If you’re a regular reader of this site, you know that we’re fascinated by the growing collective of “shoegaze influenced” bands in town that regularly co-mingle amongst each other, swapping members, production tricks and evolving together. For a little intro to this group, check out Episode 366 of our local music podcast.
One member of this collective is Billy Campbell aka Make Yourself at Home. His 2025 album Set features contributions from Zook and Total Wife, as well as Thomas Luminoso and Husam Subo. The record is filled with angular guitars, buzzing walls of reverb, vocals that ebb and flow from the void and a general sense of unfurling – exploding, even. These are all familiar tenets of the genre but Campbell is offering up anything but tropes. “Blue Apollo” has an emphatic choral outburst that is as hook-y as it is cathartic combined with a uniquely buzzing wall of noise. “Pretty Things” combines acoustic guitar, distorted drums and a sense of melancholic dread – fans of The Microphones production will be right at home. “Nobody Knows” finds Campbell’s voice floating far above the mix with shiny guitars and a jaunty beat driving it along. That’s all just to say, this isn’t a cookie cutter undertaking by any means.
Labeling an artist with a specific genre runs the risk of pigeonholing them and setting newcomer’s expectations. In this case, “shoegaze” is simply a dangling carrot to lead you to an album of richer diversity. Set delivers a great deal of comfort food with its production style and guitar tones but ensures you are left with a distinctly MYSAH taste by the end of it all. I’ll be back for more, no doubt.