I’m sorry this is giving me Steven Universe vibes for some reason ❤️

The lush blend of ethereal melodies and hazy vocals drenched in reverb earned the moniker “dream pop” in the late 1980s, when this distinctive sound emerged as a beloved subgenre of alternative rock. Its roots can be traced back to the early days of The Beach Boys, when founder Brian Wilson experimented with new studio techniques on ‘Pet Sounds.’ Elements of dream pop can also be found in Phil Spector’s sweet yet chaotic “Wall of Sound” productions. Years later, innovators such as the Scottish outfit Cocteau Twins pioneered the unique style. Across the pond, SoCal dream pop icons Mazzy Star set the stage with the landmark album ‘So Tonight That I Might See,’ which features the timeless, bluesy dream pop breakthrough “Fade Into You.” Artists from England’s Lush and Sweden’s Radio Dept. to Boston’s Galaxie 500 all blazed trails in creating the first wave of dream pop.

The influence of these artists lingered in a slow burn, eventually boosting a resurgence in the late 2000s led by artists such as Beach House. The Baltimore trio captivated a new generation just as the indie-blog era was starting to wind down. Their haunting vocals layered over misty soundscapes cemented them as mainstays. Elsewhere, Animal Collective, also originally from Baltimore, channeled the Beach Boys with their signature sweet-and-sunburnt psychedelia. The band’s founding member Panda Bear put his own mark on dream pop as a solo artist by combining his knack for atmospheric pop with a sample-delic technique that ushered in new ideas and pushed boundaries. Denver band Tennis brought a retro flavor over breezy, delicate vocals, and New York City’s Cults blended nostalgia with vintage guitar sounds for a tingly, transcendent fuzz. 

Fast-forward to the modern era, in which artists on SoundCloud and beyond are carrying the torch, embracing lo-fi aesthetics and the wide-ranging availability of software and home studios to put their own spin on dream pop. Led by singer-songwriter and producer Shane Lavers, who blends hip-hop production with lush dream-pop rhythms, Chanel Beads first started experimenting with demos before forming into a trio based out of Brooklyn. London trio bar italia have been rising quickly with their hazy, post-punk-inspired stylings. Miami-based DIY songwriter and producer Mr Floyd Larry has been building his SoundCloud profile over the past few years with his uniquely melancholy new-wave-tinged melodies. EKKSTACY, a rapidly rising Canadian producer and singer-songwriter, has been establishing himself with his simple beats, floating vocal style and fuzzed-out guitar patterns. Dive into a collection of tracks from artists including new-era leaders Cigarettes After Sex, Alvvays, Still Corners and more, who together represent the next chapter of dream pop.

Head to the SoundCloud Stories for more on each track: [Web users: COPY/PASTE ⬇️] https://soundcloud.com/stories/post/dream-pop

More on each track

Dream Pop

Introrila

Incoming

Sømmer

Different

Easy life

Immortal Flower

Ice Cold

REXY

Together

In Between

Broigus

Broken Down

Effortless

towncryer

limewire

Police Scanner

Crybaby

Dark Vacay

All A Mystery

Hang the Fuck on!

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soundcloud:tracks:1621806057

Broken Down

Sabina Mitolo

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