Witch House

2015-03-06T02:02:29Z

166.137.244.60: Not witch house

{{Infobox music genre
|bgcolor= silver
|color= black
|name= Witch house
|stylistic_origins= [[Chopped and screwed]], [[Ghetto house#Chicago Juke|juke]], [[dark ambient]], [[industrial music|industrial]], [[noise music|noise]], [[drone music|drone]], [[Trap (music)|trap]], [[gothic rock]], {{nowrap|[[shoegaze]], [[synthpop]], [[house music|house]], [[hip hop]]}}
|cultural_origins=Late-2000s, [[United States]], [[Germany]], [[Australia]], [[Denmark]], and [[United Kingdom]]
|instruments= [[Synthesizer]], [[drum machine]], [[Music sequencer|sequencer]], [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]]
|fusiongenres=
|other_topics=
*[[Intelligent dance music|IDM]]
*[[Industrial hip hop]]
*[[Vaporwave]]
*[[Seapunk#Seapunk Music|Seapunk]]
}}

'''Witch house''' (also known as '''drag''' or '''haunted house''') is an [[occult]]-themed dark [[electronic music]] [[music genre|genre]] and visual aesthetic that emerged in the late 2000s. The music is heavily influenced by [[chopped and screwed]] [[hip-hop]], [[dark ambient]] soundscapes, and [[industrial music|industrial]] and noise experimentation, and features use of synthesizers, drum machines, obscure samples, droning repetition and heavily altered, ethereal, indiscernible vocals.

The witch house visual aesthetic includes [[occult]], [[witchcraft]], [[shamanism]] and [[Horror film|horror]]-inspired artworks, collages and photographs as well as significant use of typographic elements such as [[Unicode]] symbols.<ref name="rvamag">{{cite web|author=Necci|url=http://rvamag.com/articles/full/8762/witch-house-listen-with-the-lights-on |title=Witch House: Listen With The Lights On|publisher=RVA Magazine |date=2010-08-09 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://synconation.com/misc/witch-house-%E2%96%B2esthetics/ |title=Witch House Esthetics |publisher=Synconation |date=2010-12-21 |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref> Many works by witch house visual artists incorporate themes from obscure horror films,<ref name="Murder Dog Magazine">{{cite web|url=http://my.texterity.com/murderdogmagazine/vol17no3#pg96 |title=Murder Dog Magazine - Volume 17 #3 - Special Feature:Witch House (Page 87) |publisher=Murder Dog Magazine |accessdate=2013-10-06}}</ref> the television series ''[[Twin Peaks]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://welcometotwinpeaks.com/music/twin-peaks-witch-house/ |title=Witch House And Okkvlt Guide To Twin Peaks |publisher=Welcome to Twin Peaks |date=2011-04-14 |accessdate=2013-10-06}}</ref> and mainstream [[pop culture]] celebrities. Common typographic elements in artist and track names include [[triangle]]s, [[cross]]es, and other Unicode symbols, which are seen by some as a method of keeping the scene [[Underground music|underground]] and harder to search for on the Internet as well as references to the television series' Twin Peaks and Charmed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Baxter |first=Jason |url=http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2010/12/20/what-is-the-witch-house-font |title=What is the "Witch House Font?" | Line Out |publisher=Lineout.thestranger.com |date=2010-12-20 |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://flavorwire.com/143984/how-to-be-a-witch-house-poser |title=How To Be a Witch House Poser |publisher=Flavorwire |date=2011-01-19 |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref>

