What is indie music

This begs the question: What is the difference between the two musical terms? Both musical concepts are the same, except that indie music was born in the UK through British artists, while alternative music found its way to fame from the US. M, who adopted guitars as their main sounds.

The music was all about electric guitars and rock sounds , and it had a harder edge than its counterpart. However, when both music styles had a distinctive sound, indie went acoustic, while alternative was all about rock. Alternative music started off as hard rock, and it got its share of evolutions , including some subgenres, such as funk, hip hop, and pop. So, while alternative music mainly revolved around two genres, indie was expanding to include genres of all kinds.

A lot of bands like Nirvana gained commercial success, got places on the top 40 lists, and signed with major record labels. The line between the two musical terms got thinner, and people started using them interchangeably without being aware of their differences.

Millions of people played indie music, but only a few were able to reach worldwide success and influence younger artists to do the same. Their album, Doolittle, inspired a lot of rock bands to follow their lead. Nirvana was one of the inspired bands, which tells you a lot about how great The Pixies were. The band was known for its dynamic shifts and controversial lyrics. A lot of their songs featured offbeat subjects, including conspiracy theories.

Although they originated in the US, their popularity surged in Europe more so than in their birthplace. In , the band broke apart, but they came back in Joy Division is an iconic band, to say the least. When it first started, the band was known for its punk music. Since then, they started drawing the attention of some indie producers , such as Tony Wilson, who signed the band to Factory Records.

Sonic Youth had a long career; they kept producing music for nearly 30 years, although their lineup changed a couple of times amid their journey. The American band started off with an experimental wave , and they played Shoegaze music for a while. They got known for their alternate tunings and noise music, which got them their place as one of the most prominent American rock bands. The band inspired a lot of young artists with their unconventional music, including Kurt Cobain. They broke apart in , leaving an immortal legacy of indie music.

Clearly, indie music has a standardization problem. So, I took to the Vanderbilt community to find out what indie really means to us. This fact also begs the question of whether indie music is a genre or merely a method of publication. The two have long been used interchangeably because alternative artists tend to be independent as well. While alternative music has remained an umbrella term, indie music has somewhat turned into a quasi-specific genre with albeit fuzzy lines and yet a definitive vibe, straying away from its publication-method-based definition.

Senior Trey Minter also praised the diversity within indie music. Despite our first step towards a definition, we find ourselves facing another roadblock: syntax.

If we dive into the variety of fusion genres, such as pop-punk, jazz-rock jazz fusion or folk-pop, we realize they refer to both genres equally. A folk-pop album is both folk and pop, as both terms are practically nouns here, but when we analyze indie rock or indie pop, we realize indie is still an adjective, unable to escape its initial identity. And, if we can use the term for an album, or perhaps even a song, it means we are using it as a descriptor, a genre.

While our syntax roadblock definitely slowed us down, by using this definition we are back on track: indie is not a traditional genre, but the way the word is used obliges us to think of it as one. One of my favorite groups, Men I Trust , is, in my opinion, quintessentially indie, which makes them my starting point for an attempted definition.

Another group that communicates the essence of indie to a T is Flipturn. First-year Christina Berninger believes indie music is more abstract than mainstream music. Her uncle is the frontman for The National , a fact that baffled me when I saw their three million monthly listeners on Spotify. Well then, what is indie? Indie pop, indie rock, and indie folk are all genres, and they are all related, but musically they are different. But first, if it's your aim to do music professionally, you'll want to check out our free ebook while it's still available:.

The most obvious interpretation of the word indie is music made by independent artists, without the support of a record label. Indie music is often characterized as having more grit and less of an eye towards commercial success.

Some would argue that artists with no ties to large, commercial labels allow indie artists to create more interesting work. Over time, indie has come to describe an esthetic, an attitude, and a sound. Indie music carries a DIY attitude. Without the capital of a major label, independent artists are left to design their own art, create and direct their own music videos, and promote themselves however they can.

Many indie artists are passionate about creating a supportive DIY scene that cooperates and works together. This DIY ethos also lends itself to an indie sound — more lof-fi, often recorded at home or on the cheap, and generally quirkier. But things start to get complicated when indie artists become successful. The fact is, many indie artists who define the sound no longer work independently. Many are signed to major labels or to smaller labels that get bought up by the major labels.

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with this. It's a natural progression. Some artists like Chance The Rapper stay committed to the independent vision and release their own music, make their own art, and promote their own records.

It takes a lot of work, but this sort of trailblazing independence is what makes indie so popular and influential. As indie music becomes more successful, it becomes more influential. Other artists and musicians listen to the popular indie bands of the day, become inspired, and create music that pays tribute to the indie music tradition.

But the term indie is contentious. If an indie artist is no longer independent, can it still be said that they make indie music? If it has the indie sound, is that a good enough reason to call it indie music? The truth is, a lot of indie rock could also be considered alternative rock, and as indie rock becomes popular, it becomes a part of the alternative genre. Indie music is interesting because it's always evolving and always influencing mainstream music. It's hard to discern exactly where the history of indie music begins.

Generally, people talk about indie music originating in the United States and the UK in the s. There is a long list of artists from the 60s and earlier who've had a lasting impact on indie music. These artists directly inspired the artists in the s at the forefront of the indie scene, and their influence can still be felt. The Beatles inspired indie music not just in sound, but in attitude as well.

The Beatles were one of the first popular bands to take full control of their sound and make album orientated music. They were socially and politically conscious and were pioneers of new recording methods. The Beach Boys had a similar effect on indie music. Their legendary album Pet Sounds had intricate production that inspired artists like Grizzly Bear today. A: you're right there, mate. Oh i learned a new chord - 'B' B: Show me Ad infinitum. Should be used to describe any unsigned artists or strictly speaking, those signed to an independent record label -- where the term 'indie' originates.

Instead it is synonymous with the flannel and skinny jean-wearing baby-faced musicians, fitting into the "hipster" subculture, whose testicles are yet to drop. Their instrument of choice is either the acoustic guitar or the keyboard, that adds to their limp and poncy sound.

A: "Do you like indie music? Really cool music that you wouldn't typically hear on the radio. Troye Sivan makes indie music.