Demystifying the World of Goth Music

Graphics by Téa Sklar

Have you ever noticed how the type of music that you listen to impacts your mood? Listening to happy music puts a smile on your face, sad music connects you with your rawest emotions, and holiday music gets you in the festive spirit. So why don’t we as a culture use music to put us into a Halloween-ie mood? Most people wouldn’t be able to think of a Halloween song beyond Thriller or maybe Calling All the Monsters if you watched a lot of Disney as a kid. But this doesn’t need to be an issue! In fact, there’s already a genre of music that embraces the dark side of life: goth. And there’s no better time to dive into this misunderstood genre than Halloween. 

Just like asking your crush out on April Fool’s Day, nobody’s judging you for listening to goth music in October. Even so, you might feel a little intimidated by a genre that seemingly has nothing in common with any other music that you normally listen to. But don’t worry! There’s something goth for everyone, and I’m simply here as a guide on your journey through this new and mystical world.

Looking for something familiar?

Try exploring a more mainstream artist that’s released some songs with more gothic influences! This way, you’re not diving headfirst into goth and have the chance to test the waters. An artist like David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, or even Deftones would be a perfect starting point for exploring the genre. In his last album, Blackstar, Bowie released several songs, such as “Lazarus” and “Blackstar”, that share many common themes with goth music, such as prominent synthesizers, echoing vocals, and feelings of isolation, while maintaining a certain pop influence that makes the album enjoyable for most listeners. On the other hand, most Nine Inch Nails and Deftones albums play with this pop-goth mix, but The Downward Spiral and Around the Fur are a good start for beginners.

Want a more classic goth feel? Try out Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy! 

Widely considered the first goth band, Bauhaus created the goth genre with The Bela Session, more specifically their song “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”. By combining desolate and unique instrumentation with references to Dracula, Bauhaus revolutionized an exciting new sound that demanded greater attention. Around the same time, The Sisters of Mercy began releasing music and came out with (in my opinion) the greatest goth album of all time: Floodland. With just a little bit of glam rock influence, whisper singing, and a vampiric vibe, the Sisters of Mercy built upon the foundations of goth that Bauhaus laid down and produced a masterpiece that has aged gracefully.

Looking for a more upbeat interpretation of goth?

If dark and gloomy isn’t your speed, try She Wants Revenge on for size! With albums like Up and Down, She Wants Revenge, and This is Forever, they successfully combine the best parts of goth and early 2000s club music (which is, arguably, every part). Every song tells a story while keeping it light enough to go undercover as a top 40 hit, making She Wants Revenge one of the most unique goth bands in music history.

Now that your eyes have been opened to the vast and wonderful world of goth, I encourage you to spread your bat wings and embrace the dark side of life this October. And whether you prefer She Wants Revenge or Bauhaus, you can always find comfort in a gothic community that’s waiting to welcome you with open arms.