are blurred.

Differences from Dream Pop
Dream pop is the genre most easily confused with shoegaze. Cocteau Twins and Beach House are prime examples of dream pop, but the difference from shoegaze lies in the amount of "noise." Dream pop also makes heavy use of reverb and delay, but it rarely uses the "distortion" found in fuzz or distortion pedals. It is helpful to remember that shoegaze is noisier and heavier, while dream pop is cleaner and lighter.

The History of Shoegaze: From Birth to the Present

Roots and Birth (Origins)

Tracing the roots of shoegaze leads to several important musical origins.

Noise Pop / Noise Rock: The 1985 debut album "Psychocandy" by The Jesus and Mary Chain is the most direct precursor to shoegaze. By melting sweet, 60s-style pop melodies into noise filled with feedback (howling), this album demonstrated the possibility that "noise and beautiful melodies can coexist."

Dream Pop: The effective and ethereal sound of the Cocteau Twins is also an important root of shoegaze. Elizabeth Fraser's non-linguistic singing and the reverb-drenched guitar sounds had a major influence on later shoegaze bands.

Psychedelic Rock: The approach of 1960s psychedelic rock, particularly the heavy use of "drones" (sustained tones) by The Velvet Underground and The 13th Floor Elevators, is another source of shoegaze.

The genre of shoegaze began to be clearly recognized around 1988. From the British indie rock scene, bands characterized by their "wall of sound" created through the extensive use of effect pedals began to emerge one after another. Music magazines like NME (New Musical Express) and Melody Maker called these bands "shoegazers," establishing it as a genre.

Development and Golden Age

1988–1991: The Formative Period of Shoegaze
The "face" of shoegaze became **My Bloody Valentine**. This Irish band established their unique noisy sound with their 1988 album "Isn't Anything." The "glide guitar" technique invented by frontman Kevin Shields (playing chords while constantly shaking the tremolo arm) became the iconic sound of shoegaze.

During the same period, bands such as Ride, Lush, Chapterhouse, and Slowdive debuted one after another. A major movement called "shoegaze" was formed in the British indie rock scene.

1991: The Impact of "Loveless"
In November 1991, My Bloody Valentine's second album, "Loveless," was released. This album is considered not only the greatest masterpiece of shoegaze but also one of the most innovative albums in the entire history of rock.

The production of "Loveless" took over two years and cost a massive amount of approximately 250,000 pounds (about 50 million yen at the time). Kevin Shields layered guitars, slightly shifted pitches, and pursued sounds that could not be achieved with conventional recording techniques. The resulting "wall of sound" was a completely new musical experience that no one had ever heard before.

The musical influence of this album is immeasurable. The roaring guitar at the beginning of "Only Shallow," the floating sensation wrapped in tremolo on "To Here Knows When," and the beautiful acoustic ballad "Sometimes." Every track is filled with an experimental spirit that pushes the possibilities of music.

1992–1994: The Decline of Shoegaze
However, immediately after the impact of "Loveless," shoegaze began to decline rapidly. The biggest cause was the rise of Britpop. From 1993 onwards, bands like Oasis and Blur achieved great success with Britpop, which featured catchy melodies and emphasized "British identity," and media attention shifted from shoegaze to Britpop.

The "introverted" and "taciturn" stance of shoegaze was in stark contrast to the "extroverted" and "glamorous" style of Britpop. The media deemed shoegaze "outdated," and many bands were forced to break up or go on hiatus. Slowdive disbanded in 1995, and Ride disbanded in 1996. My Bloody Valentine also entered a long silence.

Shoegaze Today

2000s: The Beginning of the Revival
Entering the 2000s, a shoegaze revival began across the globe. Bands influenced by shoegaze, such as M83 and Deerhunter from the US, Alcest from France, and Mono from Japan (though leaning towards post-rock), began to present new styles.

Nu-Gaze / Shoegaze Revival: Bands like Nothing, Whirr, Ringo Deathstarr, DIIV, and Deafheaven (who fused it with black metal, known as "blackgaze") emerged one after another, incorporating shoegaze techniques while adding new interpretations.

