# Pastel Ghost
**Pastel Ghost** (파스텔 유령) is the electronic music project of American singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Vivian Moon, known for ethereal, danceable synth music that she describes with the self-coined genre term "dreamrave". Originally from [Oakland, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/oakland-california), she is based in [Austin, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/austin-texas).[1](https://www.last.fm/music/PASTEL%2BGHOST) • [2](https://groundcontroltouring.com/artists/pastel-ghost)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vivian Moon (vocals, keyboard, programming), performing as Pastel Ghost[3](https://www.spirit-of-rock.com/en/band/pastel_ghost) |
| Genre label | "Dreamrave", her own name for ethereal dance music drawing on electronic and shoegaze influences[2](https://groundcontroltouring.com/artists/pastel-ghost) |
| Debut album | *Abyss*, released March 10, 2015 on 80s Ladies Records[1](https://www.last.fm/music/PASTEL%2BGHOST) |
| Signature song | "Dark Beach" (2013), a viral hit in 2020 on TikTok and Spotify[2](https://groundcontroltouring.com/artists/pastel-ghost) |
| Second album | *Ethereality*, October 5, 2018, 10 songs in 38 minutes[4](https://music.apple.com/us/album/ethereality/1765232398) |
| Recent releases | "When You Sleep" single (2024); *Dark Beach (Remixes)* EP (July 16, 2026)[5](https://music.apple.com/mx/artist/pastel-ghost/661177054?l=en) |
| Audience | About 1,001,277 listeners and 31.1 million scrobbles on Last.fm[1](https://www.last.fm/music/PASTEL%2BGHOST) |
## Early releases
Moon began releasing music as Pastel Ghost in the early 2010s. Her first EP, *Dark Beach*, came out on July 9, 2013 while she was still unsigned and based in Oakland, California; a review at the time classified the music as electronic, dreamwave, and indie, built from keyboards, female vocals, drum machine, and samples, and compared it to [Crystal Castles](https://www.edgepedia.org/crystal-castles), Ms. John Soda, and Trust.[6](https://trackrec.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/pastel-ghost-dark-beach-ep-review/) A second EP, *Shadows*, followed in 2014.[1](https://www.last.fm/music/PASTEL%2BGHOST) • [7](https://www.sentireascoltare.com/recensioni/pastel-ghost-ethereality/)
## Abyss and the breakthrough
Her debut full-length album, *Abyss*, was released on March 10, 2015, digitally and as a limited edition CD sold through Bandcamp, on the label 80s Ladies Records.[1](https://www.last.fm/music/PASTEL%2BGHOST) The album's ten tracks include "Prism", "Embrace", "Clouds", "Shadows", "Skeleton", "Dark Beach", "Translucid", "Lilacs", "Pulse", and "Abyss".[8](https://www.gigshack.co.uk/albums/pastel-ghost-abyss) An *Abyss Remixes* EP followed in September 2015.[9](https://pastelghost.bandcamp.com/merch)
The album drew attention in underground circles for blending synthwave, gothic pop, and shoegaze elements with reverb-heavy vocals and driving beats.[8](https://www.gigshack.co.uk/albums/pastel-ghost-abyss) Reviewers noted the record's dark electronic and witch house (dark, witchcraft-themed electronic music genre) leanings, which gained Moon a following among Crystal Castles and Salem fans.[10](https://medium.com/the-daily-chill/music-review-pastel-ghosts-ethereality-a-splendid-new-release-143d55234465)
**The viral moment.** Seven years after it was written, "Dark Beach" became a viral smash in 2020 on platforms like TikTok and Spotify, and it remains her most-streamed song; it was the most popular track on her Last.fm profile in a recent week, with 8,568 listeners.[2](https://groundcontroltouring.com/artists/pastel-ghost) • [1](https://www.last.fm/music/PASTEL%2BGHOST)
## Ethereality and later work
The second album, *Ethereality*, was released on October 5, 2018, running 38 minutes across ten tracks.[4](https://music.apple.com/us/album/ethereality/1765232398) It was preceded by the single "Possession" on February 17, 2017, and accompanied by the singles "Mercury" (August 31, 2018) and "3NDL3SS" (September 27, 2018).