What is Craft Spells and What Are Bands Like Craft Spells?
Craft Spells is an American indie pop band based in Stockton, California. The band was formed in 2010 by Justin Vallesteros and has released two albums, Idle Labor in 2011 and Nausea in 2014, as well as several EPs, singles and compilation albums. The band’s sound is described as dreamy, lo-fi, and jangly, incorporating elements of indie, dream pop, and post-punk. Craft Spells has been compared to bands such as Beach House, The Drums, and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. While Craft Spells is undoubtedly unique, there are other bands that share similar sounds and aesthetics.
Similar Bands to Craft Spells
The likeliest contenders for bands similar to Craft Spells are the group’s contemporaries within the indie dream pop scene. Fellow Stockton-based band The Bilinda Butchers have a very similar sound, with a greater emphasis on shoegaze and post-punk than Craft Spells. The band has released a number of EPs and singles, as well as two albums, Heaven in 2014 and God Is My Sun in 2016. The Bilinda Butchers’ music is heavily influenced by My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, and The Cure, but maintains a distinctly dreamy, lo-fi indie pop sound.
Also reminiscent of Craft Spells’ sound is the Swedish band Weekend. Hailing from Stockholm, the band is comprised of former members of the post-punk band Brainbombs. Like Craft Spells, Weekend’s sound is a mixture of indie, dream pop, and post-punk. The band’s debut album, Sports, was released in 2010 and has been described as “a jangle-filled soundscape of shoegaze-infused guitar pop.” Weekend’s sound has been compared to The Smiths, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Ride.
Bands Like Craft Spells from Around the World
Craft Spells-esque bands can also be found across the globe, from Europe to Asia. The Brooklyn-based band The Drums are an excellent example of a band in the same vein as Craft Spells. Formed by Jonathan Pierce in 2008, The Drums have released four albums, including their most recent release, Abysmal Thoughts, in 2017. The Drums’ sound is highly reminiscent of Craft Spells, with a mixture of dreamy, jangly indie pop, post-punk, and shoegaze.
In Japan, the Japanese dream pop band PELICAN FANCLUB have a sound that is very similar to Craft Spells. The band is comprised of five members and was formed in Tokyo in 2007. The band has released two albums, Honey Train in 2011 and Paper Crown in 2014, as well as a number of EPs and singles. PELICAN FANCLUB’s sound has been described as “dreamy, melodic indie pop,” and has been compared to bands such as The Smiths, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Craft Spells.
Newer Bands Like Craft Spells
There are also a number of newer bands that share Craft Spells’ dreamy, lo-fi sound. The Seattle-based band Chastity Belt has a sound that is heavily influenced by Craft Spells, with a mixture of dream pop and post-punk. The band has released two albums, No Regerts in 2013 and Time to Go Home in 2015, as well as several EPs. Chastity Belt’s sound has been compared to The Drums, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Craft Spells.
The French band La Femme is another example of a band in the same vein as Craft Spells. Formed in 2010, the band has released two albums, Psycho Tropical Berlin in 2013 and Mystère in 2016. La Femme’s sound is a mixture of dreamy indie pop, post-punk, and shoegaze, and has been compared to Craft Spells, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and The Drums.
Bands Like Craft Spells for All Occasions
Whether you’re looking for a dreamy, lo-fi indie pop sound or a more post-punk/shoegaze-influenced sound, there are plenty of bands like Craft Spells to choose from. Craft Spells have been compared to a number of other bands, both within their own scene and beyond, and there are many bands that share similar sounds and aesthetics. From Stockton’s The Bilinda Butchers to France’s La Femme and beyond, there are plenty of bands like Craft Spells to explore and enjoy.