Reunion of Original Bands: Original shoegaze bands have been reuniting one after another, such as My Bloody Valentine (releasing their first new album in 22 years, "m b v," in 2013), Slowdive (releasing their first new album in 22 years in 2017, followed by "Everything Is Alive" in 2023), and Ride (releasing their comeback album "Weather Diaries" in 2017). They are gaining not only long-time fans but also new listeners.

Modern Subgenres:

• Blackgaze: A fusion of black metal and shoegaze. Deafheaven, Alcest

• Dreamgaze: Between dream pop and shoegaze. Beach House, Wild Nothing

• Synthgaze: Shoegaze centered on synthesizers. Early works by M83

Reception in Japan
Japan is one of the countries where shoegaze is particularly deeply rooted. Many bands influenced by shoegaze have been active since the 90s, forming a unique scene.

The Japanese shoegaze scene is particularly noteworthy for having established a unique style that could be called "J-Shoegaze." Bands like Kinoko Teikoku, my dead girlfriend, and Cruyff are highly acclaimed even by overseas shoegaze fans. Also, Japanese shoegaze bands tend to prioritize clarity of melody compared to overseas bands, which can be said to be a characteristic of "J-Shoegaze."

Representative Shoegaze Songs and Recommended Artists

Standard: Start Listening Here (5 Selections)

1. My Bloody Valentine "Only Shallow" (1991)
The opening track of the album "Loveless." The roaring guitar that attacks following the drum fill at the beginning is literally a "shock" when you hear it for the first time. Bilinda Butcher's sweet singing voice floats faintly within the storm of guitar noise. It is the easiest song to experience the "coexistence of beauty and roar" of shoegaze. If you are a DTMer, please listen closely to how this sound is created.

2. Slowdive "Alison" (1993)
A single from the album "Souvlaki." A song where the beauty of the melody stands out even among shoegaze. The guitar arpeggios wrapped in reverb and the duet vocals of Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell create a sad yet beautiful world. It is a masterpiece that teaches us that "shoegaze" is not just about "roaring sound."

3. Ride "Vapour Trail" (1990)
A song from the album "Nowhere." It is relatively pop and easy to listen to among shoegaze, making it perfect for beginners. The sparkling tone of the 12-string guitar and the wall of distortion guitar blend beautifully. The exhilaration of the chorus will make your heart race no matter how many times you listen to it.

4. The Jesus and Mary Chain "Just Like Honey" (1985)
A masterpiece by the pioneers of shoegaze. Feedback noise and pop melodies ride on a simple drum machine beat. It is also famous for being used in the ending of the movie "Lost in Translation." It is a song that showed in the most beautiful form the discovery that "noise and pop can coexist."

5. Cocteau Twins "Cherry-Coloured Funk" (1990)
A song from the album "Heaven or Las Vegas." The pinnacle of dream pop, which is the direct root of shoegaze. The sound world created by Elizabeth Fraser's ethereal singing voice and Robin Guthrie's effective guitar is truly "Heaven or Las Vegas."

Latest: Artists You Should Listen to Now (5 Selections)

1. Slowdive
After reuniting in 2017, they have resumed activities energetically. The 2023 album "Everything Is Alive" is a mature work that adds elements of ambient and electronics to their original shoegaze sound, and it has been highly acclaimed by critics.

2. Nothing
A four-piece band from Philadelphia. While having a deep love for 90s shoegaze, they have established their own style with heavy guitar sounds and emotional vocals. Their 2020 album "The Great Dismal" is a masterpiece of modern shoegaze.

3. DIIV
A band from New York. In their early days, they played jangly guitar pop, but with each subsequent release, they have intensified their shoegaze elements. Their 2019 album "Deceiver" is a dark and heavy shoegaze work.

4. Deafheaven
A leading figure in "blackgaze." They have a unique style that fuses the intensity of black metal with the beauty of shoegaze. Their 2013 album "Sunbather" garnered significant attention, even being selected as an album of the year across genre boundaries.

