ethereal
what it is
The term "ethereal" is used in attempt to describe a sort of otherworldly, heavenly beauty in music that is difficult to grasp. Ethereal music usually sounds lush, hazy, spaced out, with distant synths, echoing guitars, and soaring vocals. This typical ethereal sound can be found in many genres such as ambient, new age, neofolk, dream pop, shoegaze, darkwave, and (obviously) ethereal wave.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make ethereal a playlist
turn these 31 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is ethereal?
The term "ethereal" is used in attempt to describe a sort of otherworldly, heavenly beauty in music that is difficult to grasp. Ethereal music usually sounds lush, hazy, spaced out, with distant synths, echoing guitars, and soaring vocals. This typical ethereal sound can be found in many genres such as ambient, new age, neofolk, dream pop, shoegaze, darkwave, and (obviously) ethereal wave.
What are good ethereal albums to start with?
Try Four-Calendar Cafe by Cocteau Twins, Spleen and Ideal by Dead Can Dance, Through The Gash by Hannah Fury, and The Mask and Mirror by Loreena McKennitt.
Who are some women making ethereal?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/ethereal/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making ethereal, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20