[1](https://www.last.fm/music/PASTEL%2BGHOST) Compared with *Abyss*, the album reduced the dark bass-like organs and trance synths that had wavered between dark electronic and witch house, while keeping her voice and dance-floor orientation; critics heard indietronica and dream pop influences in tracks such as "Mercury", "Amethyst", and "Tears".[10](https://medium.com/the-daily-chill/music-review-pastel-ghosts-ethereality-a-splendid-new-release-143d55234465) An Italian review credited the album to Cleopatra Records and counted it as her best work to date.[7](https://www.sentireascoltare.com/recensioni/pastel-ghost-ethereality/)
Her later output has been sparse: a *Silhouette* single dates from 2013, and after *Ethereality* she released the single "When You Sleep" in 2024.[5](https://music.apple.com/mx/artist/pastel-ghost/661177054?l=en) On July 16, 2026 she issued the four-song *Dark Beach (Remixes)* EP.[5](https://music.apple.com/mx/artist/pastel-ghost/661177054?l=en) A new full-length album is described as forthcoming by her booking agency, with material she characterizes as more mature and introspective while remaining dreamrave.[2](https://groundcontroltouring.com/artists/pastel-ghost)
## Dreamrave and reception
Moon coined "dreamrave" to describe her music: expansive, shoegaze-inspired electronic songs that are at once cathartic and physical, introspective and meditative.[2](https://groundcontroltouring.com/artists/pastel-ghost) Her Bandcamp page carries the same tag, alongside the Korean rendering 파스텔 유령.[9](https://pastelghost.bandcamp.com/merch)
Streaming platforms group her with artists such as Mareux, Crystal Castles, TV Girl, and Mr.Kitty.[5](https://music.apple.com/mx/artist/pastel-ghost/661177054?l=en) Listeners and genre commentators place her variously in synthpop, darkwave, dream pop, and witch house adjacent electronic music, reflecting the range of her two albums.[10](https://medium.com/the-daily-chill/music-review-pastel-ghosts-ethereality-a-splendid-new-release-143d55234465)
## Physical releases
Her albums have had limited vinyl editions: *Abyss* appeared as a limited 12-inch purple vinyl LP (sold out on Bandcamp), and *Ethereality* as limited blue haze and clear LP editions, also sold out.[9](https://pastelghost.bandcamp.com/merch) A new purple smoke vinyl pressing of *Abyss*, on the Many Hats label with catalog number PG1IEX, was scheduled for release on October 30, 2026 through Rough Trade.[11](https://www.roughtrade.com/en-us/product/pastel-ghost/abyss-1)
## References
1. [PASTEL GHOST on Last.fm](https://www.last.fm/music/PASTEL%2BGHOST)
2. [Pastel Ghost, Ground Control Touring artist page](https://groundcontroltouring.com/artists/pastel-ghost)
3. [Pastel Ghost, Spirit of Rock](https://www.spirit-of-rock.com/en/band/pastel_ghost)
4. [Ethereality – Album by Pastel Ghost, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/ethereality/1765232398)
5. [Pastel Ghost, Apple Music artist page](https://music.apple.com/mx/artist/pastel-ghost/661177054?l=en)
6. [Pastel Ghost – Dark Beach EP, Track Record review (2013)](https://trackrec.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/pastel-ghost-dark-beach-ep-review/)
7. [PASTEL GHOST – Ethereality, Sentireascoltare review](https://www.sentireascoltare.com/recensioni/pastel-ghost-ethereality/)
8. [Pastel Ghost: Abyss, Gigshack album review](https://www.gigshack.co.uk/albums/pastel-ghost-abyss)
9. [PASTEL GHOST, Bandcamp merch and discography](https://pastelghost.bandcamp.com/merch)
10. [Music review: Pastel Ghost's "Ethereality", The Daily Chill (2018)](https://medium.com/the-daily-chill/music-review-pastel-ghosts-ethereality-a-splendid-new-release-143d55234465)
11. [Pastel Ghost – Abyss (LP, Purple Smoke), Rough Trade](https://www.roughtrade.com/en-us/product/pastel-ghost/abyss-1)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Electronic dance music (EDM) and rave culture › Artists, groups, and people: Electronic dance music (EDM) and rave culture › IDM, ambient, and downtempo artists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license