5. Ringo Deathstarr
A trio from Texas. Their style is heavily influenced by My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain, while adding a sense of pop melody. Their sound is appealing and accessible even to shoegaze beginners.

Japanese Shoegaze

The Japanese shoegaze scene is extremely rich, even by global standards.

• Kinoko Teikoku: Led the Japanese indie scene in the 2010s by fusing Japanese lyrics with a shoegaze sound. Representative songs include "Chronostasis" and "Tokyo." While their hiatus is regrettable, the influence of the works they left behind is significant.

• my dead girlfriend: A band highly regarded even by overseas shoegaze fans. They have an exquisite balance between roaring sound and lyricism.

• Cruyff in the Bedroom: A pioneering presence in Japanese shoegaze/dream pop. Known for their delicate and beautiful sound.

• Luminous Orange: Veterans active since the 90s. They have also performed at overseas shoegaze festivals.

• Hitsujibungaku: A notable band of the 2020s that bases their sound on shoegaze while also incorporating the catchiness of J-POP. They are supported by a wide range of listeners, with songs like "Hikaru Toki" being used as anime theme songs.

• For Tracy Hyde: A sound that sits between shoegaze and dream pop. They are also highly rated by overseas listeners.

How to make shoegaze with DTM? Production tips

Now, this is the most fun part for DTMer. In shoegaze, how you use effectors is the core of the music. In other words, your DTM "sound design" skills directly translate to the quality of the track. Even if you can't play guitar, if you have knowledge of effects, it is fully possible to create a shoegaze-like soundscape.

Characteristics of rhythm and beats

BPM guidelines

• Slow / Dreamy: BPM 80-100

• Medium: BPM 100-120

• Up-tempo: BPM 120-140

Characteristics of drum patterns
Shoegaze drums are "unobtrusive but essential."

• Basic pattern: A simple 8-beat. Kick (on the 1st and 3rd beats), snare (on the 2nd and 4th beats), and hi-hat (eighth notes).

• Floor Tom: A pattern that uses the floor tom (the largest tom) instead of the hi-hat. My Bloody Valentine's "Only Shallow" is a perfect example of this.

• Brush Technique: For quiet parts, a soft sound using brushes is also effective.

• Tom Fills: A powerful, tom-centric pattern often found in Ride's songs. It creates a sense of drive that is different from a straight 8-beat.

• Drum Machine: An approach using a drum machine, like The Jesus and Mary Chain. The mechanical repetition actually creates a contrast with the noise guitar.

If you were to represent the loose 8-beat of shoegaze in text, it would look something like this (BPM 100-120, 4/4 time, 8th note grid).

※ This pattern is just a base. It is important that shoegaze drums are "not too precise"; using the humanize function in a DAW to shift the timing by ±10-20ms creates a pleasant sway as if a human were playing. Vary the velocity randomly as well to eliminate the mechanical feel.

Drum Sound Design

• Apply a light room reverb to the entire drum kit to blend it into the space.

• Use a slightly longer reverb on the snare. It should sound like a "shimmer" rather than a "snap."

• Don't make the kick too tight. It's pleasant to have a little bit of the reverb tail remaining in the low end.

• Keep the hi-hats understated. It's fine if they get buried by the sound of other instruments.

How to Choose Tones and Instruments

The core of shoegaze sound design lies in "how you layer effects." Here, I will introduce specific methods for reproducing "that sound" in DTM.

The "Thick Layer" of Reverb + Delay
The foundation of the shoegaze sound is the combination of reverb and delay.

• Reverb: Use a long hall or plate reverb. A decay time of about 3 to 6 seconds is a good guideline. Set the pre-delay (the time from the dry sound to the start of the reverberation) to be short (10-20ms) so that the dry sound and the reverberation ring out almost simultaneously.

