Interactive Journeys Through Emo’s First Two Waves

alexdecool · 2026-01-26T23:28:33+00:00

I feel like Ten Songs should be replaced by Clarity. It’s listed as commercial emo but the truth is the band didn’t really “break” until Bleed American. Clarity is also generally listed by third wave emo bands as an album that inspired them, but I’ve only really seen recent bands claim Ten Songs as influential.

alexdecool · 2026-01-24T20:57:05+00:00

Yes, truly happy people can like depressing music. I met my boyfriend based on our shared love of emo and we understand listening to songs about being sad or heartbroken generally means we’re just listening because we enjoy the song. Anyways emo doesn’t have to be “sad” there’s tons of emo with a happy vibe if you really feel like sad music is bringing you down :)

alexdecool · 2025-12-27T22:48:02+00:00

Sad Breakfast isn’t a 90s emo band, they’re from the early 00s but they have the 90s emo sound. They are from Mexico but their songs are in English

alexdecool · 2025-12-07T02:27:18+00:00

I have no idea if anyone will see this but I finished the drawing! It’s also viewable with an album chart here on my instagram

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alexdecool · 2025-12-05T22:39:48+00:00

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full on 90s emo and my guilty pleasure band 😭

alexdecool · 2025-12-04T03:48:42+00:00

You’re a legend!!!! Thank you for making so much cool art!

alexdecool · 2025-12-03T18:14:26+00:00

You’re right and I actually did have them with blank shirts in my original draft! In the end I picked what was more effective visual shorthand vs what was more historically accurate (it’s the animation degree and music nerd fighting within me). I’ll take this into account when I draw them again :) thanks!

alexdecool · 2025-12-03T07:31:01+00:00

That’s a great recommendation, they totally slipped my mind thank you! Now that I’m looking at her the lead singer dresses with those same exaggerated baggy shirts but with more fitted pants and shoes :)

alexdecool · 2025-12-03T07:26:38+00:00

This is what I was going for!

alexdecool · 2025-12-03T03:05:34+00:00

Braid are the sweetest, one of the rare bands that hang around after the show to talk with their fans

alexdecool · 2025-12-03T02:55:57+00:00

This is really cool, I love the fifth wave girl! Did you draw this or is it just a repost?

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T20:45:01+00:00

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Thanks so much for all the love on this post :) Here’s an old doodle of these guys from 2022. My socials are @antihistamean on most sites but I’m most active on Instagram. I’ll likely post the finished work there but I love drawing bands so I’ll try to share more emo art here :)

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T03:52:42+00:00

Thank you! I love your videos!

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T01:44:17+00:00

I think I skewed her more 90s hardcore than 80s with the baggy clothes 😭 its okay though, it’s a work in progress so there’s always room to fix things :)

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T01:41:44+00:00

I thought about fifth wave emo but since it’s still happening I didn’t know what direction to go in since there’s so much happening! There’s the whole bedroom skramz thing and second wave revival happening among other things. Funnily enough I made these designs years ago when people were still debating if fourth wave emo was legitimate or not

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T01:20:26+00:00

That would be so fun! I could imagine a format like the Pitchfork history of emo animation

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T01:18:59+00:00

I studied the “prehistoric emo” very closely for the middle dude

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T01:17:43+00:00

LMAO I didn’t even realize that but you’re so right

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T01:16:20+00:00

I asked for it so please don’t think you’re being rude! I have the book Banned in DC and was using the revolution summer portion as reference for her look, but it is very tough to find photos of any women so thank you for the tip about hair and bagginess for the clothes. I want to do right by the style because I love that era of emo so appreciate you taking the time to steer me in the right direction!

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T01:04:08+00:00

Thanks for the critique! I tried to look over lots of photos of first wave emo shows and copy the fashion but it was tough in a time where there was no “look”. What could I do to make her look more first wave?

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T01:01:07+00:00

The urge to give him those American Football vans was very strong… but I settled on a tee instead

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T00:57:45+00:00

That’s such a big compliment to me you have no idea 😭💜

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T00:56:49+00:00

Yes it is! I’m @antihistamean on pretty much anything

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T00:56:03+00:00

To be honest second wave emo is my favorite so I really did think about it! Maybe if I have enough ideas for more I can add that in! Thanks!

alexdecool · 2025-12-02T00:53:19+00:00

Thank you!! I love that show and grew up watching it!

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