Indie music began as rock punk music and has since evolved into an ever-more-diverse style of music. Artists like Eilish are revolutionizing this subgenre with their signature sounds; she incorporates many diverse music genres into her albums.
Indie music has come a long way since its conception in the ’70s. Now featuring artists like R.E.M and Jane’s Addiction as well as contributing to grunge movement’s development, Indie has flourished beyond any previous expectations.
The Strokes
The Strokes were an American rock band founded in New York City in 1998. As one of the key figures of garage rock and post-punk revival movements, they helped define alternative indie music. Widely considered one of the most influential bands of their era, The Strokes blended elements from rock, punk, pop, electronica into their work; their debut album Is This It was both critically and commercially successful while becoming immensely popular throughout North America and Europe as well as appearing on many talk shows.
This band consists of singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. Their sound fuses garage rock, punk rock and new wave with influences from the 60s and 70s; as well as many different music genres from those decades. Since releasing their debut album “Numbers One in 2001 – which became an enormous hit – they have gone on to tour globally as well as appear in several movies as well as comedic late night shows!
Their latest album, The New Abnormal (2020), is an artistic and mature record that draws influences from diverse genres of music – electronica and 80s pop among them – but still maintains their signature edginess and musical signature. They have become well known for their energetic live performances with many famous artists.
The Strokes have also released several music videos over their history, most notably for “Under Cover of Darkness” released in 2011. This black and white clip showcased its simple but powerful song lyricism; becoming an instant classic and contributing significantly to their rise to prominence.
The band is widely recognized for their signature rock and roll sound, often drawing comparisons to American rock bands of their era, such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Their music has inspired generations of young musicians. Their songs reflect life in New York City for teens growing up during these difficult years – their fans remain fiercely devoted and follow them wherever they go!
Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke is one of the most influential vocalists and songwriters of our era, best known as being the lead vocalist and frontman for Radiohead. Additionally, he has created solo work as well as working on film and theatre projects – pioneering alternative release platforms with Radiohead as well as criticising aspects of the music industry – receiving critical acclaim and often being considered the greatest modern singer ever.
Yorke has given Radiohead a humanistic element that ground them during even their chilliest moments, using his keening, emphatic vocals to counter the cold electronic elements of their sound and produce an effect both unique and haunting. These vocals have also found use in his other projects such as collaborations with artists like PJ Harvey and Bjork as well as soundtrack contributions for Luca Guadagnino’s remake of Suspiria (2018).
Radiohead defied expectations with their debut album, Kid A (1995). This experimental record introduced elements of electronica into rock genre and quickly became an underground hit, earning Radiohead an enormous fanbase and eventual recognition by R.E.M, one of their main influences. Radiohead gained further momentum following their second effort The Bends (1997). Following its success and an increase in mainstream recognition.
At Abingdon School, Yorke founded On a Friday with Ed O’Brien and Jonny Greenwood; the band featured progressive rock with unusual time signatures and complex riffs that would later inform later works by Radiohead and their collaborators. Yorke also lists Neil Young’s 1970 album After the Gold Rush as an important musical source.
Yorke has achieved great success both with Radiohead and his solo work. Most notably is his 2021 album Anima produced by Nigel Godrich which features contributions from electronic artists such as Burial, Four Tet, Mauro Refosco, Modeselektor as well as collaborations with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and drummer Joey Waronker as well as providing music for Harold Pinter’s Old Times (2015) theatrical production.
The White Stripes
The White Stripes were a husband and wife musical duo from Detroit that pioneered an alternative indie sound in the early 2000s, serving as an enormous influence for bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dinosaur Jr. Their style blended garage rock, blues, country, minimalist composition techniques and performances with strong aesthetic elements including red, white and black color scheme and emphasis on threes – key characteristics in their work that would go on to influence many bands who followed in their footsteps.
After Goober and the Peas disbanded in 1996, Jack and Meg White married and formed The White Stripes–named for their love of Bazooka candy–which they later performed under in Detroit’s underground garage rock scene alongside bands like Dirtbombs and Paybacks. Later they signed with independent label Sympathy for the Record Industry to release their self-titled debut in 1999 which featured dedications to blues icon Son House as well as being played frequently on BBC DJ John Peel who helped spread awareness of them throughout Britain.
In 2000, The Stripes recorded their second album De Stijl to honor the Dutch art movement of the same name. The record was unhinged and stripped-back with Meg’s steady drumming contrasted by Jack’s freewheeling guitar playing and vocals; their music drew inspiration from a range of sources such as Stooges/Gories/Led Zeppelin/Punk Club etc…They even added mystique by claiming they were brother and sister while wearing all black.
The Stripes’ 2003 album Elephant was a major breakthrough in their evolution as musicians. It focused on tight songwriting and smart lyrical writing by Meg, coupled with powerful yet straightforward drumming from Meg herself. Elephant was an unprecedented success; audiences widely applauded its sincerity and intensity; its music featured pianos, synthesizers, acoustic bass and organ among other elements to give an elaborate yet diverse sound.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Chili Peppers were one of the first rock acts to combine aggressive performances on stage with sexualized lyrics, creating an irresistibly captivating live experience that won them widespread acclaim in the 1980s despite struggling with drug dependency throughout their careers. After regrouping their original lineup for 1991’s multi-million selling album Blood Sugar Sex Magik and then 1999’s Californication; both became classic rock hits that remained influential today.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers began in Los Angeles, California during the early 1980s after singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea found common ground with two outcast classmates – guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. The group initially called themselves Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem before changing to Red Hot Chili Peppers due to their more aggressive sound. As they perfected their stage show through strip clubs up and down L.A. strip they gained fame for performing naked nudelee performances while wearing strategically placed tube socks (in case).
Kiedis’s penchant for drugs only compounded this notoriety; Slovak died of heroin overdose in 1988. Still, they continued on with guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith remaining as members, and released several hit albums including Mother’s Milk and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan; but Blood Sugar Sex Magik brought them their greatest success.
Though their popularity may have faded somewhat over the years, the band remains one of the most influential works in alternative indie music. Their music has inspired several contemporary bands and they remain one of the most sought-after live acts today.
Indie music has come to represent an eclectic range of styles and is often misused. While its meaning remains vague, “indie” does not imply any form of commercial independence and any particular subgenre’s success could skew its meaning significantly; nevertheless artists such as Joy Division, U2, Depeche Mode and Red Hot Chili Peppers have contributed greatly in establishing indie’s reputation for breaking boundaries and pushing limits.