There's been a lot of buzz about "witch house" in the past year or two. Integral to witch house is the juxtaposition of creepy gossamer ambience with derelict lo-fi drum-machine. The beat, straight out of Houston, is technically "chopped and screwed." This remixing style was popularized by DJ Screw during the 1990's sizzurp fad, as its languid stutter apparently complemented the codeine-based purple drink. Contrasting the rough trap-hop with eerie gothic aesthetics is dark, spun-out, and often hauntingly beautiful. It got its name because of a supposed link to occults and voodoo and stuff, but it's really more about the sound. There is also the trend of weird typography: spelling words creatively/wrong, using symbols rather than letters, etc. Ostensibly, this is about being difficult to Google and staying underground. More likely is that it's just stylistic.

1. S4LEM

Arguably the origin of this unlikely hybrid, S4LEM embodies the decadence of decline. The group has released a number of morbidly alluring EPs, including I'm Still in the Night and Yes I Smoke Crack. It's really a unique sound, definitely worth a listen. 

2. oOoOO

It's just pronounced "Oh." Christopher Dexter Greenspan, the producer behind oOoOO, says he isn't part of the witch house movement... maybe he's just trying to stay obscure. His second EP, Our Loving Is Hurting Us, will drop early this April.

3. †‡† (RITUALZ)

Ritualz are from Mexico, and incorporate elements of metal and punk into their witch house slurries. It's disturbing yet strangely indulgent, and their album covers are to die for. Simultaneously fetishizing and mocking pop culture is last year's album, Ghetto Ass Witch. 

4. BALAM ACAB

Balam Acab isn't as flamboyantly nightmarish as other artists on the scene. Still, his work is pretty damn creepy. 20 year old Alec Koone incorporates the requisite sluggish bass and lacy sentimentalism with organic found sounds and ambient murk. There's something faded and refined as well as a resonating heaviness.  

5. GL▲SS †33†H 

A lot of music is dark. GL▲SS †33†H is sinister and crushing. A lot of music is psychedelic. GL▲SS †33†H is heavy narcotics.  Just watch the music video... If you think you can handle it. 

A lot of micro-genre names are being coined on music blogs, often in jest. Chillwave and witch house are two amusing examples. If you've ever wanted to start your own chillwave or witch house group (I know I have) then click here for a boss-core band-name generator! I'm torn between FLUØRE$CEN† DI†CH and ∆S†R∆l ∆NKLE.