== Influences and style ==
[[File:SALEMSXSW.jpeg|thumbnail|Cover art for "Frost"/"Legend" by the band [[Salem (Michigan band)|Salem]]]]
Witch house applies techniques rooted in chopped and screwed hip-hop – drastically slowed tempos with skipping, [[stop-time]]d beats<ref name="Lindsay">{{cite web|last=Lindsay |first=Cam |url=http://exclaim.ca/Features/Spark/translator-witch_house |title=The Translator - Witch House • Spark • |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date= |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref> – coupled with elements from genres such as [[noise music|noise]], [[drone music|drone]], and [[shoegaze]].<ref name="Watson">{{cite web|last=Watson |first=William Cody |url=http://www.imposemagazine.com/bytes/slow-motion-music |title=Slow Motion Music |publisher=Impose Magazine |date=2010-09-12}}</ref> Witch house is also influenced by hazy 1980s [[Gothic rock|goth]] bands, including [[Cocteau Twins]], [[The Cure]], [[Christian Death]] and [[Dead Can Dance]],<ref name="guarding">{{cite news|last=Wright |first=Scott |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/mar/08/scene-heard-drag |title=Scene and heard: Drag |publisher=Guardian |date=2010-03-09 |accessdate=2010-06-10 |location=London}}</ref> as well as being heavily influenced by certain [[industrial music|industrial]] and [[experimental music|experimental]] bands such as [[Psychic TV]] and [[Coil (band)|Coil]].<ref name="marshalekflavorwire">{{cite web|last=Marshalek|first=Russ|title=Haunted: A Witch House Primer|url=http://flavorwire.com/118771/haunted-a-witch-house-primer|work=Flavorwire|date=22 September 2010|accessdate=2013-06-17}}</ref><ref name="nypress1">{{cite web|last=Maness |first=Carter |url=http://www.nypress.com/article-21562-brooklyns-vanishing-witch-house.html |title=Brooklyn's Vanishing Witch House: White Ring and CREEP burn your trends and have real music to show for it |publisher=Nypress.com |date=2010-08-25 |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref> The use of [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] [[drum machine]]s, [[Noise music|noise]] atmospherics, creepy [[Sampling (music)|samples]],<ref name="Sokol">{{cite web|last=Sokol |first=Zach |url=http://nyulocal.com/entertainment/2011/02/01/the-witch-house-debate-is-%E2%80%A0he-music-genre-wor%E2%80%A0h-%E2%88%86-lis%E2%80%A0en/ |title=The Witch House Debate: Is †he Music Genre Wor†h ∆ Lis†en? · NYU Local |publisher=Nyulocal.com |date=2011-02-01 |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref> dark [[synth-pop|synthpop]]-influenced lead melodies, dense [[reverb]], and heavily altered or distorted vocals are the primary attributes that characterize the genre's sound. The concept started out as a joke, with Travis Egedy (commonly known by the stage name [[Pictureplane]]) and his friends coining the term in 2009 to refer to their style of music.<ref>{{cite web|title=This Is Witchhouse|url=http://archive.is/eqDX|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="Nguyen">{{cite web|last=Nguyen |first=Tuyet |url=http://www.avclub.com/denver/articles/this-is-witch-house,49199/ |title=This is witch house | Music | The A.V. Club Denver/Boulder |publisher=Avclub.com |date=2010-12-30 |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbg.com/2011/01/04/weird-emergence |title=Weird emergence | San Francisco Bay Guardian |publisher=Sfbg.com |date= |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=P.J. Nutting |url=http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-4113-which-house-for-witch-house.html |title=Which house for witch house? |publisher=Boulderweekly.com |date=2010-12-30 |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref> Shortly after being mentioned to ''[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]'',<ref name="Nguyen"/> blogs and other mainstream music press began to use the term.

Many artists in the genre have released slowed-down [[remix]]es of [[Pop music|pop]] and rap songs,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/arts/music/07witch.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all | work=The New York Times | first=Jon | last=Caramanica | title=DJ Screw's Legacy: Seeping Out of Houston, Slowly | date=4 November 2010}}</ref> or long mixes of different songs that have been slowed down significantly.

== Criticism of the term ==
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 to rename an actual genre,<ref>{{cite web|title=Salem - King Night |publisher=Pitchfork Media |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14718-king-night/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/pitchfork-backtracks-rape-gaze-because-creep-said-so/ |title=Pitchfork Backtracks on 'Rape Gaze' Because Creep Said So |publisher=The Daily Swarm |date=2010-10-12 |accessdate=2011-07-20}}</ref> but viewed it as simply a gimmick.<ref name="Sokol" /> Witch house has also been said to be a false label for a micro-genre, constructed by certain publications in the music press (including ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''Pitchfork'' and various music blogs). These claims have been made by some members of musical acts identified as being in the genre's current movement, as well as by music journalists.<ref name=Vanishing>{{cite web|title=Brooklyn's Vanishing Witchhouse|url=http://nypress.com/brooklyns-vanishing-witch-house/|publisher=New York Press|accessdate=17 June 2012}}</ref><ref name=Horrifying>{{cite web|title=The Horrifyingly Named Micro-Genre "Rape Gaze" Explained|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/10/the_horrifyingl.php|publisher=Village Voice|accessdate=17 June 2012}}</ref>

Egedy described witch house as follows:

<blockquote>
It’s a joke.

Myself and my friend Shams—he makes house music, too— we were joking about the sort of house music we make, [and we were calling it] witch house because it’s, like, occult-based house music. It was 2009. And then I did this best-of-the-year thing with Pitchfork about witch house, and it was me and Shams and Modern Witch. I was saying that we were witch house bands, and 2010 was going to be the year of witch house, that it was going to get really witchy and stuff. It took off from there. Different people started posting about it on blogs, and it sort of became an internet meme. And someone attached the name witch house to the sounds that bands like [[Salem (Michigan band)|Salem]] were making—the slowed down, spooky, Goth juke kind of stuff."

