Sidewalks and Skeletons (stylised as SIDEWALKS AND SKELETONS) is a UK-based electronic music project created by musician and producer Jake Lee. Lee, originally from Bradford, England, started producing electronic music in the mid-2000s while also performing as a guitarist in various deathcore bands. In 2011, he shifted his focus primarily to electronic music, designating Sidewalks and Skeletons as his main solo project. The name Sidewalks and Skeletons was created by Lee as a metaphor representing what remains after death: "The earth you walked, and your bones: they are all that are left behind."
Early life Lee was raised in Bradford. During his early years, he played guitar in underground metal and deathcore bands. Around 2006, he began to focus on dark electronic music production, experimenting with unstructured soundscapes inspired by horror cinema. After several years of developing his production style, he adopted the Sidewalks and Skeletons alias in 2011. Lee has mentioned electronic acts such as Crystal Castles as influential in his transition from heavy metal to electronic music.
Musical style and commercial success The sound of Sidewalks and Skeletons is characterized by down-pitched and warped vocal effects, heavy reverb and dense, distorted synthesizer textures combined with trap-influenced percussion. The production often incorporates experimental elements with a horror-inspired tone, aiming to evoke an immersive, late-night atmosphere.
The track "Goth," originally released on the 2015 album White Light, gained viral recognition through social media platforms such as TikTok. The song has been associated with the underground dark wave and witch house genres.
Collaborations and media
Lee has performed on international tours in the United States and Europe, including countries such as Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Hungary. He has collaborates with artists such as Ghostemane, Brothel, and Crosses. Additionally, Lee is credited as a co-producer on the track "Their Kindness Is Charade" from Crystal Castles' final studio album, Amnesty (I). Lee composed and produced high-tempo tracks for the 2017 cyberpunk action shooter Ruiner, published by Devolver Digital. In May 2023, Lee formed the band soft siren with frequent vocal collaborator CASHFORGOLD, making a move into shoegaze music. Their debut single, "4am," received positive reviews and accumulated over 10 million digital streams.
Discography Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsVolume 1 Released: 6 November 2012 Formats: digital downloadVolume 2: Planes of Existence Released: 2 December 2012 Formats: digital downloadThis is Your Escape Released: 5 July 2013 Formats: digital download, cassetteFuture Ghosts Released: 20 March 2014 Formats: digital download, cassetteWhite Light Released: 5 March 2015 Formats: CD, LP, digital download, cassetteThe Void Released: 30 May 2017 Formats: digital download, cassetteEntity Released: 6 May 2019 Label: Re:Mission Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, cassetteExorcism Released: 2 February 2022 Label: Re:Mission Entertainment Formats: CD, LP, digital download, cassette
Compilation albums TitleAlbum detailsForbidden Files Released: 10 July 2019 Formats: digital download2020 Released: 20 December 2020 Formats: digital download
Extended plays TitleAlbum detailsVices (with Catslash) Released: 30 January 2021 Formats: digital downloadDigital Ghost (with Brothel) Released: 20 August 2021 Formats: digital download, cassetteEternal Rest Released: 13 November 2020 Label: Re:Mission Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, cassette
References
External links Official website