Alternative and indie music transcend genre categories; they serve as vehicles to foster social movements and connect young Gen Zers through a common language of lyrics. From climate change advocacy to mental health advocacy, alternative musicians challenge our dominant cultural assumptions.
Fans of these artists tend to be more introverted, intellectual, and imaginative than fans who prefer other genres of music.
Alternative Rock
Alternative rock first emerged during the eighties, becoming mainstream during the 1990s with bands such as Nirvana, REM and The Smashing Pumpkins attaining mainstream success. Influences for alternative rock include punk/postpunk alongside various genres from 1960s/70s non-mainstream music sources.
Alternative rock is defined by bands that explore various instruments, recording techniques and song structures to express emotion or tell a tale through lyrics. Their music can often be loud and distorted with heavy guitar riffs that speak directly to listeners’ feelings – Grunge bands such as Pearl Jam and Weezer are great examples of alternative rock bands that fall under this genre.
Indie music, also known as independent rock or indie pop, evolved out of the independent music scene and features DIY ethics with aesthetics that prioritize artistic integrity over commercial success. Artists such as Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes and Death Cab for Cutie can all be considered examples of indie rock; typically their production quality tends towards low-fi while they usually rely on acoustic instrumentation and simple songs compared to its alternative rock counterpart. It has even been coined an alternative title.
Grunge
Grunge bands can be identified by their characteristically distorted guitar sound, combination of punk and metal influences and introspective lyrics reminiscent of 1980s bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden who became mainstream during this era. Grunge music also often employs repeated verses and choruses which allow listeners to focus in on specific parts of songs.
Grunge songs often address relatable real-world issues that people can identify with, such as Smells Like Teen Spirit and Say It Ain’t So which tell stories of young adults struggling with life’s burdens. Grunge music has had an outsized influence on culture – particularly Seattle where its origination occurred.
Grunge music may have gained significant mainstream appeal, yet many bands have attempted to avoid its influence and remain far removed from its anti-glamour ethos and raw sound. Nevertheless, this trend appears to be changing as more musicians explore alternative styles.
Shoegaze
Shoegaze is an alternative genre that has yet to gain mainstream appeal. Often compared to Dream Pop, its sounds also contain elements from Psychedelic Rock, Classic British Rock and Noise Rock – with dreamy textures and jangly guitars often obscured by layers of effects and hidden vocals.
Shogaze music first gained widespread acclaim thanks to British bands My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Ride. Cocteau Twins pioneered this style with their dreamy sounds and lyrics; one of the first shoegazers combining pop structures with experimental noise arrangements.
At the forefront of shoegazing was Medicine, who employed innovative techniques and an original sound to push alternative rock to new limits. On their album Raise they blended elements of grunge, psychedelia, noise rock into one distinctive sound – as shown here by Andy Bell playing “Sci-Flyer” off of their 1990 release! Watch this YouTube video for Andy’s Gibson Trini Lopez guitar as he performs this track from Raise!
Indie Pop
Indie music refers to independent artists producing their work independently and promoting it via the internet, allowing them to maintain creative control of their songs while building strong bonds of community support.
Indie pop is defined by catchy melodies and upbeat rhythms that differentiate it from mainstream pop, using synth sounds or jangly guitars for instrumentation. Independent artists who specialize in indie pop often find more freedom when creating their sound or lyrics compared to mainstream artists who tend to follow commercial trends more closely.
Indie folk is an organic genre of indie music characterized by traditional instruments used to produce an organic sound. Vocals tend to be natural with country elements. A subgenre within indie that marries rawness with electronic beats and funk is indie rap/hip hop. This form often addresses social issues while offering something different than major record labels offer; ideal for young people looking for something fresh.
Alternative R&B
Alternative R&B is a subgenre of contemporary R&B that emphasizes experimentation and creativity. Drawing inspiration from traditional R&B, as well as other styles such as jazz, hip-hop and indie music – this genre allows artists to develop sounds which differentiate them from others in the genre.
Alternative RB artists commonly employ vocal processing and autotune techniques to add uniqueness and distinction to their voices, as well as using electronic influences such as trip-hop, UK garage, and punk music to develop a distinctive style of their own.
Artists such as Frank Ocean, SZA and Miguel make up the alternative R&B genre. Their varied styles keep listeners intrigued while the genre remains fresh. However, some consider alternative R&B problematic due to excluding Black artists; other see it as being associated with white musicians who draw influence from neo-soul and hip-hop soul. Furthermore, this subgenre keeps changing and developing; therefore making its definition difficult.
Alternative Hip-Hop
Alternative hip hop stands apart from mainstream hip hop by emphasizing depth, introspection and social commentary in its lyrics. Drawing inspiration from genres like jazz and rock music as well as experimental production techniques to achieve its unique sound.
Alternative rap artists use alternative music as a platform to address social and political issues that they feel are being neglected by mainstream media, challenging status quo while creating more positive views of hip hop. Artists such as A Tribe Called Quest and Mos Def are considered pioneers of this subgenre, which first gained popularity in the late ’90s but is still popular today.
Alternative rap artists frequently combine elements from various genres – including funk, rock, reggae and jazz – with hip hop to craft their unique sound. The genre enjoyed renewed success during the 2000s due to critically-acclaimed albums from artists such as Jurassic 5, OutKast and Kanye West; some artists also integrate soul singing over a hip-hop instrumental for an engaging yet relaxing soundscape.
Alternative Rap
Alternative rap is an evolving genre that fuses elements from various musical genres together into its signature sound, often exploring social issues or personal experiences through lyrics. Popular artists in this subgenre include Tyler, The Creator, Childish Gambino and Earl Sweatshirt.
Alternative hip hop artists frequently utilize an eclectic combination of sounds and instruments when crafting their music, including jazz, rock and blues influences as well as classical samples to create distinctive, atmospheric tones – as evidenced in The Breeders, Nirvana or De La Soul’s work for example.
Indie music is an impressively eclectic scene, boasting an extensive variety of musical styles and themes. Ranging from folk-influenced acts such as The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons to electronic production by Four Tet, Caribou and Jamie XXL; alternative music has something for everyone in this realm. Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker have strong representation in indie pop scene as they combine lyrics of heartbreak with emotional instrumentals to craft unique listening experiences.
Alternative Country
As indie music enjoyed its revival during the ’90s, its label became increasingly used to define bands who diverged from mainstream rock. Bands such as Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and R.E.M were frequently labeled alternative despite not engaging in country or any other genre other than rock music.
Alternative country is an amalgamation of traditional country music with modern rock, folk and alternative influences such as punk. This genre is distinguished by twangy guitars, pedal steel guitars and fiddles to produce an authentic yet rebellious sound that stands the test of time.
Uncle Tupelo were one of the pioneers of alternative country, mixing punk with country in a much more subtle fashion than in the short-lived cowpunk movement of the 1980s. Following their disbandment, bands like Wilco, Son Volt, Old 97s and Lucinda Williams became prominent players within this genre. However, nowadays alternative country is much more of an eclectic mash-up featuring various genres with an emphasis on DIY aesthetic. Additionally, subgenres like twangcore and Americana add even further complexity within this genre!