"...But, at the time, when I said witch house, it didn’t even really exist..."<ref name="Nguyen"/>
</blockquote>

However, ''Flavorwire'' said that despite Egedy's insistence that witch house doesn't really exist, "the genre does exist now, for better or worse".<ref>{{cite web|last=Hawking|first=Tom|title=State of the Witch House: Predicting the Controversial Genre’s Future|url=http://www.flavorwire.com/206302/state-of-the-witch-house-predicting-the-controversial-genres-future/4|work=FlavorWire|date=Sep 7, 2011}}</ref>

In August 2011, ''Pitchfork'' described [[Crosses (band)|†††]], a project involving [[Chino Moreno]] and [[Shaun Lopez]], as "witch house".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/43411-deftones-dude-has-a-witch-house-project/ |title=Deftones Dude Has a Witch House Project |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2011-08-02 |accessdate=2011-09-20}}</ref> However, Carson O'Shoney of ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' and Daniel Brockman of the ''[[Boston Phoenix]]'' note that Crosses only shares a resemblance to witch house in aesthetics and imagery, and not the group's actual music.<ref>{{cite web|title=Album Review: ††† – EP †|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/08/album-review-%E2%80%A0%E2%80%A0%E2%80%A0-ep-%E2%80%A0/|accessdate=11 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=††† {{!}} EP 2|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/08/album-review-%E2%80%A0%E2%80%A0%E2%80%A0-ep-%E2%80%A0/|accessdate=11 July 2012}}</ref> The group's decision to use this imagery stems from Moreno's interest in the art and mystique around religion. Moreno, however, also said:

<blockquote>"I didn't want people to think we are a religious band, a satanic band or that we are a witch-house band. It's difficult using a religious symbol, but at the same time, I think in an artistic way, it can totally go somewhere else and I think we are kind of walking that line."<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview: Crosses’ Chino Moreno and Shaun Lopez open up about their elusive band|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/chino_moreno_crosses_interview_shaun_lopez/|accessdate=11 July 2012}}</ref> </blockquote>

