When bands like REM and Jane’s Addiction defied convention in the 80s, they set off an alternative music revolution. Their commitment to authenticity over commercialism became the blueprint for today’s independent artists.
Grunge musicians were known for incorporating experimental sounds with different genres into their compositions, while their lyrics explored personal struggles and emotional themes. This genre quickly rose to become one of the most legendary subgenres within indie rock.
The 1990s
At the core of alternative music lies its roots: the 1990s. Grunge and riot grrl movements in that decade gave rise to an entire culture of outsiders that found expression through underground venues, indie labels, photocopy shops and subcultures like Nirvana’s success ushered in more punk rock pioneers like Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth to become Letterman-approved icons of their respective decades while lo-fi artists like Beck and Guided by Voices proved that masterpieces could still be created outside studio environments.
Joy Division and The Stone Roses pioneered post-punk in Britain during this era with their haunting, dark music. Their unconventional rhythm-centric sound was an alternative to mainstream synth pop. Additionally, indie label champions Rough Trade, Factory Records, and Mute saw incredible success at cultivating artists who took influence from alternative rock and indie punk genres, including iconic bands like The Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire and The Smiths.
The 1990s also witnessed an upsurge in electronic music popularity, with Aphex Twin and Orbital becoming major forces within that genre. Their experimental sounds laid the groundwork for future genres such as dance and funk while providing more refined edges to alternative indie.
At the close of this decade, a new wave of indie music was introduced with Britpop. This style featured catchy yet edgy tunes by bands such as Coldplay and Snow Patrol; later used by other groups such as Fratellis and The Kooks; however it now refers more broadly to soft melancholy rock bands without clear defining characteristics; for example Fratellis and The Kooks from UK are examples of such bands; though there is always room for another great indie legend – Radiohead and Oasis both have made waves among newer fans of their classic albums which hopefully inspire more listeners than ever before to discover alternative forms of indie music!
The 2000s
The 2000s saw the continued development of alternative indie music as bands experimented with different sounds. Bands like The White Stripes, Interpol and Yeah Yeah Yeahs found inspiration from post-punk to produce energetic and raw songs; also emerging were artists such as Modest Mouse who combined elements of indie with folk and punk that brought both commercial success and critical praise.
Death Cab For Cutie, LCD Soundsystem and Dan Deacon all released albums that demonstrated how indie had gradually evolved over time, becoming more genre-blending with each release. Their albums demonstrated this development while making indie more accessible by showcasing different influences and producing catchy hits reminiscent of mainstream pop.
Other bands like MGMT would take indie-pop to a whole new level and become synonymous with music festival culture. Their sound was both upbeat and reflective of contemporary youth culture – which ultimately won them many followers.
Bands like The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys and The Hives were immensely popular with young audiences while simultaneously carving out an important place for themselves in the alternative scene. The Hives stood out thanks to its great music, cool look and hook-laden garage sound – something many garage bands did at the beginning of this decade – with Veni Vidi Vicious becoming an incredible indie hit record released in 2000.
Wilco was one of the most notable indie bands of the 2000s. Formed from Uncle Tupelo, led by Jeff Tweedy’s eclectic mix of folk and rock gave Wilco a distinctive sound which propelled them into major festivals and massive record sales; their 2005 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrott is widely considered as one of the finest independent releases ever created.
Queens Of The Stone Age, Arcade Fire and The Vaccines made waves as indie music pioneers during this era, taking advantage of mainstream popularity to present their distinct approaches to indie music. QOTSA were heavily influenced by post-punk and garage rock genres; yet were never afraid to experiment further by adding elements into their sound; their debut album Songs For The Deaf received critical acclaim while featuring such superstars as Dave Grohl as guest drummer for its production.
The 2010s
It’s easy to view the 2010s as the decade in which alternative indie began its long-term decline. Thanks to an influx of digital-savvy artists, genre boundaries blurred as “indie” became less of a concept and more like an attitude, perfume or cologne worn on one’s person – giving young musicians’ careers new vitality, similar to what major label deals and stadium tour headlining provided decades before. But this evolution also resulted in profound sonic shifts; redefined what it meant for musicians calling themselves indie while blurring its definition even further while expanding what “indie” actually sounds like.
At the close of this era, dance music had had a considerable influence in softening indie’s abrasive edges. Future Islands and Chvrches both used digital beats and glossy sheens to rework the sound of 1980s New Wave revivalists Future Islands and Chvrches while rock acts such as Tame Impala and Spoon succumbed to washed-out textures and digital basslines; DIY electro darlings like Grimes and Perfume Genius advanced their own unique brand of postmodernist cinematic maximalist indie pop.
At the same time, powerful female figures emerged to define a new generation of pop stars. Lorde blurred the boundaries between rock and pop on her 2013 debut Pure Heroine while Halsey, Billie Eilish and others set precedents for an alternative indie popstar with more spiritual tendencies.
The 2010s saw indie bands leave behind their once-loyal audiences to pursue a wider, less established base of listeners. This trend continues into today as bands such as Nothing More, Highly Suspect and Twelve Foot Ninja find success by taking their music directly to audiences through touring and streaming services – although indie continues to remain an umbrella term that encompasses music that defies categorization into any one genre or style – providing unique soundtracks for lives across cultures around the globe. Indie has made an indelirable mark upon popular culture through years of influence providing musical backdrops that have soundtracked lives around the globe – as well as being used widely across commercials films and video game projects!
The present
As opposed to mainstream music, alternative indie music is created by independent musicians with a focus on songwriting and production of music. This genre boasts rich creativity and allows artists to explore new sounds and themes. Furthermore, its independent nature allows collaboration between musicians all around the globe; creating a diverse musical landscape.
Indie music has had an immense influence on culture. At first, it served as a reaction against mainstream pop music, then transformed the music industry and other aspects of culture such as fashion, tattoos and piercings. Today, alternative indie music continues to inspire culture through its distinctive sound and rebellious spirit.
Indie music encompasses an eclectic range of genres, such as alternative rock, indie pop, garage rock and experimental. Additionally, today’s indie scene has seen the revival of DIY ethos through online platforms that enable artists to produce and release their music themselves; thus opening up doors for exploration across genres like folk and shoegaze by indie artists.
These artists include Arctic Monkeys, Mac DeMarco, Tame Impala, Young the Giant, Foals, Cage the Elephant Two Door Cinema Club The 1975 and more – each remaining true to their indie roots even after finding success. Their music has inspired young fans everywhere to pursue musical passions of their own and follow in their footsteps!
Though many students may not be acquainted with alternative indie music, it should be explored and experienced. With its variety, creativity, and rebellious spirit sure to amaze any listener, indie genre music has an excellent effect on mood which can aid study time or writing assignments as well as provide relief from stressful homework or exams. So if you need soothing tunes to help study, look no further than indie genre.