Teen Gothic

I'm genuinely asking for philosophical/discussion reasons, not for drama.

Thought of this while a leonard cohen song came on and I remembered part of an interview of him talking about how he'd been so depressed that if there was an antidepressant on the market, he probably tried it, and how a lot of his songs are about sex, loss, grief, melancholy, etc. Im not arguing that he considered HIMSELF goth or that he was INTENDING to make goth music necessarily, just that through a certain lens he has SOME songs that could fit the bill, either through content or (even bigger reach I'll admit) some of his more experimental backing tracks

So what specifically makes something "sound" goth? What makes someone a goth artist, aside from self-description? People argue its about the music and sound, so do the aesthetics not matter then? If someone can be a "fake goth" by only being interested in the aesthetics and fashion, what does "real goth" look, feel, sound like?

For a more fun question, what's your most out of pocket example of a song that could be goth if you squint? Can you explain your argument?

For me its more about finding the right feel, its not something i can really put into words, but context is important, like if im hearing a 'non-goth' artist right after a 'goth classic' and it has the right angle or subject, it doesnt disrupt the flow of the playlist, yknow? I think someone could be goth without dressing up or someone who is into the mindset/culture/fashion but doesnt care for any of the typical goth music recs is still goth if they want to be. Goths can be very upbeat and positive in how they handle life, which i feel like is a normie misconception but a pervasive one nonetheless. Idk, i know im overthinking bc i havent had much chance to hang out in goth-specific spaces or circles so in a lot of ways im still new to the subculture, but in others i feel like i grew up in it without realizing it? between my parents loving macabre and morbid humor/media/decor and my childhood spent around my friend's parents who were really involved in the goth music scene from the late 80s on. So im just curious for other perspectives on it.

Thank you!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!