witch house is a debated term referring to a fusion genre of electronic music that features a prominent hip-hop influence, specifically the 1990s houston chopped and screwed sound pioneered by dj screw. witch house consists of applying techniques rooted in swishahouse hip-hop – drastically slowed tempos with skipping, stop-timed beats – with signifiers of noise, drone, or shoegaze, the genre recontextualizes its forebears into a sinister, unprecedented, yet aesthetically referential atmosphere. witch house is also influenced by hazy 1980s goth bands, including cocteau twins, the cure and dead can dance, as well as being heavily influenced by certain early industrial bands. the use of hip-hop drum machines, noise atmospherics, creepy samples, synthpop-influenced lead melodies, and heavily altered or distorted vocals is also common.