Alternative music is the expression of musicians that seek to break out of convention and explore uncharted waters, providing an exciting alternative to mainstream soundscapes.
When most people think of alternative music, bands like Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey and Marina and the Diamonds often come to mind. These artists have helped shape a genre which relies heavily on voice distortion and electronic instruments – these influencers of alternative genre have provided much inspiration.
Origins
Music is an art form designed to move audiences. It has long been used as a form of self-expression and an outlet for social activism, not to mention providing relief from stressors in daily life. At its heart lies alternative music – born out of the 1980s with bands like REM leading the charge – a movement unlike anything on mainstream radio that defied categorical categorization; an underground movement comprised of multiple bands.
Grunge and punk rock was at the core of this movement’s inception. Bands using high energy melodic music that spoke about contemporary issues were trying to reach younger audiences while at the same time providing a change from heavy metal and hair band music that dominated radio airwaves. College students embraced this genre quickly before it spread nationwide with many indie labels, sub-genres, and regional music scenes emerging – the Pacific Northwest was particularly prominent with bands such as Go-Betweens and Dead Can Dance among others being among its practitioners.
Even though these bands were classified as alternative, they held considerable mainstream appeal that helped make them successful and grow into larger industries. Their success and subsequent popularity helped popularize this genre and it inspired other similar types of music.
Popularity of alternative music continues to increase today, yet it has become more difficult than ever to define what constitutes alternative. Indeed, this genre has blended in with pop, making it harder than ever to distinguish the two styles. There is also an increasing demand for more diverse forms of music in modern culture; many listeners may listen simultaneously to rock, rap, hip hop dance reggae folk or ambient styles of music.
Alternative music may have had a complex history, but it remains relevant today. Constantly changing with the times, its unique sound draws young people from around the globe.
Influences
Alternative music has many influences that come together in its composition. Ranging from post-punk and grunge, there are various subgenres of alternative rock that fall under this genre such as funk rock, glam metal, industrial rock, power pop and shoegazing; all influenced by punk’s musical revolution.
Alternative rock has long been influenced by other genres such as pop and hip hop music, allowing it to evolve over time into an adaptable genre. This has allowed alternative rock to become increasingly versatile.
Alternative rock’s rise in popularity can be attributed to its versatility; this allows it to be utilized across various media formats from commercials and films to video games. As such, its appeal has made alternative rock music an integral part of daily life for millions around the globe.
Versatility has also contributed to some bands transitioning into mainstream sounds. One notable example is Weezer, an alternative rock group known for their success with mainstream pop songs as well as having produced hit singles like “Popular”. Another band making headlines these days is Fever 333 who have garnered attention due to their high energy rock songs featuring lyrics that address contemporary social issues.
Alternative rock is both a genre of music and an influential style of art. At its origins, alternative rock was primarily seen as a cultural movement which challenged traditional music genres while creating new generations of artists.
Nirvana propelled alternative music into mainstream consciousness with their hit single, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Their signature sound set a course for alternative music’s future; their distinctive style provided younger generations access to more complex rock songs than were prevalent before, such as do-it-yourself college rock from previous decades that had grown overwrought and cynical. Nirvana also marked an evolution in the music business itself as it made it easier for small independent bands to reach wider audiences through online streaming services like Spotify.
Styles
Alternative music has its roots in indie rock. Initially popular in the ’90s and popularized by bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, alternative music made a profound mark on music history. Based around distorted guitars and generational discontentment it stood apart from pop music on top-40 radio at that time; alternative bands stood out by not afraid to be weird and showed the world there was another way of making money in music business.
“Alternative music” is often defined broadly, covering many genres from punk, grunge and experimental pop to any number of other styles. Simply stated, alternative means non-mainstream and would never appear on Casey Kasem countdowns; examples could range from Radiohead-inspired ballads to Muse-influenced bombastic rockers like Muse.
Hip-hop songs that share similar influences as alternative music may also fall within this genre’s definition, reflecting its increasing influence in youth culture today and keeping alternative alive as an evolving genre. Unfortunately, however, this makes defining it harder.
Multiple bands that have found success on mainstream radio have moved away from their alternative roots and made waves through mainstream culture, leaving many wondering what constitutes an alternative band. Some artists, such as Green Day and Barenaked Ladies still keep to their roots while others such as Lemonheads have become more mainstream-leaning.
Alternative music has always been known for its rebellious edge and unique expression of expression. While not intended for widespread acceptance, alternative music remains immensely popular due to its distinctive qualities that appeal to a select few who appreciate its individuality and individualism. As an expression of rebelliousness it has long remained relevant, and with more people finding meaning in it than ever.
Trends
Alternative music made its mark during the 1990’s thanks to bands such as Nirvana and Green Day, breaking away from pop music and hair metal dominating the industry at that time. Bands in this genre used songs and videos to convey emotions such as frustration or anger while many employed artistic imagery with grungy appearance.
Genre has also become associated with DIY culture and independent record labels, helping artists gain critical and commercial success. Many bands started in the underground before venturing onto college radio stations across America to build loyal fan bases that eventually propelled them mainstream success.
Recent years have witnessed an explosion of alternative artists and bands entering this genre, expanding it further with punk, pop, classical, electronic music. Some popular bands in this field include Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey and Marina and the Diamonds; each band uses voice distortion technology alongside electronic instruments for an unique sound.
Although rock music has traditionally been the foundation for this genre, other influences such as reggae, dance music and folk can all have an influence. Reggae influences have even led some fans to call the style “post-punk”, while its drug-inspired lyrics and droning beats have earned it the name psychedelic music.
Alternative music has seen some mainstream success, yet is still considered a niche genre. Bands that have found success within it often remain true to their roots and maintain independence; other groups may become more mainstream and give up their alternative identity altogether. Deciding which genre best matches up with your identity, goals and aspirations depends upon each band; commercial success with wide appeal might call for pop genre; however if artistic freedom and building an enthusiastic fan base are of greater concern then alternative may be more suitable.