Indie music refers to any style of music released independent of major record companies. Bands composing “indie” albums typically enjoy greater creative freedom compared with artists signed to such companies.
Indie rock and indie pop are among the most beloved forms of alternative music, so if these genres appeal to you, check out this must-listen list of alternative/indie songs!
Definition
Today’s alternative indie music encompasses an ever-evolving landscape. Ranging from rock to folk and everything in between, its definition and styles are continuously expanding and shifting – thanks to artists like Arctic Monkeys and Mac DeMarco redefining music itself.
Alternative indie songs share several characteristics in common, regardless of genre: their distinctive sound and ability to evoke emotions in listeners are hallmarks of quality indie music; furthermore, these songs often push boundaries or challenge mainstream conventions and can make excellent video content; perfect for engaging viewers and drawing them in!
Alternative indie music is all about creative freedom and experimentation, authenticity and community spirit rooted in post-punk culture. Indie music doesn’t need to be big or commercially successful – this gives it its unique charm.
Indie rock has since evolved into various subgenres. Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver are examples of indie folk bands with stripped-back production style and traditional song form that epitomize this subgenre, while indie classical is becoming an increasingly popular hybrid genre combining experimental classical with indie-rock; both in the United States and Europe.
Indie music can be an amazing way to express yourself and connect with other people, regardless of genre or style. Indie will likely remain popular over time; its influence will continue to shape music’s future in interesting and unexpected ways. So the next time you find yourself feeling down, grab an indie album and let its sounds help lift you up!
Origins
Alternative indie music’s roots lie within rock and punk music. As its name implies, this genre specializes in independent production and distribution with artistic freedom at the core as a central principle – something Joy Division, The Smiths and Pavement brought into mainstream genre conventions when they formed bands like Joy Division.
Indie music has long been associated with “indie rock”, yet over the years its definition has broadened considerably to encompass various musical styles. Originally, “indie” referred to bands that weren’t signed to major record labels – Sub Pop being one of these labels that contributed to alternative indie’s growth with releases by Mudhoney and Soundgarden on its label; later Nirvana’s raw, distortion-laden style inspired bands such as The Strokes to make more jangly indie rock jangle.
Indie music remains distinct in both textural and aesthetic characteristics. Typically lighter than classic rock and featuring realist yet sometimes pessimistic lyrics, indie has also incorporated elements from classical music as well as experimental production processes into its production – evidenced by Radiohead and Bon Iver’s lo-fi recordings.
Today, this genre is part of popular culture and continues to challenge conventional conventions. It has evolved into an independent cultural movement that celebrates creativity and independence; non-commercially driven music that originates in a DIY culture; music which promotes social change as opposed to homogenized, overproduced mainstream music that has become prevalent. Punk is a form of resistance against this homogenized mainstream sound while celebrating individuality and self-determination in a manner which invokes authenticity and realism – three hallmarks that Punk represents.
Influences
Indie music offers many influences for its listeners to explore. Genre-wise, its scope extends across many forms such as rock, alternative rock, glam metal, post-punk and grunge – to name just a few! Furthermore, there are subgenres such as hardcore alternative, indie pop and folk-rock which all share common inspirations from artists like The Velvet Underground, Nick Drake Joy Division The Strokes & Arcade Fire that form its cornerstone.
Indie music offers something for every taste – be it danceable tunes to keep you moving or soothing melodies to unwind to. Packed with unique sounds and charming lyrics that capture our attention and keep us listening back for more, it can even serve as an effective tool for content creators to engage their audiences into their works!
Early indie rock bands released their music through independent labels during the 1970s and 80s, merging rock, folk, experimental music, and noise into their own distinct sound. These early bands helped pave the way for Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Jane’s Addiction to achieve mainstream success; Indie rock also maintained popularity into the 90s with My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Slowdive creating intricate atmospheric soundscapes while Oasis and Blur embraced more anthemic styles in America.
Modern indie musicians are experimenting with genre-blending to craft their own distinctive sound, such as Hozier with his song “Take Me to Church.” He blends indie, soul and gospel genres for an intoxicating track that leaves listeners wanting more. Other noteworthy artists to look out for include Arctic Monkeys, Mac DeMarco, Tame Impala, The Neighbourhood Two Door Cinema Club Alt-J and Cage the Elephant.
Traits
Alternative indie music is more than a genre; it’s a way of life. Rejecting mainstream culture and crafting something original are hallmarks of independent indie artists’ writing style. Influenced by various musical genres, many alternative indie artists use their songs as vehicles for social justice advocacy through music.
Indie music is famous for its DIY aesthetic and sense of community. Unlike major label bands, indie artists typically fund their productions themselves and enjoy more creative control of their music productions than most major label bands do. Furthermore, local venues and record stores often work closely with indie artists to promote them and help to promote them locally; additionally they tend to be less concerned with commercial success when creating art than they might otherwise.
Indie musicians of alternative indie music focus not just on creating music that sounds good; rather they write lyrics that express an authentic and honest portrayal of life – which explains why many bands, such as Neutral Milk Hotel or Elliott Smith are led by singer-songwriters.
Indie pop’s most beloved songs are catchy and quirky – ideal for listening on a sunny afternoon! Take “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove as an enjoyable example, while Phoenix offers up their dreamy synth-pop sound combined with playful lyrics in “Electric Love”. Both these tunes will surely please listeners of all ages!
Conclusions
Indie music offers something for everyone – be it upbeat melodies of indie pop or the haunting lyrics of Joy Division – whether its upbeat melodies are ideal for stress relief and creating community engagement; or its poetic lyrics may speak volumes. Indie music offers something special to listeners of any age; its endless creativity offers great benefits for students as they look ahead to exams or assignments.
Misuse of the term “indie” by some musicians has created an inaccurate portrayal of this genre. Independent artists work much harder than their major label counterparts since they must manage all booking, marketing, merchandising and networking tasks themselves as well as cover recording costs themselves.
Indie stands for “independent”, and first became popularly used during the 1980s, when bands started releasing their music through small independent labels rather than major record companies. Indie music stands apart from mainstream culture; today it is synonymous with alternative rock with an individual sound and unique guitar chord progressions.
Today’s indie music genre is more diverse than ever before, thanks to its wide array of sounds and influences that has proved immensely popular with younger audiences and inspired even more young musicians to compose original tunes themselves. Students seem particularly drawn to this boundary-pushing musical genre!