In the depths of Northern England's forgotten towns, a strange musical movement has emerged – one rooted in small-town Yorkshire and Lancashire. Dubbed 'Northern Gothic,' it is characterized by its dark, cinematic soundscapes and confessional lyrics that explore themes of alienation and boredom.
Richie Culver, a musician from Withernsea, a faded seaside resort near Hull, has found himself at the forefront of this movement. Having grown up in a town he desperately wanted to leave, his experiences have been a driving force behind his music. His latest album, I Trust Pain, is a testament to this – a mix of witchy trap, spoken-word and dreary ambient that focuses on Withernsea.
Culver's journey into Northern Gothic began with the discovery of younger avant-garde musicians who were redefining narratives about small towns in the North. Inspired by their work, he embarked on his first serious records, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Withernsea. "There was zero for me, if you wanted to be a weirdo and be around weirdos," he reflects, yet it's clear that these artists have given him a voice.
The Northern Gothic movement is not just about the music; it's also about community and collaboration. Many of its key figures – including Rainy Miller, Blackhaine, and Iceboy Violet – are connected through the White Hotel in Salford, an avant-garde music hub that has become a beacon for experimental artists.
Rainy Miller, from Lancashire, describes this movement as 'the northern gothic,' drawing parallels with the Southern Gothic literary tradition. He emphasizes how these forgotten towns share similarities with nowhere towns in the American South – places of vast space and time standing still.
Blackhaine, another core figure in Northern Gothic, recounts his own isolation growing up in Preston. His experiences have influenced his music, which has garnered attention from artists such as Space Afrika and Playboi Carti. The movement's dark element is often attributed to the lockdowns that hit the North of England harder than any other region.
The collective's most recent release, Shell Company's EP Locket, deals with loneliness and isolation – themes woven throughout their soundscapes. Yet, there are moments of beauty in their work, as seen in Richie Culver's album I Trust Pain, which reflects on relationships and old regrets set against the backdrop of Withernsea.
"I've spent my whole life overthinking things," Culver says, highlighting his journey from a small town to the city. "This record seems to have helped process those feelings," thanks to the kindred spirits in Northern experimental music that inspired him to try.
Richie Culver, a musician from Withernsea, a faded seaside resort near Hull, has found himself at the forefront of this movement. Having grown up in a town he desperately wanted to leave, his experiences have been a driving force behind his music. His latest album, I Trust Pain, is a testament to this – a mix of witchy trap, spoken-word and dreary ambient that focuses on Withernsea.
Culver's journey into Northern Gothic began with the discovery of younger avant-garde musicians who were redefining narratives about small towns in the North. Inspired by their work, he embarked on his first serious records, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Withernsea. "There was zero for me, if you wanted to be a weirdo and be around weirdos," he reflects, yet it's clear that these artists have given him a voice.
The Northern Gothic movement is not just about the music; it's also about community and collaboration. Many of its key figures – including Rainy Miller, Blackhaine, and Iceboy Violet – are connected through the White Hotel in Salford, an avant-garde music hub that has become a beacon for experimental artists.
Rainy Miller, from Lancashire, describes this movement as 'the northern gothic,' drawing parallels with the Southern Gothic literary tradition. He emphasizes how these forgotten towns share similarities with nowhere towns in the American South – places of vast space and time standing still.
Blackhaine, another core figure in Northern Gothic, recounts his own isolation growing up in Preston. His experiences have influenced his music, which has garnered attention from artists such as Space Afrika and Playboi Carti. The movement's dark element is often attributed to the lockdowns that hit the North of England harder than any other region.
The collective's most recent release, Shell Company's EP Locket, deals with loneliness and isolation – themes woven throughout their soundscapes. Yet, there are moments of beauty in their work, as seen in Richie Culver's album I Trust Pain, which reflects on relationships and old regrets set against the backdrop of Withernsea.
"I've spent my whole life overthinking things," Culver says, highlighting his journey from a small town to the city. "This record seems to have helped process those feelings," thanks to the kindred spirits in Northern experimental music that inspired him to try.
I'm telling you, this Northern Gothic movement is more than just music – it's a vibe, man. It's like they're trying to tell us something about our society and how we feel stuck in these places... Withernsea being the epicenter of it all. Richie Culver's album is actually kinda revealing, like he's exposing the truth about what happens when you grow up in a town that's lost its charm. And those connections between the artists? It's like they're forming their own little community to share these dark emotions... 
and yeah the lockdowns had a big impact on the whole scene but i think that's what makes their music so relatable, you know? they're not just singing about darkness, they're embracing it as a part of their own story 
its like they're tapping into the darker side of life but still manage to make it beautiful & relatable. richie culver's album is giving me all the feels - his story with withernsea is so hauntingly familiar. and the way the collective is pushing boundaries through music & art is super inspiring 
️. I can feel the weight of boredom and alienation in his music, but at the same time, it's like he's found this sense of community and purpose through the movement. And Rainy Miller's connection to the Southern Gothic tradition is genius - these towns are like nowhere lands, you know? 
sounds like Richie Culver's music is all about reflecting the emptiness of small towns in North England and people are actually listening. Its not all doom tho, theres a community of artists makin it thru this darkness and even findin some beauty in their pain 
. The soundscapes are so cinematic, it's like they're transporting you to another world. And these lyrics, oh man... it's like they're speaking straight to my soul. Richie Culver's album I Trust Pain is like a time capsule of feeling lost and alone, but in the best possible way? It's like he's distilled all those emotions into this perfect blend of witchy trap and ambient vibes 
. I'm not sure what the future holds for this movement, but I'm excited to see where it takes them 
Richie Culver's album I Trust Pain is like a soundtrack for anyone who's ever felt lost and alone in a town that's just not doing it for you. And the connections between these artists? That's some wild stuff... the White Hotel in Salford seems like more than just a music hub, it's like they're breeding ground for this whole Northern Gothic vibe 
... Richie Culver's album I Trust Pain is giving me all the feels, especially when it comes to his hometown of Withernsea, it's like he's speaking straight to my soul 
... Rainy Miller's connection between Northern Gothic and Southern Gothic is SO on point 
, it's like they're tapping into a deeper narrative about the human experience... can't wait to see what other sick releases come out of this collective! 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to leave their hometown and start over? Richie Culver's music is like the soundtrack for all those people who are feeling trapped in places like Withernsea 
. And it's awesome that he's found his voice with this movement – I don't know what it would be like to grow up in a place where being different was shunned on 
. The fact that Rainy Miller and Blackhaine are using their experiences as inspiration for music is really powerful 
. It's not just about the music, but about creating a community of people who feel seen and heard 
. I think this movement has a lot of potential to change things in small towns up north – maybe it'll inspire more people to express themselves and not be afraid of being weirdos 
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. What I find particularly compelling about this movement is its ability to capture the darker, more melancholic aspects of life while also finding moments of beauty amidst loneliness 
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it's so cool that there's this new scene emerging in Northern England, all about embracing the darkness and weirdness of small towns 
his album I Trust Pain sounds like a sonic representation of feeling lost but finding solace in art 
it's like this whole community is lifting each other up 