sweet93 question reality in dreamy new shoegaze track "what's true?"

For most experimental fans, the lure of shoegaze, dense noise pop, or fuzzy alt-rock lies in the innate mystery of these songs. It’s those addictive reverb-laden choruses, the whispered lyrics, and instrumentals as vast and varied as a kaleidoscope we just can’t get enough of. There’s something hiding in this music, and each project feels like a conversation between listener and artist.

This elusive sound can be found in the discographies of shoegaze greats such as Mazzy Star and Cocteau Twins, bands that primarily ruled king in the early ‘90s. While most of these pioneers are sadly inactive today (save some such as Slowdive), there are still plenty of lovers of reverb keeping this sound alive. Enter bold creatives of the experimental scene such as New York-based band sweet93.

This rising dream rock group is fronted by vocalist and guitarist Chloe and made up of a rotating cast of her friends. The band is no stranger to crafting songs exploring the height of life’s greatest loves and losses, as seen throughout their 2021 debut album All The Same All OK. Today they’ve just released a fiery new shoegaze track called “what’s true?”

In this textured single, fast hits of the drums keep time while a whirling guitar lulls listeners into a dreamy stupor. Shrouded in heavy reverb, Chloe whispers across clefs in a sultry tone. It’s a yearning, ethereal project, and true to the name, it’s a song about questioning what is real.

“'what's true?’ changed shape several times before I realized what I was actually trying to say,” Chloe says about the track. “I spent days in my room trying to tell some version of a story, when in reality I was struggling with understanding reality at all... Lately I've been filled with more questions than answers, like when nothing is real and no one's around — what's actually true?” With its dense, layered soundscape, the song gives the feeling of falling in love. Eyelids heavy, heart aflutter, and falling into dense layers of dream after dream after dream.

This is sweet93’s first single of 2024 and comes ahead of their first US tour with synthpop artist Porches (Chloe was featured on the track “Bread Believer” on his new record). The band has been active in the experimental rock scene in New York, often appearing alongside fellow experimental groups such as untitled (halo) and Ovlov. For all those eager for more, Chloe has another album in the works, and previews of those songs across New York are to come. But for now listen to “what’s true?” below to get lost in an aural kaleidoscope.