Midwest Shoegaze

Midwest Shoegaze is a distinct subgenre characterized by dreamy, swirling soundscapes, often featuring lush guitar textures, hypnotic rhythms, and ethereal vocal delivery. Emerging in the 2010s, it draws from the atmospheric and introspective qualities of traditional shoegaze, while incorporating the introspective, emotive sensibilities of indie folk and slowcore. This genre flourished in the Midwest United States, particularly in cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, where a thriving DIY scene fostered its development. Midwest Shoegaze is marked by a more subdued, introspective tone than its UK counterparts, often focusing on themes of personal struggle, relationships, and the mundane. It shares a kinship with slowcore and emo, but its distinct sonic identity is shaped by the region's unique cultural landscape, marked by sprawling prairies and industrial decay.

Latest Midwest Shoegaze Release
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Planet Popstar
Ep - 6 Tracks - Released April 25, 2025
Top Artists Spotify Logo
Slow Pulp
Squirrel Flower
Wishy
Slow Joy
COOL HEAT
rozey
Top Playlists
The Needle / Sweden 1 Midwest Shoegaze artist
Weekly Indie A&R Chart by We Are: The Guard (Indie Pop, Hip Hop, EDM, R&B, Hyperpop, Indie Folk) 1 Midwest Shoegaze artist
The Sound of Normal Indie 1 Midwest Shoegaze artist
The Needle / USA - Current 1 Midwest Shoegaze artist
The Needle / Saudi Arabia - Underground 1 Midwest Shoegaze artist
The Needle / USA 1 Midwest Shoegaze artist

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  1. April 25, 2025
  2. February 28
  3. January 31
  4. November 15, 2024
  5. September 27
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  10. July 26
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  27. March 22
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    Breach
    1 tracks
  28. March 22
  29. March 15
  30. March 15
  31. February 29
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  33. February 16
  34. February 5
  35. January 26
  36. January 10
  37. January 5
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    Blush
    1 tracks
  38. January 1
  39. December 15, 2023
  40. December 15
  1. April 25, 2025
  2. January 31
  3. August 16, 2024
  4. August 16
  5. August 9
  6. July 31
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  9. April 11
  10. April 4
  11. March 22
  12. March 15
  13. February 16
  14. December 15, 2023
  15. December 1
  16. November 10
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    Doomed
    5 tracks
  17. November 3
  18. October 13
  19. October 13
  20. September 29