SRSQ is the solo vehicle for Kennedy Ashlyn, formerly one half of the acclaimed dream pop duo Them Are Us Too. The project emerged in 2017 as a necessary evolution following the death of her bandmate Cash Askew in the 2016 Ghost Ship warehouse fire.
This foundational tragedy informs the project's sound identity, which Ashlyn describes as 'grief-wave.' Sonically, SRSQ occupies the intersection of 1980s ethereal wave, modern shoegaze, and avant-pop. Her vocal technique is her primary signature, utilizing a multi-octave range and operatic training to create soaring, often wordless melodies that recall Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins or Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance. Her career arc shows a progression from the raw, synth-heavy mourning of 'Unreality' (2018) to the more expansive, guitar-flecked, and hi-fi production of 'Ever Crashing' (2022). Critically, she is regarded as a torchbearer for the darkwave revival, praised for her ability to balance technical vocal prowess with genuine, unvarnished emotional stakes. Her work is a staple in modern goth and shoegaze circles, bridging the gap between underground DIY scenes and high-concept art pop.
Shares dream pop, darkwave, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares dream pop, darkwave, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares dream pop, darkwave, art pop (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares fog, cathedral, midnight (atmosphere); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares dream pop, darkwave, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares dream pop, darkwave, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares dream pop, darkwave, shoegaze (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares dream pop, darkwave, art pop (subgenres); melancholic, haunting, vulnerable (moods)
Shares dream pop, darkwave, shoegaze (subgenres); fog, cathedral, midnight (atmosphere)
Shares dream pop, darkwave, art pop (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares ethereal wave, shoegaze, darkwave, dream pop (signature)
Shares shoegaze, wall_of_sound, darkwave, dream pop (subgenre)
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