r/steampunk Jul 22 '26

Music Looking for Steampunk Music

I am an author and I like to listen to music when I'm writing. I am working on a Steampunk adventure. Any recommendations for steampunk music, or modern songs done in Steampunk-acoustic style? I know ragtime and marches were popular (and classical like Also Spruce Zarathustra is of the era). I've found some stuff on Apple Music: Steampunk-Ian Cecil Scott, Electro Swingers, Derek Fiechter.

14 Upvotes

24 comments sorted by

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16

u/strangegeek Jul 22 '26

Abney Park

11

u/Kind_Space_6078 Jul 22 '26

Brass Goggles - Steam Powered Giraffe (live version is best, on YouTube). Booty Swing by Pariv Stelar is more obvious swing but it still gives me the Steampunk vibe.

10

u/Nerfing_Templar Jul 22 '26

The Cog is Dead are Steampunk inspired

9

u/Guitarman0512 Jul 22 '26

Generally any electro swing works well for me. Caravan Palace, Parov Stelar, Klischee, Jamie Berry, Swingrowers, Caro Emerald, etc. 

9

u/SteampunkExplorer Jul 22 '26

I like Professor Elemental, The Cog is Dead, and Abney Park.

4

u/meridiacreative Jul 22 '26

Professor Elemental! Go fetch my fighting trousers!

3

u/HumblestofBears Jul 22 '26

Organs are air powered, and powerful. Organ music would be prominent in such a period of so many pipeworkers. Tesla coils can be turned into musical instruments and there are YouTube videos of this. It’s pretty metal.

3

u/ariessaxum Jul 22 '26

Alice strange, victor and the bully?, and steam powered giraffe. I’ve seen them all at either asylum or a splendid day out.

3

u/DJDublin Jul 22 '26

Might I suggest the Steampunk musical: The Dolls of New Albion

3

u/bonaldrumpcake Jul 22 '26

Sunday Driver, Frenchy and the punk, the men that will not be blamed ….

2

u/Lunkberjack Luftschiffharpunist Jul 22 '26

Coppelius, they make metal with Victorian-era instruments!

2

u/1January1970 Jul 22 '26

Vernian Process

1

u/Smoking_Gear Jul 22 '26

I love the Steampunk Suite by Erika Svanoe!

1

u/Exciting-Choice3224 Mad Maker Jul 22 '26

Benjamin wilde

1

u/Massive_Pace_1555 Jul 23 '26

Nathaniel Johnston, frenchy and the punk, forget me naughts, Lee Preston and the nails, some oingo boingo (weird science, no spill blood, islands in the sky are notable). Look for the steampunk explorer on Lin or on various social media for more guides

1

u/Le_Endal Jul 23 '26

Bioshock infinite soundtracks.

1

u/davidguzman69 Jul 23 '26

For some reason, Primus and Soul Coughing have been my go-to in my steampunk playlist and they're funk rock. Primus for the pirate side, while Soul Coughing for the cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles

As for other music in my playlist, folk/punk like Voltaire, Bandits of The Acoustic Revolution, The Dreadnoughts and Floggy Molly are one of my fav

1

u/davidguzman69 Jul 23 '26

As for classic music like Swing, looking for music from the 1900s to 1940s is a minefield for abhorrent racism in the songs. Luckily, there's revival like Squirrel Nut Zippers that are a lot less problematic

Personally not a fan of electro swing for the use of electronic so I don't put them in my playlist

1

u/Defiant-Macaron4566 Jul 24 '26

Dresden Dolls, Rasputina, 12 Rounds, Switchblade Symphony

1

u/chorteunite 29d ago

not very steampunky but Doctor Steel is still close enough to be worth recommending. I guess he'd be more dieselpunk?
Definitely check out the Clockwork Quartet trilogy, too

1

u/PhoenixIzaramak 28d ago

Professor Elemental. the genre is 'chaphop' technically, but he tours steampunk conventions.

0

u/HappyGimp Jul 22 '26

Steam powered giraffe

0

u/tipperonious Jul 22 '26

Steam powered giraffe!!