• Delay: Set a tempo-synced quarter note or dotted eighth note delay with high feedback (number of repetitions). Routing the signal so that the delay sound is further processed by reverb creates a sense of the sound expanding infinitely.

• Layering Order: The basic order is Guitar → Distortion → Chorus/Flanger → Delay → Reverb. However, a "Reverb → Distortion" chain, where you apply reverb before distortion, is a secret trick to create that "crushed" sound characteristic of My Bloody Valentine.

Distortion / Fuzz

• The guitar distortion should be deep. However, if you turn up the gain (amount of distortion) too much, it will sound like "metal," so the trick is to add reverb to a medium level of distortion to create a "soft distortion."

• Fuzz (a more primitive and rough distortion) produces that "wooshy" sound unique to shoegaze when used on bass or guitar.

Tremolo picking / Tremolo effect
A technique frequently used by My Bloody Valentine.

• Tremolo picking: A playing technique where guitar strings are plucked up and down at high speed. In DTM, a similar effect can be achieved by repeatedly triggering notes in a guitar sound source at very short intervals.

• Tremolo effect: An effect that periodically raises and lowers the volume. By slightly offsetting the Rate (cycle) from the tempo, an unpredictable "fluctuation" is created, which is characteristic of shoegaze.

Burying vocals in effects

• Apply deep, long reverb and delay to the vocals

• Lower the vocal volume significantly more than in standard pop music

• Apply a low-pass filter (cutting high frequencies) to create a muffled, "heard from a distance" feel

• Apply a light chorus effect to make the voice waver

Here are some specific plugins.

Guitar sound sources

• Ample Sound Ample Guitar SC: A Stratocaster-style single-coil sound. It can produce a tone close to the Fender Jaguar often used in shoegaze.

• Native Instruments Guitar Rig: A guitar amp/effector simulator. It includes all the necessary effects such as fuzz, distortion, delay, and reverb.

• Neural DSP Archetype: A high-quality guitar amp simulator. The reverb and modulation effects, in particular, are very natural.

Reverb

• Valhalla VintageVerb: One of the most popular reverb plugins among shoegaze producers. It features beautiful, warm, vintage-style reverb. It is also affordably priced.

• Valhalla Shimmer: A reverb with added octave-up pitch shifting. It can create grand, ethereal sounds.

• FabFilter Pro-R: A clean, high-quality reverb. Since it has a built-in EQ, you can finely control the frequency bands of the reverb sound.

Delay

• Soundtoys EchoBoy: An analog delay emulation. Features a warm delay sound that is a perfect match for shoegaze.

• Valhalla Delay: A plugin with a wide variety of delay modes. The tape delay mode is particularly well-suited for shoegaze.

Distortion / Fuzz

• Soundtoys Decapitator: An analog-style saturation (distortion) plugin. Can be used not only for guitar but also for drums and vocals.

• FabFilter Saturn 2: A multiband distortion plugin. Allows for delicate sound design by applying different distortion to each frequency band.

Trends in Chord Progressions and Melodies

Commonly used chord progressions
Shoegaze chord progressions are, if anything, simple. Rather than complex progressions, repeating a few chords slowly creates a "trance-like" sense of repetition.

• I - IV - V - IV: Simple, but sounds grand the moment effective guitar work is layered on top.

• I - vi - IV - V: A classic pop progression. Also used in shoegaze.

• I - bVII - IV - I: A floating progression using a flattened minor seventh. Frequently used in Slowdive's songs.

• Repetition of power chords (root + 5th): Simple chords consisting only of the root and 5th, colored with effects. An approach My Bloody Valentine excels at.

• Open tuning: Using irregular tunings to create chord voicings that take advantage of the resonance of open strings.

Characteristics of melodies

• The vocal range is narrow. There are more stepwise progressions moving to adjacent notes than large leaps.

• Minor scales and Mixolydian scales are frequently used.

• Phrases are often repeated. As the same melody repeats over and over, the background texture changes.

• Vocal melodies are more "whispered" than "sung out." The dynamic range is relatively small.

