Trauma Ray: Fronting the New Shoegaze Scene

Desarey Elizondo Lopez 

Music Journalist

The term shoegaze comes from the distorted and fuzzy noise of the genre due to the amount of effect pedals used, and originates from pioneering 90s bands such as Slowdive, Swirlies, and My Bloody Valentine. This atmospheric and blended sound has mainly defined the genre up until recent years, with a shoegaze revival steadily making a comeback and blending in experimental sounds and entirely different genres. One band fronting this new era is the Fort Worth band Trauma Ray, known for their unorthodox sound that makes them stand out within the scene.

Trauma Ray was founded in 2018 by vocalist Uriel Avila and guitarist Jonathan Perez, and later expanded themselves when joined by drummer Nicholas Bobotas, bassist Darren Braun and guitarist Coleman Pruitt. The band’s blend of melodic vocals contrasted with a harsh and distorted noise and a catchy melody makes for the perfect blend between traditional shoegaze and other alternative genres. What sets this band apart from other modern shoegaze bands is their balance between atmosphere and weight. 

Their sound extends across other genres, containing influences from post-hardcore, nu-metal and hard rock from bands such as Unwound, Deftones, and Sunny Day Real Estate. The range of their sound can be heard in their debut album, titled “Chameleon”, which perfectly encapsulates their heavy riffs mixed with softer and dreamier vocals. The layered guitars, drop tuning and distortion add to the band’s heaviness while the softer, melodic vocals maintain a dreamy airiness found in traditional shoegaze. Their most popular song, “Relay,” for example, perfectly shows off the band’s unique tone, and has cemented itself into the modern shoegaze movement. Trauma Ray’s blend of heaviness and distortion with dreamlike melodies offers a wider landscape of sound for the listener to explore.  

Their lyrics also add to the deeper, multi-dimensional aspect of their music, especially with their album Chameleon, with many of their songs delving into themes of self-reflection, change and identity. The lyrics of their debut album invites the listeners to experience and feel their music through the lens of interpersonal human connection. 

The band’s music is perfectly translated into their live shows as well, bringing a whole new experience and dimension to their discography. The raw energy from not only the band, but the audience, enhances their performance to create a powerful, larger than life atmosphere. Many moments were able to shift from exciting and loud to calm and emotional, demonstrating a strong connection with the crowd, almost guiding their energy through their music.  

Amongst the fuzzy, soft and melodic sound that has defined shoegaze, Trauma Ray cuts through the noise with their heavy distortion and introduces a harsher, heavier aspect to the genre. Trauma Ray’s influence on the current shoegaze scene is about reinventing and creating a new sound from an already existing genre of music, expanding its boundaries to something more powerful and cathartic for the listener. Shoegaze has reinvented its sound over the years, and Trauma Ray brings a new, experimental edge that resounds with modern lovers of the genre.