== Bands and artists ==
Bands and artists with music described as "witch house" include:
{{div col|small=yes|cols=2|rules=no}}
*∆AIMON<ref>{{cite web|last=Burkart|first=Gregory|url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/review/aimon-%E2%80%93-album-review|title='AIMON' – Album Review|publisher=FEARnet|date=2013-12-04 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Turgoose|first=Kate|url=http://www.connexionbizarre.net/interviews/%E2%88%86aimon-a-new-kind-of-noise/|title=∆AIMON: a new kind of noise|publisher=Connexion Bizarre|date=2011-10-17 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*Balam Acab<ref name="jonzeguardian">{{cite news|last=Jonze|first=Tim|title=Witch house and the musicians taking us back to the future|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/sep/26/witch-house-how-dress-well |newspaper=The Guardian (UK)|date=26 September 2010|accessdate=2013-06-17}}</ref><ref name="friedmandjz">{{cite news|last=Friedman|first=Ian|title=What Is Witch House?|url=http://www.djz.com/news/what-is-witch-house/|newspaper=DJZ|date=2013-01-30|accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*BATHAUS<ref>{{cite web|last=Mashurova|first=Nina|title=To the Bathaus|url=http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/146271-to-the-bathaus/.html |publisher=The Boston Phoenix|date=2012-10-25}}</ref>
*BLVCK CEILING<ref>{{cite web|last=Sottile|first=Leah|title=Devil's Advocate|url=http://www.inlander.com/spokane/devils-advocate/Content?oid=2136551|work=The Pacific Northwest Inlander|date=2011-11-09|accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*[[Crystal Castles (band)|Crystal Castles]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Gieben |first=Bram E. |url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/records/303492-crystal_castles_iii |title=Crystal Castles – (III) |work=[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]] |date=November 5, 2012 |accessdate=August 24, 2013}}</ref>
*BRUXA<ref>{{cite web|title=Portand's Bewitching BRUXA release The Creep Show Victimeyez|url=http://www.factmag.com/2012/09/04/premiere-portlands-bewitching-bruxa-release-the-creep-show-victimeyez/ |publisher=Fact Mag|date=2012-09-04}}</ref>
*CRIM3S<ref name="friedmandjz" />
*Fostercare<ref name="mintmagazine">{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Marcus|title=Drag On: Fostercare + Mater Suspiria Vision|url=http://www.mintmagazine.co.uk/music/drag-on-fostercare-mater-suspiria-vision/|work=Mint Magazine|date=2010-11-23|accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*GL▲SS †33†H<ref>{{cite web|last=Hawkins|first=Shane|url=http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2012/06/new-noise-glass-teeth/|title=New Noise: Glass Teeth|publisher=Wonderland Magazine|date=2012-06-25 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Currier|first=Alyce|title=Earmilk Interview: GLASS TEETH [Track Premiere]|url=http://www.earmilk.com/2013/08/01/earmilk-interview-glass-teeth-track-premiere/|work=Earmilk|date=2013-08-01|accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*GR†LLGR†LL<ref name="rvamag" /><ref name="rodgersnashville" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Ewing|first=Tom|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/aug/19/witch-house-musical-genres|title=Got any witch house? Why I'm on the genre-mongers' side|publisher=The Guardian |date=2010-08-19 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*GuMMy†Be▲R!<ref>http://www.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2011/06/30/gummyanddaggerber-talks-witch-house-life-in-oakland-and-his-crazy-moniker</ref>
*Holy Other<ref>{{cite web|last=Latta|first=Ian|title=Holy Other - With U [EP]|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/holy-other-u-ep|work=Tiny Mix Tapes|date=|accessdate=2013-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Segal|first=Dave|title=Mount Kimbie, Holy Other, Rob Garza, Nguzunguzu|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/data-breaker/Content?oid=17002868|work=The Stranger|date=12 June 2013|accessdate=2013-06-18}}</ref>
*Horse MacGyver (///▲▲▲\\\)<ref name="rodgersnashville" />
*How I Quit Crack<ref name="Expatriach">{{cite web|url=http://www.expatriarch.com/2010/05/trying-to-define-witch-house-can-be-a-real-drag/|title=Trying to define 'witch house' can be a real drag|publisher=Expatriach|date=2010-05-24 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*M△S▴C△RA<ref>{{cite web|last=Sottile|first=Leah|url=http://www.inlander.com/spokane/dark-horse/Content?oid=2139092|title=Dark Horse|publisher=The Pacific Northwest Inlander |date=2012-09-04 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*Mater Suspiria Vision<ref name="rvamag" /><ref name="Murder Dog Magazine"/><ref name="mintmagazine" />
*Mike Textbeak<ref>http://www.connexionbizarre.net/interviews/%E2%88%86aimon-a-new-kind-of-noise/</ref>
*Modern Witch<ref name="Expatriach"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Davies|first=Bree|url=http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2010/11/witch_house_a_explanation_from.php|title=Witch House: A explanation of the genre from the warped mouth of Mario Zoots|publisher=Denver Westword|date=2010-11-12 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>
*Nike7Up<ref name="marshalekflavorwire" />
*[[oOoOO]]<ref name="jonzeguardian" /><ref name="friedmandjz" /><ref name="rodgersnashville">{{cite web|last=Rodgers|first=D. Patrick|title=‘New’ ‘Genre’ Alert: Which House? Witch House|url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/archives/2010/08/25/new-genre-alert-which-house-witch-house|work=Nashville Scene|date=25 August 2010|accessdate=2013-06-17}}</ref>
*†‡† (Ritualz)<ref name="rvamag" /><ref name="rodgersnashville" />
*[[Salem (Michigan band)|SALEM]]<ref name="jonzeguardian" /><ref name="friedmandjz" /><ref name="rodgersnashville" />
* Sidewalks and Skeletons<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heavypop.at/2013-albums-year-list-subrosa/ |title= Albums of the Year List by: SubRosa |accessdate=2014-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ivacationinyourhell.com/2014/05/13/sidewalks-and-skeletons-future-ghosts/ |title=Sidewalks and Skeletons - Future Ghosts |accessdate=2014-05-13}}</ref>
* Summer Of Haze
*White Ring<ref name="rodgersnashville" />
*[[Azealia Banks]]<ref>http://respect-mag.com/azealia-banks-tries-fails-and-succeeds-on-fantasea/</ref>
*UNISON<ref name="altsounds">{{cite web|url=http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/143721-french-witch-house-duo-unison-critically-acclaimed.html |title=Altsounds: UNISON |accessdate=2014-03-19}}</ref>

{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Portal bar|Electronic music|Industrial music|Occult}}
{{industrial music-footer}}
{{House music-footer}}
{{Experimental music genres}}
{{Goth subculture}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witch House (Music Genre)}}
[[Category:Music genres]]
[[Category:Fusion music genres]]
[[Category:House music genres]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Witch House