Drag (music genre)
Encyclopedia
Witch house is a music genre. The term Witch-house started as a joke that was originally used to describe occult
-based house music
by Travis Egedy (commonly known by the stage name Pictureplane
) and his friends in 2009.
As the tongue-in-cheek term grew in popularity, shortly after being mentioned in an interview with Pitchfork Media
, blogs and other mainstream music press continued the use of the term, and the term is now used to describe a style of industrial music
practiced by Salem
, White Ring, and oOoOO
, among others. It generally features a fusion of techniques rooted in Swishahouse
hip-hop – sluggish tempo with skipping, stop-time
d beats – coupled with elements from genres such as noise
, drone
, and shoegaze. Witch House is also influenced by hazy 1980s goth
bands, including Cocteau Twins
, The Cure
, Christian Death
and Dead Can Dance
, as well as being heavily influenced by certain early industrial bands. Many artists in the genre have released slowed-down remixes of pop and rap songs, or long mixes of different songs that have been slowed down significantly. Common typographic elements in artist and track names include triangles, crosses, and other geometric shapes, which is seen by some as being part of a larger unified aesthetic within the scene as well as a method of keeping it underground and harder to search for on the internet.
Pitchfork Media has also used the term to describe †††
, a solo project of Chino Moreno
, of the American alternative metal
band Deftones
. This project has a sound which is overall minimal and soothing electronic-based ambient rock, a significant departure from the sound the term has come to be associated with.
.. These claims, among others, have been made by some members of musical acts identified in the supposed genre's current movement, as well as by musical analysts.
Travis Egedy, commonly known by the stage name Pictureplane
, describes Witchhouse as the following:
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
-based house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
by Travis Egedy (commonly known by the stage name Pictureplane
Pictureplane
Pictureplane is the stage name of electronic musician Travis Egedy. He first appeared in the music scene of Denver, Colorado, making a name for himself at the warehouse where he also lives, Rhinoceropolis...
) and his friends in 2009.
As the tongue-in-cheek term grew in popularity, shortly after being mentioned in an interview with Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, blogs and other mainstream music press continued the use of the term, and the term is now used to describe a style of industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
practiced by Salem
Salem (Michigan band)
Salem is a US-midwest band from Traverse City and Chicago, composed of John Holland, Heather Marlatt, and Jack Donoghue. The band's debut release, Yes I Smoke Crack, was released on Acéphale in summer 2008 - the EP, gaining fast popularity, sold out in pre-sales. Salem formed in Chicago in 2006,...
, White Ring, and oOoOO
OOoOO
oOoOO is a Drag/Chillwave project created by Chris Dexter Greenspan, currently based in San Francisco. Along with White Ring and Salem, oOoOO is often recognized as a pioneer of the Drag sound. The name is meant to be pronounced "oh". oOoOO's debut release was on Houston-based Disaro Records in...
, among others. It generally features a fusion of techniques rooted in Swishahouse
Swishahouse
Swishahouse is a Houston, Texas-based independent southern rap record label.- History :Swishahouse was founded in North Houston in the late 1990s by Michael '5000' Watts and OG Ron C as a response to the popularity of chopped and screwed music from Houston's south side...
hip-hop – sluggish tempo with skipping, stop-time
Stop-time
In tap dancing, jazz, and blues, stop-time is an accompaniment pattern interrupting, or stopping, the normal time and featuring regular accented attacks on the first beat of each or every other measure alternating with silence or solos. Stop-time appears infrequently in ragtime music...
d beats – coupled with elements from genres such as noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
, drone
Drone music
Drone music is a minimalist musical style that emphasizes the use of sustained or repeated sounds, notes, or tone-clusters – called drones. It is typically characterized by lengthy audio programs with relatively slight harmonic variations throughout each piece compared to other musics...
, and shoegaze. Witch House is also influenced by hazy 1980s goth
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
bands, including Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, Christian Death
Christian Death
Christian Death is an American deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band was founded and fronted by Rozz Williams. Christian Death is most notable for their first album Only Theatre of Pain....
and Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
, as well as being heavily influenced by certain early industrial bands. Many artists in the genre have released slowed-down remixes of pop and rap songs, or long mixes of different songs that have been slowed down significantly. Common typographic elements in artist and track names include triangles, crosses, and other geometric shapes, which is seen by some as being part of a larger unified aesthetic within the scene as well as a method of keeping it underground and harder to search for on the internet.
Pitchfork Media has also used the term to describe †††
Crosses (band)
Crosses is the musical side project of Deftones singer Chino Moreno, Far guitarist Shaun Lopez and Scott Chuck, based in Los Angeles, California, and formed in 2011.-Formation and self-titled EP :...
, a solo project of Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and contributing guitarist of Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project bands Team Sleep and Crosses....
, of the American alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
band Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
. This project has a sound which is overall minimal and soothing electronic-based ambient rock, a significant departure from the sound the term has come to be associated with.
Criticism
The term Witch House has been criticized as not representing a cohesive genre or scene and being a result of a compulsion to label everything, ultimately simply used as a label for marketing purposes. The genre was at one point connected to the name rape gaze, the use of which has since been publicly denounced by its coiners, who "never expected it to be used for an actual genre." Other critics view it as simply a gimmickGimmick
In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature...
.. These claims, among others, have been made by some members of musical acts identified in the supposed genre's current movement, as well as by musical analysts.
Travis Egedy, commonly known by the stage name Pictureplane
Pictureplane
Pictureplane is the stage name of electronic musician Travis Egedy. He first appeared in the music scene of Denver, Colorado, making a name for himself at the warehouse where he also lives, Rhinoceropolis...
, describes Witchhouse as the following: