witch house
what it is
witch house is a murky, occult-tinged electronic genre that emerged in the late 2000s, blending slowed-down hip hop beats with darkwave atmospheres and lo-fi production. artists like salem, oOoOO, and sidewalks and skeletons often use symbols like triangles and crosses in their names, creating a deliberately eerie, ritual aesthetic.
what it sounds like
it sounds like shoegaze and gothic rock drowned in reverb and pitch-shifted vocals, with beats borrowed from chopped and screwed hip hop but stretched into something haunted and hypnotic. the production is intentionally degraded, distorted, and drenched in fog, evoking abandoned raves and midnight séances.
where it came from
the genre grew out of internet music communities around 2009, drawing from 1980s post-punk bands like cocteau twins and dead can dance, plus the screwed-down texas hip hop of dj screw. labels like tri angle and disaro records helped define the sound, while the twin peaks aesthetic and new age mysticism shaped its visual and emotional vibe.
✦ 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 witch house a playlist
turn these 31 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is witch house?
witch house is a murky, occult-tinged electronic genre that emerged in the late 2000s, blending slowed-down hip hop beats with darkwave atmospheres and lo-fi production. artists like salem, oOoOO, and sidewalks and skeletons often use symbols like triangles and crosses in their names, creating a deliberately eerie, ritual aesthetic. it sounds like shoegaze and gothic rock drowned in reverb and pitch-shifted vocals, with beats borrowed from chopped and screwed hip hop but stretched into something haunted and hypnotic. the production is intentionally degraded, distorted, and drenched in fog, evoking abandoned raves and midnight séances.
Where did witch house come from?
the genre grew out of internet music communities around 2009, drawing from 1980s post-punk bands like cocteau twins and dead can dance, plus the screwed-down texas hip hop of dj screw. labels like tri angle and disaro records helped define the sound, while the twin peaks aesthetic and new age mysticism shaped its visual and emotional vibe.
What are good witch house albums to start with?
Try April Mixtape 2 by Snow Strippers, Synfuels by elusin, Fires in Heaven by Salem, and Without Your Love by oOoOO.
Who are some women making witch house?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/witch-house/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making witch house, from mainstream to underground.
artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20