Guitar Voicing

• When playing chords, the basic approach is a 'full stroke' where all strings are sounded

• Use a capo (a tool attached to the guitar neck for transposition) to play shimmering chords that utilize open strings

• A technique of playing power chords (root + 5th) as arpeggios (plucking one note at a time) and expanding the sound with delay is also effective

Example of Song Structure

Here is a typical shoegaze song structure, provided as a guide for DTM production.

1. Intro (8-16 bars): Starts with clean guitar arpeggios drenched in deep reverb. Gradually layer distortion and effects to foreshadow a 'wall of sound'

2. Verse 1 (8-16 bars): The drums enter with an 8-beat rhythm, and the bass supports the low end. The guitar plays chords with medium distortion. The vocals are buried in reverb and sung in a whisper

3. Chorus 1 (8 bars): The number of guitar tracks increases to 2-3, and the wall of sound suddenly thickens. The chorus is expressed through 'changes in sound density' rather than melodic changes

4. Verse 2 (8-16 bars): Same structure as Verse 1, but with modulation effects like flanger or chorus added to create subtle variations

5. Chorus 2 (8 bars): Even more guitars are layered than in Chorus 1. Add a tremolo effect to create 'shimmering'

6. Break / Bridge (4-8 bars): The drums and bass drop out for a moment, leaving only the feedback and noise of the effected guitars. A contrast between silence and roar

7. Outro (8-16 bars): The section with the thickest sound. All guitar tracks are playing at full volume, and the melody fades away in a sea of feedback and noise. Often ends with a fade-out

Tips for Recreation in Logic Pro

Here are specific tips for creating a shoegaze sound in Logic Pro.

Guitar Sound Design

• Amp Designer: Select the 'British Gain' or 'Boutique Retro' amp models. Set the Gain to a medium level (around 5-7)

• Pedalboard: Try the following effect chain

  1. Fuzz Machine: Fuzz at medium level

  2. Chorus: Slow rate, deep depth

  3. Tremolo: Slow to medium rate

  4. Delay Designer: Tempo sync, high feedback

• Space Designer: Select a "Large Hall" or "Cathedral" type preset. Use a bold Dry/Wet setting of 50-80%

How to layer guitars
The shoegaze "wall of sound" is created by layering multiple guitar tracks. In Logic Pro:

1. Record (or program via MIDI) the same chord progression 2-4 times with slightly different timing

2. Apply different effect settings to each track

3. Pan each track left and right (e.g., Track 1 at 80% left, Track 2 at 80% right, Track 3 at 30% left, Track 4 at 30% right)

4. Route all guitar tracks to a Bus and apply reverb to the entire Bus

Recreating "Glide Guitar"
To recreate the "glide guitar" (a technique of playing while shaking the tremolo arm), which is the iconic sound of My Bloody Valentine, in DTM:

• Pitch Shifter Insert the plugin and use an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) to periodically raise and lower the pitch.

• The modulation range should be about a semitone to a whole tone. Set the Rate to be slow (0.5–2Hz).

• Alternatively, draw the MIDI pitch bend manually to create irregular modulation.

Bass Sound Design

• Bass Amp Designer: Select a "Modern" style amp and increase the Drive to add distortion.

• Apply a light reverb and chorus to the bass as well to create a sense of unity with the guitars.

• Lightly boosting the high frequencies of the bass (above 2kHz) with an EQ will help it maintain presence amidst the guitar noise.

Vocal Processing

• Channel EQ: Use a low-pass filter to cut frequencies above 5kHz for a muffled, "distant" feel.

• ChromaVerb: Apply a deep Hall-style reverb. Decay 4–6 seconds.

• Tape Delay: Feedback 30–50%, Mix 20–30%.

• Lower the vocal fader by about -3 to -6dB from the standard pop position.

Mixing Tips

• Guitar is the lead: The center of the mix is the wall of guitar sound. Let the vocals and drums blend into it.

• Stereo width: Spread the guitar tracks wide to the left and right to create a massive soundstage.

