Howling Bells
Cinematic indie rock with a gothic edge. Shimmering guitars and breathy vocals create a moody, noir-inspired atmosphere perfect for late-night drives.
Cinematic indie rock with a gothic edge. Shimmering guitars and breathy vocals create a moody, noir-inspired atmosphere perfect for late-night drives.
Howling Bells craft a sound that feels like a lost David Lynch soundtrack, blending the grit of Australian rock with the atmospheric polish of the UK indie scene. Their music is defined by Juanita Stein's captivating, breathy vocals which float over a bed of reverb-drenched guitars and steady, driving rhythms. It is a sound that is simultaneously expansive and intimate, capturing the feeling of wide-open spaces and claustrophobic urban nights.
What sets them apart is their 'country-goth' sensibility. They take the skeletal structures of blues and Americana and wrap them in layers of shimmering dream-pop and darkwave textures. The result is a sonic landscape that feels dusty and sun-baked yet mysterious and cool to the touch. It is music that prioritizes mood and cinematic tension, often feeling like a series of vignettes from a noir film.
Start with their self-titled debut album. It is the purest distillation of their sound, featuring tracks like 'Wishing Stone' and 'Low-Life' that perfectly balance their melodic instincts with their darker, more atmospheric tendencies. It is an essential entry point for anyone who loves music that occupies the space between a dream and a memory.
Howling Bells are an Australian indie rock band that formed in Sydney, New South Wales in 2004 and later relocated to the UK. The band obtained popularity following the release of its 2006 self-titled debut album. The band's current line-up consists of siblings Juanita (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Joel Stein (lead guitar), as well as drummer Glenn Moule. They are joined by bassist Jimi Wheelwright for live performances Originally called Waikiki, the band changed its name and musical style preceding its move from Australia to England. Howling Bells' self-titled debut album was produced by Ken Nelson and released in 2006. The album charted in both the UK and Australia, and was included on several year-end lists. The band's next release, Radio Wars (2009), received mixed reviews, although it charted higher than its predecessor. Their third album, The Loudest Engine (2011), received largely favourable reviews but underperformed on the charts in comparison to the bands' two prior releases. Their fourth album, Heartstrings, was released in June 2014. A fifth, Strange Life, is slated for release in February 2026. Howling Bells have described their sound as "melodic blues" and "country-goth." The band count acts such as The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix as influences, and have been compared to Mazzy Star and The Velvet Underground.
Shares brooding, mysterious, melancholic (moods); reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares indie rock, dream pop, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style); dream pop, indie rock, art rock (subgenres)
Shares indie rock, dream pop, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style); indie rock, dream pop, shoegaze (subgenres)
Shares indie rock, dream pop, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares indie rock, dream pop, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares brooding, mysterious, melancholic (moods); analog warmth, reverb heavy, layered dense (production style)
Shares indie rock, dream pop, art rock (subgenres); reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares indie rock, dream pop, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb heavy, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares ethereal, shoegaze, dream pop, art rock (signature)
Shares ethereal, dream pop, art rock, dusk (signature)
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