Stepdream

Released in late 2023, Stepdream represents a significant refinement of quannnic's signature sound, moving beyond the initial 'bedroom shoegaze' labels into a more complex and aggressive sonic territory. The album is characterized by its heavy use of side-chain compression and digital glitching, which creates a 'pumping' effect that makes the walls of sound feel alive and breathing. Unlike traditional 90s shoegaze which relied on analog pedals, Stepdream embraces the 'deadair' aesthetic, utilizing the imperfections of digital processing as a primary instrument. The tracklist balances high-intensity noise-rock anthems like 'Defense' with more introspective, slowcore-leaning moments like 'Sheets'. Critically, it has been noted for its ability to translate the 'liminal space' aesthetic into audio, capturing the eerie, nostalgic, and slightly unsettling feeling of abandoned digital environments. It stands as a centerpiece of the 2020s shoegaze revival, blending emo-adjacent lyricism with experimental production.