2024 has proven to be another productive year for the shoegaze genre. As the style continues to grow, the impact of the controversial band Whirr on the scene is undeniable, especially among viral TikTok artists like Wisp and flyingfish. Although the band was canceled in 2015 due to transphobic remarks and online bullying, Whirr still maintains a strong following. Today, they’ve released a surprise album titled Raw Blue.
In May, Eli Enis, a regular contributor to Stereogum and shoegaze expert, conducted an extensive interview with Whirr’s Nick Bassett, where he openly addressed their difficult past: “I sincerely apologize that we let that shit get out of hand and it could affect anybody’s life in any real way,” he said.
Despite their fall from grace after being dropped by their label and retreating from the public eye, their influence has only grown. In 2019, the band released the outstanding album Feels Like You on Bandcamp, which quickly sold out of vinyl (many copies later resold online for significant sums). Raw Blue continues their signature hypnotic, crashing sound. Listen below.
