Indie alternative music videos feature everything from soothing melodies to day-in-the-life social media angst. From Lush to Bon Iver and everything in between neo-soul musical vibes to vintage aesthetics – each has their own distinctive charm that only independent music can provide.
Music videos use narrative to present their songs creatively, leaving a memorable impactful on viewers. Some even utilize specific editing techniques or special effects for an authentic experience.
Camera Angles
Indie alternative music videos feature close up shots to introduce both the artist and personality, as well as to show audience the emotion felt while singing the song or lip syncing it. Mid close-up shots then provide more of a performance aspect while showing what they’re wearing.
Music videos use carefully curated shots to give audiences the illusion that they are watching scenes from movies, using various camera angles and lighting techniques to give a cinematic feeling to audiences watching them. A low angle shot may show ground below subjects to add drama or tension – this technique can convey danger or create unease through shadowed surroundings below subjects, creating tension-inducing low angles shots such as this low angle shot from above a subject.
Slow-motion shots can help create an immersive cinematic feel in movies and can be very effective when creating music videos. Color and light can also be used to set a specific atmosphere; red light may add drama while blue hues create more relaxing and soothing videos.
Indie alternative music videos often make use of their locations to add depth or context to each song, including studios, inner cities, parks and forests. Filming costs tend to be lower in these places compared to their pop counterparts – helping keep production costs under control.
Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene is an integral component of music video production that helps convey narrative and mood, whether through using various shots and angles to engage an audience, or special effects such as black and white effects that give an old-fashioned vibe which complements indie genre music videos.
Indie alternative music videos make an effort to represent gender in their content accurately, often depicting male artists and bands as rebellious with tattoos, long hair, skinny jeans and often sexualised depictions; female characters however can appear backward and stereotypical depending on which video it comes from.
Indie music videos typically feature close ups and medium close ups of band members as they get into the music, showing how much enjoyment they are experiencing, making viewers feel connected to it, as well as long shots showing all band members together to foster unity within the video.
Indie music videos tend to feature very natural backgrounds that create a relaxed, friendly experience for viewers. This can be beneficial as it shows off more of the band’s individual personality while adding more creativity. There’s often tilting and panning shots used in indie videos which add drama or convey their message better than other genres of music videography.
Close-ups
Close-ups in music videos are important because they allow the viewer to understand what an artist is doing and enable them to connect more fully with the song. Close-ups may also add depth or highlight specific emotions within scenes or emotions within one of your scenes. In many instances they will even be edited into the beat of music for added visual effect!
Mise-en-scene is an essential aspect of Indie music videos, often reflecting the meaning behind songs and artists through setting, costume, props and other elements used within. Most Indie videos will also offer various camera angles: high angles, low angles and even bird’s-eye views are often present.
Narrative is another highly-preferred technique in indie alternative music videos, as it gives artists greater creative control and makes the experience more memorable for viewers. Narratives in videos may also serve as a platform to send deeper, underlying messages about songs or artists.
Thom Yorke’s video “The Underdog,” for example, serves as an indie alternative music video example. In it, Yorke performs with an a cappella group and several dancers and percussionists at different studio locations. Furthermore, there’s also a shot showing his head being placed inside of a dome helmet gradually filling up with water as part of this unique spectacle.
Indie alternative music videos tend to use close-ups and an informal approach to editing, due to being made on a smaller budget than other genres of music videos. This style often manifests itself in how shots are joined together; often being cut together straight and without much movement between cuts.
Long Shots
Music videos offer indie artists an avenue for expression outside the usual channels used by pop artists and their record labels. By showing long shots, close ups, medium close ups or medium close ups of artists performing or singing helps connect audiences with songs they care about more easily; props can also add a sense of place and provide viewers with an unforgettable visual experience.
Camera angles are used extensively in Indie Alternative music videos to add drama and emotion. High angles may make subjects appear small in the frame while low ones make them dominant; both techniques can help convey specific messages or moods effectively. Mise-en-scene is another integral element of indie videos as it conveys specific themes or emotions associated with an artist’s music.
Long shots and close ups in indie alternative music videos can be effective tools for highlighting an artist’s face and body movements, and help capture the essence of a song. Furthermore, various camera effects like tilting and panning may create movement in the video itself.
Long shots in indie music videos often take place at various locations – studios, urban settings and natural environments are often chosen because indie bands generally have lower budgets compared to other genres of music and need to find ways to save on production costs.
Some indie alternative music videos feature a narrative that provides background for the song and provides insight into its message or social conscience. This type of narrative can help viewers better comprehend lyrics and meaning of songs as well as be an inspirational catalyst to take action themselves.
Editing
Finding a crew that will cooperate with your vision when creating a music video is of paramount importance when working on a small budget. Such crew can include Directors, Production Designers, Cinematographers, Camera Assistants and Video Editors; having such talented people onboard will take your video one step further!
Filming locations can be challenging to select, as you need a place that is both visually appealing and affordable. Furthermore, permission must be obtained from property owners or managers if shooting outdoors.
Editing is a key element of any music video, including indie alternative videos. An experienced editor should be able to strike a balance between aesthetic appeal and narrative clarity; each shot must contribute towards communicating the song’s message or emotion – fast cuts may work better when depicting energetic sections, while slower, lingering shots would work best with emotive lyrics.
Another aspect of editing involves adding visual effects and transitions to add depth to the music video. A filmmaker might use filters or lens flares to give footage a vintage aesthetic or create dreamlike scenes; color grading might reflect the tone of a song with warmer tones suitable for an upbeat tune while cooler hues would better suit melancholic tracks.
Finally, video directors should incorporate gestures and movements that coincide with the music. A dance sequence could be chosen to illustrate fast beat songs while for emotive ballads they may prefer slow dramatic scenes instead.