Microgenres 101: The Incredible Power of Shimmer Pop

There’s a particular sound associated with shimmer pop that emerged mostly in the 2000s. It’s the sound of Matt and Kim, Passion Pit, and Phoenix—light, bouncy instrumentals and high-pitched vocals that would be shrill anywhere else. However, the combination of those things created a spectacular subgenre that still has a hold of music today. While it’s not as prevalent as it was in the 2000s, shimmer pop has still produced some great artists in its time.

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What is Shimmer Pop, Anyway?

Shimmer pop is glittery, atmospheric, and often nostalgic. It’s a subgenre that blends elements of pop, indie, and alternative with technical effects like reverb and other dreamy, shimmery sounds. Shimmer pop is great at evoking a sense of wonder, romance, and sentimentality. Overall, it’s a fairly modern subgenre, but there are some staple artists that have arisen from the glitter.

CHVRCHES, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Temper Trap

The Temper Trap is known primarily for their hit song “Sweet Disposition,” which was used in most coming-of-age movies in the 2010s. It was inescapable when it came out in 2009 and remains a huge hit today. Despite being categorized as a one-hit wonder, The Temper Trap’s 2009 album Conditions features some other great examples of shimmer pop.

CHVRCHES is a staple of shimmer pop for their bopping, electronic sound and Lauren Mayberry’s delightfully pixie-like vocals. Their big hit is the 2013 song “The Mother We Share,” but they’ve gone on to become one of the most recognizable bands in shimmer pop. They recently released Screen Violence in 2021, which continued their reign in the subgenre.

Bombay Bicycle Club is a little bit more experimental with their shimmer pop, heavily adding elements of indie and alternative. Still, they hold the pillars of the subgenre with compelling electronic noodling and distorted, nostalgic vocals. Their most recent offering is My Big Day from 2023, which further cemented the band in the annals of shimmer pop history.

Wildcat! Wildcat!, Freelance Whales, Pepper Rabbit, Gemini Club

First off, Wildcat! Wildcat! takes atmospheric and turns it up to 11. Their 2014 album No Moon At All is a great example of their take on shimmer pop. There are light, airy vocals, reverb and distortion, and is an ethereal delight. This album easily feels like floating through space.

Gemini Club does something similar, but, like Bombay Bicycle Club, incorporates more of an indie sound as well. Freelance Whales, on the other hand, seemingly found additional influences in folk but turned everything on its head with their 2012 album Diluvia. There’s something a little Decemberists about that album, but the shimmer pop elements are still strong.

On their 2011 album Red Velvet Snow Ball, Pepper Rabbit has an early MGMT-adjacent sound, but with more shimmer. This duo has more attitude and does a little more experimentation with indie sounds, creating a glittering electronic essence infused with the lightness of indie guitars and percussion.

Featured Image by Shirlaine Forrest/Redferns