Over the last couple of years, few new bands have typified the resurgence of shoegaze imbued sounds more than San Francisco’s Midrift. Despite still being in their teens themselves, the trio comprised of Gus Mehrkam (vocals, guitar) and brothers Manoa (bass) and Kai Neukermans (drums) have fused the hazy nostalgia of shoegaze with the infectiousness of alternative rock and the intention of punk to synthesise a sonic palette that’s captured the imaginations of a global scene; exploding from breakout tracks ‘Twin Flames’ and ‘Unrequited’ and only growing from there, landing in this year’s NME 100 and selling out shows across the world. All of these moments however have been leading to today, as the band announce their highly anticipated debut album, Silhouette, which is due for release on June 5th 2026. After announcing the album last month with the urgent ‘over anything’, the band return today with the album’s title track. Opening to a slow-burning, post-rock inclined sensibility, ‘Silhouette’ sparks into life, bracing the senses with jagged guitar tones and a sense of dynamism that feels unique to Midrift’s own brand of rousing but comforting alt-rock and shoegaze. Gus Merkham’s vocal tone on amplifies ‘Silhouette’’s emotionally wrought tones perfectly; initially content to sitting within the mix of distorted guitar arpeggios and mid-tempo percussion before bursting through the track’s crescendo, ensuring that every last word will be heard with bruising force. ‘Silhouette’ is a perfect example of just how Midrift are dismantling the confines of contemporary shoegaze by integrating their own sonic palette to something unique that continues to tap into established sounds across the landscape of alternative music. Released on 5th June 2026, Midrift’s debut album Silhouette is the largest statement from one of 2026’s most widely touted alternative groups. Delivering on those waves of excitement, Midrift explore the outer reaches of their sound on the album, leaving space for their imaginations and creative invention to run wild over 10 tracks that feels remarkably cohesive for a band that have released only one EP and a handful of singles up to this point. Silhouette acts not only as a flag in the ground for the future of Midrift, but for the future of immersively charged alternative music in a way that feels forward-thinking, exciting and more unpredictable than ever. Midrift
Silhouette
[Released 5th June 2026] 
1. over anything
2. silhouette
3. not far gone
4. difference to
5. all I said
6. bouquet
7. reaching for you
8. tell me everything
9. safe and sound
10. if you have to go Midrift: Instagram | TikTok | 
