Alternative music can be difficult to define; its definition encompasses numerous subgenres like grunge, metal, new wave and pop.
Alternative music is defined by creativity and experimentation, as well as by its DIY spirit and nonconformity. Read on to gain more insight into its origins, diversity, and history.
Definition
Alternative music is a genre of rock that doesn’t follow any strict parameters, allowing artists to freely express themselves without falling under any major label’s purview. It often features bands who seek independence due to musical or hipster reasons.
Alternative music has its roots in the late ’70s and early ’80s when punk was growing in popularity, when bands like Nirvana, MC5 and Velvet Underground first formed. These groups pioneered an independent style of music which has since evolved into one that is quite widely-held today.
People are often confused about what alternative music is and when it began. Over the years, the definition has become vaguer; now referring to any music which breaks free of mainstream trends such as punk music. Although often associated with punk era music styles like Punk or New Wave music styles.
Today’s alternative music comes in all sorts of forms and styles; from funk, electronica and classical through to slower songs with heavy bases. Recent examples include Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey and Tame Impala who all boast classic Brit-pop sounds with voice distortion and electronic instruments.
Alternative/indie music has an enormous effect on other artists and genres. Its impactful messages of transformation, inspiration, and raising awareness about various social issues is immense – many artists also use their music as a form of activism, using it to bring about positive change through art. Alternative/indie music will continue its legacy for years to come!
Origin
Alternative music is a subgenre of rock that blends elements from other styles into something completely original and distinct. Over the years, its influence has spread into other genres of music as people search for fresh sounds. It remains increasingly popular as people discover more sounds.
Grunge music first emerged in the late 70s and early 80s, but its popularity skyrocketed when Nirvana began dominating the music scene in 1993. Nirvana initiated an artistic movement where artists could express themselves without following strict formats for their compositions, ultimately giving birth to grunge music as an influential genre during early nineties.
Recently, alternative music has become more mainstream, with bands like Lorde and Billie Eilish winning multiple Grammy awards for their efforts in this genre. Unfortunately, however, some believe alternative music has lost its innovative edge and no longer stands as an independent platform.
Alternative music is hard to define due to its variety of subgenres and sounds, such as alternative country, indie pop and indie rock. Of these subgenres, alternative rock is usually the most prevalent and typically features guitar-driven melodies over bass lines with elements taken from punk rock, post-punk and new wave music to form its distinctive sound.
Industrial music is another alternative form, often distinguished by harsh noises and provocative subject matter. This genre blends electronic, rock and metal styles together in a distinctive fashion; often inspired by industrial revolutions or war. Nine Inch Nails is widely recognized for their unsettling lyrics that embody this form of alternative music.
Styles
Alternative music is an amalgam of various musical genres to form truly original works. While its roots lie in punk rock, its style and ethos have also had an enormous influence over other forms of music such as pop. Notable artists of alternative music include Nirvana, Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam who pioneered grunge during the 90s as well as redefine what it meant to be an alternative musician today.
Over time, alternative music has taken inspiration from different genres like jazz and electronica to form its unique sound. These influences have helped create an eclectic and versatile genre which continually evolves alongside the music industry. Notable artists in alternative today include Twenty One Pilots with songs blending rock with hip-hop sounds; as well as SoundCloud artists producing electronic bedroom-alt that delves deep into funk territory.
Due to this development, the term “alternative” has lost much of its initial meaning as it became more closely aligned with mainstream music industries and formats. As a result, this has caused the genre to experience an identity crisis, no longer truly alternative in any meaningful sense.
However, alternative music genres remain highly influential and influential within the industry. They encourage freedom of expression while creating a new generation of musicians that seeks to change things up by challenging existing rules and structures.
There are a handful of bands considered iconic examples of alternative music, including Brand New and Green Day. Both bands are known for their dark, moody sounds as well as their ability to connect with their fans through lyrics that are both thought-provoking and emotionally charged.
Influences
Alternative musicians first emerged during the rock music eras of the 1970s and 1980s. Their style represented a reaction against mainstream pop music that wasn’t limited by traditional instrumentation of rock music; early alternative bands blended punk-rock attitudes with rock melodies and song structures to form their own distinct genre. Influences included groups such as Velvet Underground, Blondie, Talking Heads and Devo; 13th Floor Elevators and Fugs also pioneered this particular branch of rock.
Nirvana’s hit song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” helped establish alternative music as one of the most widely played genres during the 90s. Many alternative artists rejected success as it went against their rebellious DIY punk ethic and ideas of artistic authenticity; nevertheless, alternative music gained widespread appeal and remains one of the most beloved forms of musical expression today.
Alternative genres include folk rock, post-punk, industrial music, jangle pop, hardcore and shoegazing among many others. Each subgenre boasts its own style and instrumentation while adhering to an independent spirit; some genres have even been influenced by pop, electronic, dance music or even hip hop genres.
Alternative music has evolved and expanded over the last two decades into new subgenres, even being adopted into mainstream culture. One such subgenre, modern alternative rock band Paramore from early 2000 has found great success with their energetic sound making fans very fond of them. Another popular subgenre group Bon Iver led by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon also enjoys considerable acclaim from fans due to their atmospheric songs with folk influences that garner them an avid following.
Trends
Alternative music genre has evolved significantly over time. What began as an underground movement to challenge mainstream radio and rock, has blossomed into a wide-ranging genre encompassing numerous subgenres and subcultures. Although some initial features remain, alternative continues to gain ground with younger generations and gain greater acceptance within popular culture.
In the 1980s, independent record labels like SST, Twin/Tone, Touch and Go and Dischord helped popularize alternative rock. Genre shift from hardcore punk to melodic styles influenced by pop music and new wave. Minneapolis bands Husker Du and the Replacements epitomized this transition.
Grunge flourished during the early 1990s, notably with Seattle-based bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots shaping the genre further. Guitar-driven with bass and drums as accompaniment; lyrics often dark and emotive in nature; often dark lyricism expressing mood or emotion.
At present, the alternative music scene is flourishing and expanding quickly. Artists such as Twenty One Pilots have seen massive mainstream success by merging rock with hip-hop. Meanwhile, new artists emerge every day on SoundCloud with electronic bedroom-alt that taps into funk genre.
Alternative music is ever-evolving, showing no signs of stopping any time soon. There’s truly something for everyone with alternative music: from heavy metal and synthpop, to post-punk. Whatever genre speaks to you, alternative music has something that fits. So why wait – start listening today & let loose! You won’t regret making such an excellent decision.