• Watch out for mono compatibility: If you spread it too much, the sound may disappear when heard in mono (phase issues). Check in mono occasionally.

• Low-end processing: Since multiple guitars and bass tend to overlap in the low frequencies, use a high-pass filter to cut frequencies below 80Hz on guitar tracks to prevent low-end congestion.

• Mastering: Use limiters sparingly. By preserving dynamics, you can maintain the volume feel unique to shoegaze, which 'ebbs and flows like waves'.

List of Recommended Plugins

I have compiled a list of plugins useful for shoegaze production.

Try it out with Suno

Here are prompt examples for generating this genre with Suno AI. You can copy and use them as they are.

Style of Music:

Shoegaze, wall of distorted guitars, cavernous reverb, dreamy fuzz layers, tremolo arm wobble, Female Vocal breathy and buried, simple 8-beat drums, slow build to massive climax

Lyrics (with metatags):

[Intro]
[Tempo: Mid]
[Key: D major]
[Mood: Dreamy]
[Energy: Low]
[Texture: Tape-Saturated]
(clean arpeggiated guitar with long reverb tail, slowly building fuzz layers)

[Verse 1]
[Energy: Low→Medium]
[Vocal Style: Whisper]
リバーブの底から聴こえてくる
エフェクターの海に溺れた午後
ディストーションを重ねるほどに
メロディが甘く透けていった

[Chorus]
[Mood: Ethereal]
[Energy: Medium]
(wall of guitars swells, tremolo arm bending pitch)
ノイズの壁に包まれて
やっと見つけた 美しい轟音
フィードバックが歌い出す
靴を見つめたまま 世界が溶けた

[Verse 2]
[Texture: Tape-Saturated]
[Energy: Medium]
ペダルを踏むたび景色が変わる
ファズとコーラスが絡み合って
ボーカルは霧の奥に沈んで
その曖昧さが 心地よかった

[Chorus]
[Energy: Medium→High]
(layers building, multiple guitar tracks panning wide)
ノイズの壁に包まれて
やっと見つけた 美しい轟音
ディレイの残響が永遠に続く
靴を見つめたまま 世界が溶けた

[Bridge]
[Energy: Low]
[Texture: Clean digital]
(drums drop out, feedback and reverb trails only, distant guitar harmonics)

[Outro]
[Energy: High]
(all guitars at maximum, feedback storm, tremolo and fuzz merging into noise)
[Fade Out]

Summary: Listen to, create, and enjoy shoegaze

We have taken a deep dive into shoegaze. Let's summarize the key points at the end.

• What is shoegaze: A rock subgenre where a thick wall of guitar noise and sweet melodies coexist. Born in the UK in the late 1980s.

• History: My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless' is the masterpiece. It declined once with the rise of Britpop, but a revival has been underway since the 2010s.

• Present: The return of Slowdive and the rise of new-generation bands like Nothing and DIIV. The Japanese shoegaze scene is also receiving global attention.

• DTM production: The 'trinity' of reverb, delay, and distortion is key. Layer multiple guitar tracks to create a 'wall of sound'.

The charm of shoegaze is that 'there is beauty within the noise.' Within the seemingly chaotic roar, delicate details emerge the more you listen. It is like a ray of light shining through a storm.

First, try listening to My Bloody Valentine's 'Only Shallow.' If possible, use headphones and turn the volume up a bit. The moment that roaring guitar fills your head, you should be able to experience 'what is so amazing' about shoegaze.

And if you want to recreate it with DTM, start by distorting your guitar with Logic Pro's Amp Designer, apply a long reverb with Space Designer, and layer 2 to 4 tracks. Just with that, you will get a sound that says, 'Oh, that's shoegaze-y!' After that, add delay or chorus, sink the vocals into a sea of reverb, and complete your own 'wall of sound'.

Please also read our articles on alternative rock, post-rock, and ambient, which are deeply connected to shoegaze. These genres share a common spirit in the exploration of 'what can be done with guitars and effects'.

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