The future of gothic music: where is the genre heading?

🇺🇦 Side-Line stands with Ukraine - Show your Support

Contrary to the beliefs of many that gothic music was incepted in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a sub-genre of the post-punk era, the roots date several centuries back – from the 18th and 19th-century gothic literature. Poets and writers were fascinated by darkness, horror, and the supernatural, and writers and poets combined romantic fatalism with these darker themes. But, it’s not to say that it had its renaissance in the late years of the past century, with bands like Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Gothic Music Today: Are We In for a Revival or Reinvention?

Gothic styles have made a huge comeback in music, fashion, and pop culture in recent years. Netflix’s show Wednesday, which is all about the gothic style, was watched by over 150 million households worldwide. Many modern trends on platforms like TikTok promote gothic themes and outfits. But is this a real revival of the gothic spirit, similar to the revival of classic casino games like roulette due to the generous roulette payouts, or is it just a passing trend?

We’re witnessing many new emerging artists mixing gothic sounds with modern genres like synthwave, hip-hop, and hyperpop. Let’s take Boy Harsher and Drab Majesty as an example – projects that combine 80s-inspired moods with updated production. At the same time, Lingua Ignota pushes gothic music into raw, experimental territory. These new sub-genres and changes to the original gothic sounds show that the genre isn’t stuck in the past, but it’s constantly evolving.

Boy Harsher: Combines 80s-inspired moods with updated production.
Drab Majesty: Combines gothic rock with ethereal, modern elements.
Lingua Ignota: Pushes gothic music into raw and experimental territory.

Streaming platforms like Spotify, Bandcamp, and Apple Music have also changed the way gothic music is consumed by users and created by artists. Streaming platforms have actually helped the genre grow by allowing gothic music to reach a bigger audience. They also push artists to follow modern trends and remain relevant. However, the challenge for gothic musicians is to use these platforms without losing the uniqueness of their music. There’s a real risk of departing from the essence of gothic music by forcing artists to follow modern, digitally enhanced trends.

Gothic Music and the Politics of Dissent

Gothic music has always been about more than its dark style. In fact, it’s a way to critique society and express dissent. And it seems like there are now more reasons for dissent than ever. From the enormous problems caused by climate change to political chaos in many parts of the world and social inequality, the genre’s focus on defiance and dissent now feels very relevant.

Take artists like Chelsea Wolfe and Zola Jesus, who explore themes of resilience and decay in their music, reflecting the modern problems and anxieties we face. Meanwhile, industrial-goth ‘hybrids’ like Youth Code bring their raw energy and aggression to their sounds, reacting to modern problems with urgency. And that’s what gothic music is all about- reflecting the world’s chaos and offering a space for rebellion.

As younger listeners discover gothic music, there’s an opportunity to link its history with today’s movements. By reclaiming its rebellious spirit and connecting with activism, gothic music can still stay meaningful and powerful.

The Role of Community in Shaping the Future

Gothic music has always been about close communities, from local goth clubs to big festivals like Wave-Gotik-Treffen. These spaces will remain essential for creativity, connection, and the gothic genre as a whole. During the pandemic, many of these gatherings moved online, keeping the spirit alive.

Now that live events have returned, they will play a big role in shaping the genre’s future. At the same time, the globalisation of gothic music means that regional scenes are becoming more interconnected. This global reach has led to exciting new ideas. For example, Japanese visual kei bands and Latin American acts blend traditional folk sounds, and these are just two examples of how the genre is growing without losing its roots. No, gothic music is not dying. On the contrary, it’s bigger than ever, and as long as there are people drawn to its dark world, it will continue to thrive.

The Future of Gothic Music

The future of gothic music is not fixed. As we have seen in the last 50+ years, it keeps changing depending on the current trends, taking on new influences. What’s important is that the genre has managed to stay true to its key focus. And for anyone worried that the gothic genre ‘might lose its edge’ or die off, history shows otherwise. The genre has survived decades of change, but it has proven its resilience again and again, and it will continue to do so in the future.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff Chief editor

Bernard Van Isacker is the Chief Editor of Side-Line Magazine. With a career spanning more than two decades, Van Isacker has established himself as a respected figure in the darkwave scene.

See Full Bio

Since you’re here …

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.

If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The donations are safely powered by Paypal.